Deutsch für Amerikaner, my mom’s old German textbook (copyright 1960) is an interesting social-history artifact. Here’s a passage where a university student from Germany discusses the American family he’s staying with. (All these people are fictional of course, but intended to be representative of their time and place.) WHO IS HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD? The… Continue reading American girls won’t get up early to shine your shoes
Month: October 2018
Clara Wieck Schumann (book review)
If you’ve ever read The Gulag Archipelago, you probably remember the story where nobody wanted to be the first to stop clapping for Comrade Stalin: The applause went on—six, seven, eight minutes! They were done for! […] They couldn’t stop now till they collapsed with heart attacks! […] Nine minutes! Ten!…Insanity! To the last man!… Continue reading Clara Wieck Schumann (book review)
“Machine Translation and Savant Syndrome”
Scott Spires, the lakefront linguist, has an insightful essay about machine translation on his blog: The term “idiot savant” appears to have fallen into disuse. Perhaps it’s considered insensitive nowadays, or simply inaccurate. However, if one goes back to the root meaning of the Greek word idiotes – a private person, taking no interest in public affairs… Continue reading “Machine Translation and Savant Syndrome”
RIP Ray Furness
The world recently lost an inspiring teacher and all-round excellent person: Prof. Raymond Furness of the University of St. Andrews. He was the first German tutor I met at St. Andrews, at a reception for overseas students. I saw “German” on his name tag and said, “Oh!” but when he turned my way I came… Continue reading RIP Ray Furness
Is translation a bullshit job?
No. But it comes up occasionally in David Graeber’s book Bullshit Jobs, based on this much-shared essay (in lieu of a thorough review, I’ll just tell you that if you like that essay you’ll like the book). Graeber includes plenty of anecdotes from people languishing in pointless employment. One reads: My job is to oversee… Continue reading Is translation a bullshit job?