16:04 Feb 13 

hovorca neexistuje v KSSJ a teda by sa vyraz nemal pouzivat, tak ako pise Mary Pet. Hovorca existuje (Gabriala S.) ale ma iny vyznam (pravda). Hovorca pan Pletka nam pripomina "slovencina si uz davno vyraz vybrala...".
www.onlinejazykovka.sk/native_speaker_all.php v clanku "Kto je native speaker" z vety "Ked si pojem rozoberieme sklada sa z dvoch terminov native v preklade rodny a speaker cize hovorca, rečník. Tolko z clanku.
Hovorit, je od hovor- rozprávanie, rozhovor nie rečnenie. Rečník je ten kto reční od reč - reční pri významných politických príležitostiach, al. aj ten kto vie rečniť, prednášať, mať, držať reč, ale aj plano, prázdno hovoriť, tárať....
Rozprávať- vyjadrovať myšlienku rečou, hovoriť, vravieť. Teda hovoríme/rozpravame (rodným jazykom, materinským j.) a nie rečníme.

19:53 Feb 12 

that the number of results on Google does not necessarily mean it must be correct. I would be the last one to push this view through. The number of results on the web is something that can be factored in but as to what extent? Well, that is difficult to answer for anyone I guess as it will depend on many factors.

If it is the Institute of Linguistics (JÚĽŠ SAV) who say that "rodený používateľ jazyka" is better in Slovak in this context, I will respect it as I acknowledge this institute.

I just tried to get across here that "rodený hovorca slovenského jazyka (a native speaker of Slovak)" does not mean "hovorca (a spokesperson)" as some of you indicated.

Some of the other translations suggested below avoid using "hovorca" but thez do not sound very natural to me.

19:44 Feb 12 

Google hits show the trend. In Slovak rodeny hovorca is definitely winning and language purists will have to learn to live with it.
The proof of the puding is the puding (smile)

17:06 Feb 12 

The number of ocurences on google does not necessary mean that it is the correct one. It is just the bad translation which caught on. But the fact that is used mostly by the translators can indicate that it was bad translated at the beginning and since we have no equivalent expression of it which sounds good to the ear of "native speaker of Slovak", we got used to this one. Because in Slovak (if it is not translated text but created originally) we would say naturally (mojím materinským/rodným jazykom je slovenčina) but in English (I am a native speaker of English etc.). So syntactically this expressions are very different - that is why we have such a big problem with its translation - because we translate words, not sentences or meaning.

13:38 Feb 12 

with Slavo. Although technically the word 'hovorca' means something completely different, the phrase 'rodeny hovorca' has become quite common - I assume it is the adoption of the literal translation from English. Judging by the number of hits, I don't think anyone (at least in the target audience) will fail to understand the meaning. NOW, if we could just get the darned TV people to say COACH instead of COUCH (for the new reality show or whatever, where people sing)....

13:29 Feb 12 

that the Slovak word "hovorca" can cause some problems but it is probably not so straightforward as some of you indicate it is. Yes, on its own it means "a spokesperson" but certainly not in connection with "native - rodený" or "of Slovak language". This just makes a huge difference. Just google "rodený hovorca" and you will see thousands of links. For example:

Rodený hovorca španielčiny
Hľadáme rodeného hovorcu španielčiny na externú spoluprácu
We are looking for a native speaker of Spanish for...
http://www.megainzercia.sk/index.php?action=show&id=63519780...

And guess who uses "rodený hovorca" most? Translators, translation and localisation companies, teachers of languages etc. Just google it.

12:53 Feb 12 

...is looking for a "catchy", closed way of enticing Slovak speakers for a Market research position

23:40 Feb 11 

More info would be helpful. I presume you look for well educated native speakers. If yes, spell it out. I am not sure if native Slovak speaker with no education would be of any help (smile)

20:25 Feb 11 

..to all my Slovak speaking colleagues! I really appreciate your input here and have decided to leave the decision to peer agreement.