Re:It’s Hard to Learn French in Middle Age
by amanaplanacanal on Tuesday April 30, 2019 @10:34AM
(#19788253)
Your translation is word-for-word correct, but I've never heard somebody say "from nothing" in English in a situation where you might say "no worries", "no problem", or "you're welcome". I have heard "It's nothing" though, so I think his translation is fine. Perhaps people don't use it that way in the dialects of English you know?
Re:It’s Hard to Learn French in Middle Age
by jperras on Tuesday April 30, 2019 @10:41AM
(#19788321)
The more idiomatic translation of "de rien" would be "think nothing of it".
Source: lifelong bilingual in French & English.
Re:It’s Hard to Learn French in Middle Age
by jacobolus on Tuesday April 30, 2019 @11:50AM
(#19789012)
“Think nothing of it” is a rare and very stuffy sounding expression in (at least my California dialect of) English. “It’s nothing” is better but still not too common.
As cced already said, common ways of expressing this in American English include “don’t worry about it”, “no worries”, “no big deal”, “no problem”, “you’re welcome”, “my pleasure”, etc.
Re:It’s Hard to Learn French in Middle Age
by jperras on Tuesday April 30, 2019 @02:31PM
(#19790619)
Informal vs. formal and the gradient between them is always going to be an issue in any language, especially when comparing languages.
French also has more built-in structures for formal address/politeness, though many of them are being left by the wayside just as we left feudal lordships with a peasant class.
For what it's worth, I'd say that the more "stuffy" version of "de rien" in French would be "il n'y a pas de quoi".
I would add the one I usually use "Je t'en prie".
Re:It’s Hard to Learn French in Middle Age
by inferiorhuman on Tuesday April 30, 2019 @11:56AM
(#19789081)
Your translation is word-for-word correct, but I've never heard somebody say "from nothing" in English in a situation where you might say "no worries", "no problem", or "you're welcome".
From nothing is an overly literal translation. You'll hear it in Spanish for sure as de nada (of/from nothing) or por nada (literally for nothing) depending on context though.
I _love_ overly literal translations. They express, in the purest translatable form, the idiomatic differences between languages and the cultures they belong to. You'll find many fascinating insights about culture and history by learning how different cultures express the same complex concept, situation or emotion.
Re:It’s Hard to Learn French in Middle Age
by snowwindwaves on Tuesday April 30, 2019 @10:42AM
(#19788340)
De rien I learned was something to say in response to merci (thank you) where the English response is you're welcome and bienvenue is welcome to a place.
As for speaking a foreign language, you need to take the jump. Know that, you are likely to be judged. However, there are people who find joy in seeing others speak their language and do so in a nurturing environment. You just need to find those people and practice with them, without fear of judgement.