Comments on: On translating technology terms

By: TeddyBoy

TeddyBoy — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:09:47 +0000

I’ve got another good one for you:

Suppose you have Greek windows installed and you need to solve an issue with your USB controllers.

I guess you’ll have to google “Ελεγκτές ενιαίου σειριάκου διαύλου” …and pray!

By: kmitchell

kmitchell — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:55:20 +0000

Thank God they don’t use the greek word for “cookies”. It would get me hungry every time i am asked to clear them!:)

By: Sugar

Sugar — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:03:03 +0000

@nikan

My point is – we should not get busy trying to translate every single word – using an acronym or an english word here and there is not bad per se.

@adamo

Don’t get me started. Drag’n'drop?

By: nikan

nikan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:52:41 +0000

One more thing I forgot before. The problem is not how something is translated (if there is a need to be translated, because something don’ have to), but whether there is a consensus on the acceptance of the translation. What Greek suffers from is, exactly, the lack of consensus.

By: adamo

adamo — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:47:37 +0000

I have a better dare: Translate the words “bit” and “byte” in Greek. And please do not use something that has to do with number 8 for byte. That is why we have octets for.

RSS cannot be translated because it is comprised of initials. Just try translating PAL or SECAM.

By: nikan

nikan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:44:27 +0000

@sugarenia My original comment was in English but I translated in Greek just to prove that there can be good translations too.
The argument of ’sounds nice’ is completely irrelevant. Everything sounds right once you get used to it. For instance, if the word ‘κυβέρνηση’ sounds right to you, be informed that this is not a greek word per se. It is an invented word aimed to convey the meaning of ‘goverment’ in modern Greek . Do you know what they used before: “γκουβέρνο”! Which of the two sucks the most?

By: Sugar

Sugar — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:45:49 +0000

@nikan I dare you to find a good-sounding greek word for RSS. Or MP3. Or template.

Plus, one of the reasons I chose English for this blog is to reach out to a bigger crowd. Commenters are urged to comment in english to, for the sake of foreign people following the discussion, but I’ll leave your comment as is, as you obviously value your linguistic choice a lot.

By: John Tsevdos

John Tsevdos — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:47:26 +0000

hehe now I’ve heard it all. Πανόπτης (Panoptis) and Ροή δικτυακού τόπου!!! Brilliant!

By: nikan

nikan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:44:29 +0000

Στον πρόβλημα της κακής μετάφρασης η απάντηση είναι η καλή μετάφραση όχι η μη μετάφραση. Δες επίσης και την αστεία πλευρά του ποστ σου: μιλάς για το πως να μεταφράζεται κάτι σωστά στα ελληνικά σε άπταιστον αγγλικήν.

By: Svelon

Svelon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:08:35 +0000

It just reminds me of all those old Japanese amplifiers’ manuals, that were obviously translated word for word, by non Greek speaking people. The famous “Όγκος ελέγχου” (volume control) was a term from that era.

And don’t worry, it’s not only with Greek translations. Take the good old “All your base are belong to us” for example