Comments for Word Play http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com Translation, Freelancing and Then Some Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:58:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Freelancing and Translation by freidenker24 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/24/freelancing-and-translation/#comment-39 freidenker24 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:58:26 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/24/freelancing-and-translation/#comment-39 I have a multi-lingual background, although my 3 languages aren't all spoken, one of them is signed. My native tongue is ISL, and I've been translating simultaneously as soon as I was able to lift my hands. Recently, I've been toying with the idea of translating professionally. I've done quite a few English-Hebrew translation gigs in the past. I can't help but feeling I have no leg to stand on, though. It takes gifted, multi-lingual people like you years of training, regardless of their natural talent and unique upbringing... But I don't know, I'll be honest with you - I am *obsessed* with words. I spend every waking hour reading, like I'm doing it for my survival. The fact is, I don't know what is it about "not knowing what a word means" that bothers me so much. Maybe it's that helpless feeling I used to get with Mom and Dad when I didn't know how to tell them what I was thinking. There's nothing worse than not knowing the right words... Loved and rolled the blog, Shai. I have a multi-lingual background, although my 3 languages aren’t all spoken, one of them is signed. My native tongue is ISL, and I’ve been translating simultaneously as soon as I was able to lift my hands.

Recently, I’ve been toying with the idea of translating professionally. I’ve done quite a few English-Hebrew translation gigs in the past. I can’t help but feeling I have no leg to stand on, though. It takes gifted, multi-lingual people like you years of training, regardless of their natural talent and unique upbringing…

But I don’t know, I’ll be honest with you – I am *obsessed* with words. I spend every waking hour reading, like I’m doing it for my survival.

The fact is, I don’t know what is it about “not knowing what a word means” that bothers me so much. Maybe it’s that helpless feeling I used to get with Mom and Dad when I didn’t know how to tell them what I was thinking. There’s nothing worse than not knowing the right words…

Loved and rolled the blog,

Shai.

]]> Comment on Context Is Everything by freidenker24 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/25/context-is-everything/#comment-38 freidenker24 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:52:38 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/25/context-is-everything/#comment-38 Epic FAIL Epic FAIL

]]> Comment on Cultural Differences by freidenker24 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/cultural-differences/#comment-37 freidenker24 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:11:53 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-37 Just a thought, but maybe "taking it everywhere" means "EVERYWHERE", namely, you'd take it to the shower. It could be that the phrase was to be used as some sort of commercial gimmick (i.e, not as literally) Just a thought, but maybe “taking it everywhere” means “EVERYWHERE”, namely, you’d take it to the shower. It could be that the phrase was to be used as some sort of commercial gimmick (i.e, not as literally)

]]> Comment on Cultural Differences by mlle a. http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/cultural-differences/#comment-36 mlle a. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:43:56 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-36 Perry has a good point. Without knowing the whole English text and judging from what you identified as the company's key sales argument, size in regards to evening handbags would be their point indeed. Same for pockets, which is where guys usually love to store their cellphone when they're out for entertainment. I can tell you that here in Germany, cellphones clipped onto a belt have been considered ridiculous since a long time, and I know it's quite the opposite in the US and in Israel. We also never really had those neck straps for cellphones here, and I think cellphone pouches make good protectors from damage, but no one really wears them around the neck or straps them outside their totes (theft!). Evening handbags (clutches, which are a big hit in the USA, for example) can be very small, but remember that even for everyday use, compact clutches and tiny club bags have become a trend. Opposite to here, though, I know that women's wallets in the USA and Israel are huge as hell. We here do well with compact ones, mostly because we don't have personal cheques anymore and therefore don't need a wallet-checkbook combo. I know, however, how wallets tend to take up quite some space in ladies' bags. ;) About leaving the cellphone at home when going out, I think Israel has a different attitude to cellphones throughout all generations. For once because a cellphone can be a lifesaver more than we'd expect it in e.g. central Europe or the USA. For another, Israelis really stick to their cellphones, almost obsessively so. I have never heard about people owning two or even three of them as much as I heard it in Israel. Here, it is considered impolite to talk on the cellphone at a restaurant. At public places of entertainment such as the theatre, the opera and the cinema, we turn off our cellphones. At the restaurant etc. we go outside to answer our cellphones (if we haven't switched it off or left it at home or in the car), and we excuse ourselves (ideally). Well, long rant, and maybe I miss the point completely. *shrugs* But in any way, if this episode shows one thing, then how important it is to be in the know about cultural differences when marketing one's products and writing up marketing texts. This is something a *lot* of companies are running short on. Perry has a good point. Without knowing the whole English text and judging from what you identified as the company’s key sales argument, size in regards to evening handbags would be their point indeed. Same for pockets, which is where guys usually love to store their cellphone when they’re out for entertainment.
I can tell you that here in Germany, cellphones clipped onto a belt have been considered ridiculous since a long time, and I know it’s quite the opposite in the US and in Israel. We also never really had those neck straps for cellphones here, and I think cellphone pouches make good protectors from damage, but no one really wears them around the neck or straps them outside their totes (theft!).
Evening handbags (clutches, which are a big hit in the USA, for example) can be very small, but remember that even for everyday use, compact clutches and tiny club bags have become a trend.

Opposite to here, though, I know that women’s wallets in the USA and Israel are huge as hell. We here do well with compact ones, mostly because we don’t have personal cheques anymore and therefore don’t need a wallet-checkbook combo. I know, however, how wallets tend to take up quite some space in ladies’ bags. ;)

About leaving the cellphone at home when going out, I think Israel has a different attitude to cellphones throughout all generations. For once because a cellphone can be a lifesaver more than we’d expect it in e.g. central Europe or the USA. For another, Israelis really stick to their cellphones, almost obsessively so. I have never heard about people owning two or even three of them as much as I heard it in Israel.

Here, it is considered impolite to talk on the cellphone at a restaurant. At public places of entertainment such as the theatre, the opera and the cinema, we turn off our cellphones. At the restaurant etc. we go outside to answer our cellphones (if we haven’t switched it off or left it at home or in the car), and we excuse ourselves (ideally).

Well, long rant, and maybe I miss the point completely. *shrugs* But in any way, if this episode shows one thing, then how important it is to be in the know about cultural differences when marketing one’s products and writing up marketing texts. This is something a *lot* of companies are running short on.

]]> Comment on Amarcord by Micha Van Son http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/09/08/amarcord/#comment-35 Micha Van Son Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:03:22 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/09/08/amarcord/#comment-35 Hagit, The story of your grandparents is very interesting. I worked in the hotel branch for many years and many of my colleagues had a similar background. They were from Egypt - via Corfu, Venezia and Turkey, among other places. They all spoke 3, 4, 5 or even six languages. One of them was Dori Rossanes, Bulgarian. Any connection, you think? Best regards, Micha Hagit,
The story of your grandparents is very interesting.
I worked in the hotel branch for many years and many of my colleagues had a similar background. They were from Egypt – via Corfu, Venezia and Turkey, among other places. They all spoke 3, 4, 5 or even six languages.
One of them was Dori Rossanes, Bulgarian. Any connection, you think?

Best regards,

Micha

]]> Comment on Cultural Differences by Perry Zamek http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/cultural-differences/#comment-34 Perry Zamek Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:30:07 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-34 Hi Hagit, I think the sales pitch is directed at women who carry handbags (a gender issue) - for evening wear, accessory handbags tend to be smaller than for day use, and so space is at a premium. "Here's a phone that takes up almost no space, and so can be taken out with you in your evening bag as well..." Alternatively, it's small enough to clip onto a belt or such, and not ruin the line of the clothes. Of course, there's a more subtle message there too. How could you ever consider not being available by phone, even if you are going out to enjoy yourself - I think that society (and this is different even from 10 years ago) is becoming enslaved to the notion that one should be available at all times. Hence the need to remind people to turn off their phones at the beginning of meetings, religious services, etc. (and how many people still don't turn the phone off - after all, *I'm* important, people want to contact me, etc.). Lehitraot Perry Hi Hagit,
I think the sales pitch is directed at women who carry handbags (a gender issue) – for evening wear, accessory handbags tend to be smaller than for day use, and so space is at a premium. “Here’s a phone that takes up almost no space, and so can be taken out with you in your evening bag as well…”
Alternatively, it’s small enough to clip onto a belt or such, and not ruin the line of the clothes.
Of course, there’s a more subtle message there too. How could you ever consider not being available by phone, even if you are going out to enjoy yourself – I think that society (and this is different even from 10 years ago) is becoming enslaved to the notion that one should be available at all times. Hence the need to remind people to turn off their phones at the beginning of meetings, religious services, etc. (and how many people still don’t turn the phone off – after all, *I’m* important, people want to contact me, etc.).
Lehitraot
Perry

]]> Comment on Cultural Differences by Isabella http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/cultural-differences/#comment-33 Isabella Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:06:30 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-33 Hi Hagit, I think the copywriter missed the whole point of having a _mobile_ phone...:-) Did you tell your client? Ciao, Isabella Hi Hagit, I think the copywriter missed the whole point of having a _mobile_ phone…:-) Did you tell your client? Ciao, Isabella

]]> Comment on Hebrew speakers in the Vatican? by mlle a. http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/hebrew-speakers-in-the-vatican/#comment-31 mlle a. Wed, 07 May 2008 14:10:49 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-31 Only slightly relevant, but it's compulsory for theologians to study Hebrew. ;) Only slightly relevant, but it’s compulsory for theologians to study Hebrew. ;)

]]> Comment on Freelancing and Translation by mathew http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/24/freelancing-and-translation/#comment-27 mathew Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:10:02 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/24/freelancing-and-translation/#comment-27 Learn languages the fun way : If you are interested in learning Arabic, French, Spanish or English the fun way, be sure to visit http://www.speakitall.com. Learn languages the fun way :

If you are interested in learning Arabic, French, Spanish or English the fun way, be sure to visit http://www.speakitall.com.

]]> Comment on Tools I Can’t Work Without by jerseytjej http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/tools-i-cant-work-without/#comment-5 jerseytjej Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:55:17 +0000 http://hagitrozanes.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/tools-i-cant-work-without/#comment-5 I need to blog in Swedish so I can get better. I had to laugh at your discovery of the Jerico translation! You would think that they would be more professional than that! I need to blog in Swedish so I can get better. I had to laugh at your discovery of the Jerico translation! You would think that they would be more professional than that!

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