Monday, January 12, 2009

Of languages and communication


Two translators on a ship are talking."Can you swim?" asks one.
"No" says the other, "but I can shout for help in nine languages."

Sometimes knowing many languages doesn't save lives.

Sometimes you don't need a thousand words to put your idea across.

In most cases, facial expression (a smile vs a pout) and body language carry more meaning than the hundreds of words uttered. Of course when you're writing you'd have to mind your punctuation...

From: Games Magazine (1984)
Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours?
Gloria


Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior.You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?

Yours, Gloria

3 comments:

Ms B said...

Hillarious babe!!!!

Gonna be another late week. Oh well, better that than nothing eh?

Naz in Norway said...

D,
V funny!
It is even harder when you start noticing para-linguistic features across language/culture barriers. For example: the sharp inhaling of air through the mouth that we normally do to signal surprise/terkejut in Malaysia, is translated as confirmation here in Norway :D

13may said...

hehhe hehhe hehhe