Germany's State Distance-Learning University

Re:Germany's State Distance-Learning University by FabHK on Sunday December 13, 2020 @06:19PM (#25411485)

> It’s so much easier to express yourself in good and convincing and clear ways [in English]

A friend of mine was translator into English and French, and she said that it was easier to translate into French, because there was basically one way to say it. In English, there'd be many different options (mostly vocabulary substitutions, but not only), with slightly different connotations.

A pertinent aphorism I've come across (anyone know the source?):

"English is among the easiest languages to speak badly, but one of the most difficult to speak well."

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Germany's State Distance-Learning University by looping__lui on Tuesday December 15, 2020 @02:55AM (#25428034)

That is not the point I was making. There are situations where this preciseness is utterly useful and required (e.g., law, literature) and cases where this isn’t the case (e.g., sciences).

I’d buy the english original book on any topic 100% of the time instead of a german alternative or its translation.

Ask any german university student in computer science or engineering or business - 9/10 prefer english textbooks.

[ Parent | on HN ]