English Grammar

[getagrip]

Exactly. How does it translate into foreign languages? In terms of a greater understanding of what's going on, seems to me, foreigners are probably getting a better deal. Ironic.

Don't really think you can "translate" it per se; it's main value is the play of poetic dialogue.

I think you mean foreigners are getting a better deal I terms of being able to understand the story but, if that's all you want, Shakespeare's stories have been retold countless time in countless ways

[Raider4]

Exactly. How does it translate into foreign languages?

Well, it seems to have survived translation from the original Klingon into English okay.

Cheers, Martyn

[getagrip]

Well, it seems to have survived translation from the original Klingon into English okay.

Cheers, Martyn

I'm grateful for that

not yap wa' Hol    (Yes, this is "real" Klingon)

[Westmarcher]

 
Liked it too, Martyn. I must have been issued with the Klingon version in school! (still managed a Higher "B" despite their nefarious scheme)! Agreed, getagrip.

[getagrip]

Liked it too, Martyn. I must have been issued with the Klingon version in school! (still managed a Higher "B" despite their nefarious scheme)! Agreed, getagrip.

Hab SoSlI' Quch! 

[Westmarcher]

buy' ngop !


translation: Why, That's Fantastic!

[Chad]

Kaplach!

[Fenton]

Kaplach!

I've played that. It's the one where you have to stop the marbles falling down as you pull sticks away isn't it?

[Techno]

 
Very good, Steve.
Cheers - Phil

[FierceKitty]

I really don't understand the trouble. There are a few small differences here and there, the grammar is simpler, and a handful of words have changed their meanings, but anyone can follow Shakespeare if he can speak English. I've watched productions with Czechs, Thais, Dutch, Afrikaaners, even Americans - no real problems.

[Leman]

Well, the best thing that ever happened to Shakespeare was being punched in the face by Blackadder,

[getagrip]

Well, the best thing that ever happened to Shakespeare was being punched in the face by Blackadder,

That was funny 

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Should have been one C. Dickens.....by far the most tedious author in the English language.

IanS

[getagrip]

Oscar Wilde:  "it would take a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing"  

[Subedai]

Should have been one C. Dickens.....by far the most tedious author in the English language.

IanS

Never read any of his books, or any of the other so called classics for that matter.

I'm sure I read somewhere that like Alexander Dumas, his writings were first serialised in one of the contemporary newspapers so he would draw stuff out for as long as possible.

I tried reading Moby Dick once but found myself skipping whole chapters because it was soooo boring.

[Techno]

I tried reading Moby Dick once but found myself skipping whole chapters because it was soooo boring.

THAT brings back memories of 'reading' Moby Dick in a slim 'book' where you had to collect large stick-on stamps (couple of inches square ?) and pop them in the appropriate parts of the text.
Stroll on....That must have been 50+ years ago.......Can't remember the story at all.....Got a vague recollection of one stamp where Capt Ahab (?) is about to hurl a harpoon at his nemesis.

Cheers - Phil

[getagrip]

Crappy story, badly written; let it die!!!

[Leman]

It would appear that fiction is very much a question of personal preference, but on the whole I have to agree with the tedium strand of the above contributors. However I think we need to bear in mind that Victorian novels were written at a time when certain social mores were to the fore (especially among the newly educated middle classes) and there were few other evening distractions. To force such a diet on modern youngsters does indeed, as Getagrip says, appear to be just plain cruel.

[Roy]

Mr. Dicken's presents ... A Christmas Rasta Party!



Jah Rastafari!

[getagrip]

Mr. Dicken's presents ... A Christmas Rasta Party!

Excellent.