Difference between revisions of "Translation problems between romance and germanic languages"

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This page is aimed for listing '''common problems dealing with translating between romance and germanice languages.''' The same problem may for example occur for Spanish-English, Spanish-Dutch, Spanish-German, Frenc-English, French-Dutch, French-German. So finding a strategy can help in our example for at least 6 pairs. The problems may not occur for all Romance languages but for most or several of them. The same rule apply for Germanic languages.
This page is aimed for listing '''common problems dealing with translating between romance and germanice languages.''' The same problem may for example occur for Spanish-English, Spanish-Dutch, Spanish-German, Frenc-English, French-Dutch, French-German. So finding a strategy can help in our example for at least 6 pairs. The problems may not occur for all Romance languages but for most or several of them. The same rule apply for Germanic languages.


== Feminin and masculin possessive ==
== Feminine and masculine possessive ==


In Germanic languages : the possessive is different for a male and female. But in Romance it is the same.
In Germanic languages : the possessive has a different form for a masculine or feminine antecedent (possessor). But in Romance it is the same form.


'''Germanic'''
'''Germanic'''
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*Dutch: haar vs zijn
*Dutch: haar vs zijn
*English: her vs his
*English: her vs his
*German: ihr vs zein
*German: ihr vs sein
*Afrikaans hy vs sy
*Afrikaans hy vs sy


Line 20: Line 20:


For several cases, ''to be'' in Germanic corresponds to ''to have'' in Romance.
For several cases, ''to be'' in Germanic corresponds to ''to have'' in Romance.



=== Age ===
=== Age ===
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*Dutch : ik ben 20
*Dutch : ik ben 20
*English : I am 20
*English : I am 20
*Germanic: Ich bin 20
*German: Ich bin 20


'''Romance'''
'''Romance'''
Line 36: Line 35:


Note also that ''years old'' is often not used.
Note also that ''years old'' is often not used.



=== Hunger, thirst ===
=== Hunger, thirst ===
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'''Germanic'''
'''Germanic'''


Dutch is more like other Romance languages
Dutch and German are more like Romance languages
*Dutch: ik heb honger, ik heb dorst
*Dutch: ik heb honger, ik heb dorst
*German: ich habe Hunger, ich habe Durst


*English: I am hungry, I am thirsty
*English: I am hungry, I am thirsty
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In some Germanic languages (Afrikaans, Dutch, German but not English ), there are verbs with separating prefixes. But not in Romance languages.
In some Germanic languages (Afrikaans, Dutch, German but not English ), there are verbs with separating prefixes. But not in Romance languages.

See [[Separable verbs]] and [[Multiwords]]


== Verb at the end of the embedded clause ==
== Verb at the end of the embedded clause ==

Latest revision as of 07:34, 26 July 2010

This page is aimed for listing common problems dealing with translating between romance and germanice languages. The same problem may for example occur for Spanish-English, Spanish-Dutch, Spanish-German, Frenc-English, French-Dutch, French-German. So finding a strategy can help in our example for at least 6 pairs. The problems may not occur for all Romance languages but for most or several of them. The same rule apply for Germanic languages.

Feminine and masculine possessive[edit]

In Germanic languages : the possessive has a different form for a masculine or feminine antecedent (possessor). But in Romance it is the same form.

Germanic

  • Dutch: haar vs zijn
  • English: her vs his
  • German: ihr vs sein
  • Afrikaans hy vs sy

Romance

  • French: son, sa, ses
  • Spanish: su, sus

To be vs to have[edit]

For several cases, to be in Germanic corresponds to to have in Romance.

Age[edit]

Germanic

  • Dutch : ik ben 20
  • English : I am 20
  • German: Ich bin 20

Romance

  • French: j'ai vingt ans
  • Spanish: tengo 20 años

Note also that years old is often not used.

Hunger, thirst[edit]

Germanic

Dutch and German are more like Romance languages

  • Dutch: ik heb honger, ik heb dorst
  • German: ich habe Hunger, ich habe Durst
  • English: I am hungry, I am thirsty

Romance

  • French: j'ai faim, j'ai soif
  • Spanish: tengo hambre, tengo sed

Verbs with separating prefixes[edit]

In some Germanic languages (Afrikaans, Dutch, German but not English ), there are verbs with separating prefixes. But not in Romance languages.

See Separable verbs and Multiwords

Verb at the end of the embedded clause[edit]

In some Germanic languages (Dutch, German but not English) the verb is at the end of the embedded clause (SOV) but not in Romance languages (SVO).

Sentences starting with an adverb[edit]

In some Germanic languages (Dutch, German), the verb is always at the second place in the main clause even if there is an adverb at the begining of the sentence (adverb verb subject object) and in Romance languages the verb goes after the verb (adverb subject verb object).