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ProZ The Translators Workplace - bad example? Thread poster: Jack Doughty
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Jack Doughty 
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:39
Russian to English
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In memoriam |
| I noticed that, too | Feb 20, 2006 |
but as a non-native English speaker I was too shy to raise this problem
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It might have something to do with keywords, search engines etc. It might be easy to get a hit if you search for translators. It is all a Google thing!
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PAS
Local time: 19:39
Polish to English
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How about The Translator's Workplace - speaking of the proverbial translator?
Cheers,
Pawel Skalinski
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Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:39
Flemish to English
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If there is one rule of English grammar, I have a problem with, it's the Norman and Saxon Genetive. I already posted a topic on it (proz.com/topic/40771) , but did not get a conclusive answer to the question when I have to add an ' or an 's'. Being native did not seem to make a difference here,because native speakers could not agree on the matter.
[Edited at 2006-02-20 12:23]
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Aurora Humarán (X)
Argentina
Local time: 14:39
English to Spanish
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Williamson wrote:
If there is one rule of English grammar, I have a problem with, it's the Norman and Saxon Genetive. I already posted a topic on it (proz.com/topic/40771) , but did not get a conclusive answer to the question when I have to add an ' or an 's'. Being native did not seem to make a difference here,because native speakers could not agree on the matter.
See if I can find my question in the KudoZ section a couple of years ago.
Au
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pcovs
Denmark
Local time: 19:39
English to Danish
| For William, and other interested parties | Feb 20, 2006 |
Williamson wrote:
If there is one rule of English grammar, I have a problem with, it's the Norman and Saxon Genetive. I already posted a topic on it (proz.com/topic/40771) , but did not get a conclusive answer to the question when I have to add an ' or an 's'. Being native did not seem to make a difference here,because native speakers could not agree on the matter.
[Edited at 2006-02-20 12:23]
I just came across this site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A586640
which should explain in detail how to use the 's' correctly in UK and US English.
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:39
Russian to English
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TOPIC STARTER In memoriam | Thanks to Pcovs for link. | Feb 20, 2006 |
Thank you! According to Pcovs' source (hope I got that apostrophe right!), in both Britain and the USA, the genitive case plural is the same. If a word ends in the letter 's', or if the final sound in the word is a 'hiss', an apostrophe with no 's' is added to indicate the noun case. The trophy belongs to the heroes, so it is the heroes' trophy. The Centre for the Fine Arts is dedicated to the Arts, so it is the Fine Arts' Centre. The lounge used by the schoolmistresses is the schoolmistresses'... See more Thank you! According to Pcovs' source (hope I got that apostrophe right!), in both Britain and the USA, the genitive case plural is the same. If a word ends in the letter 's', or if the final sound in the word is a 'hiss', an apostrophe with no 's' is added to indicate the noun case. The trophy belongs to the heroes, so it is the heroes' trophy. The Centre for the Fine Arts is dedicated to the Arts, so it is the Fine Arts' Centre. The lounge used by the schoolmistresses is the schoolmistresses' lounge.
But as this is a UK source, maybe native US-English speakers will disagree with it! ▲ Collapse
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| Translator's | Feb 20, 2006 |
PAS wrote: How about The Translator's Workplace - speaking of the proverbial translator? Cheers, Pawel Skalinski
I agree - this sounds preferable to me. If we take a word with an irregular plural, the singular version sounds much more natural: e.g. "B&Q - The Handyman's First Choice" rather than "..the handymen's..." etc.
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CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 19:39
French to English
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| while I agree entirely.... | Feb 20, 2006 |
I offer the following as food for thought.
I recently wrote a text in which there was a reference to the UNECE. I wrote it in full with "Nation's" for the "N".
I was criticised by everyone who read the text for being over-fussy and told to take the apostrophe out...
Their argument was that even the UN doesn't use it!
see the UN website:
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Official Web Site.... See more I offer the following as food for thought.
I recently wrote a text in which there was a reference to the UNECE. I wrote it in full with "Nation's" for the "N".
I was criticised by everyone who read the text for being over-fussy and told to take the apostrophe out...
Their argument was that even the UN doesn't use it!
see the UN website:
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Official Web Site.
www.unece.org/
How can you stand up for what is good and right when the whole world seemingly wants to do you down (joke)! ▲ Collapse
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PB Trans
Local time: 18:39
French to English
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| That's right, Jack | Feb 20, 2006 |
Jack Doughty wrote:
Thank you! According to Pcovs' source (hope I got that apostrophe right!), in both Britain and the USA, the genitive case plural is the same. If a word ends in the letter 's', or if the final sound in the word is a 'hiss', an apostrophe with no 's' is added to indicate the noun case. The trophy belongs to the heroes, so it is the heroes' trophy. The Centre for the Fine Arts is dedicated to the Arts, so it is the Fine Arts' Centre. The lounge used by the schoolmistresses is the schoolmistresses' lounge.
But as this is a UK source, maybe native US-English speakers will disagree with it!
In London, I see this error very often. I don't think the tube stations with the names Earl's Court and Barons Court make it any easier for people to understand. Shouldn't it be Baron's Court? Or if the name is Barons (with an "s"), then shouldn't it be Barons' Court? And why is it Devons Road? No wonder people are confused!
Slightly off topic here, but I still laugh everytime I hear mention of the "Barking Train". Arf arf!
[Edited at 2006-02-20 14:07]
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justin C
United States
Local time: 13:39
English
| Search engines don't like the apostrophe in 'The Translators Workplace' | Feb 20, 2006 |
So it was not included for search engine reasons.
Hope that explains it!
Best Regards,
Justin
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Balasubramaniam L.
India
Local time: 23:09
Member (2006)
English to Hindi
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SITE LOCALIZER | One can't mangle languages just because a machine can't handle it... | Feb 20, 2006 |
justin wrote:
(Search engines don't like apostrophes....)
So it was not included...
Justin
Hi Justin,
You can't be serious! One can't mangle linguistic rules just because a machnie can't handle them!
In that case, why not chose a grammatically correct phrase that doesn't have the apostrophe, such as:
"The Workplace for Translators"
or some such line?
Best regards,
Bala
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CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 19:39
French to English
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| then it should be.... | Feb 20, 2006 |
The Translator Workplace
and you avoid the problem altogether
(a sort of collective singular)
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| UN not the same as translators' or translator's | Feb 20, 2006 |
CMJ_Trans wrote: I offer the following as food for thought. I recently wrote a text in which there was a reference to the UNECE. I wrote it in full with "Nation's" for the "N". I was criticised by everyone who read the text for being over-fussy and told to take the apostrophe out... Their argument was that even the UN doesn't use it! see the UN website: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Official Web Site. www.unece.org/ How can you stand up for what is good and right when the whole world seemingly wants to do you down (joke)!
UN is used as a modifier. Shouldn't be a possessive in this case, I'm afraid. You wouldn't say the "European Union's Commission on X" but rather the "European Union Commission on X" for instance.
Also "Nation's" would refer to one nation, not the "United Nations" the organization.
Regard's (joking),
Sara
[Edited at 2006-02-20 15:19]
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