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Poll: If you had to lose one of your languages, which would you choose?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Apr 5, 2017

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you had to lose one of your languages, which would you choose?".

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Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Other Apr 5, 2017

Foul language. I could usefully be more ladylike.

 
Serena Basili
Serena Basili  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 23:06
English to Italian
+ ...
You always make my day! :D Apr 5, 2017

Chris S wrote:

Foul language. I could usefully be more ladylike.



Well Chris, I AM a lady but do not speak "ladylike" lol

Honestly, with all the time and passion spent and put to learn the languages I speak (including my mother tongue) this would be the same as asking me "If you had to choose, would you rather have your left of right hand cut?"


 
Elizabeth Tamblin
Elizabeth Tamblin  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:06
French to English
Depends Apr 5, 2017

Would I be able to "find" it again later?

 
Noura Tawil
Noura Tawil  Identity Verified
Syria
Local time: 01:06
Member (2013)
English to Arabic
Err Apr 5, 2017

Some questions!!

 
Aleksandra Romanova
Aleksandra Romanova
Russian Federation
Local time: 07:06
Japanese to English
+ ...
Perks of being obsessed with learning languages Apr 5, 2017

Back in the days when I spoke only English and Russian I hated English and dreamed of forgetting it, while realizing that it was practically impossible at that point. However, it motivated me to learn other languages, though it all turned out to be futile.
Then Japanese dawned on me and my dream almost came true.
Now I depend on my knowledge of English so much that I cannot possibly sacrifice it for the sake of whatever. Luckily, in pursuing my dream I picked up enough languages that
... See more
Back in the days when I spoke only English and Russian I hated English and dreamed of forgetting it, while realizing that it was practically impossible at that point. However, it motivated me to learn other languages, though it all turned out to be futile.
Then Japanese dawned on me and my dream almost came true.
Now I depend on my knowledge of English so much that I cannot possibly sacrifice it for the sake of whatever. Luckily, in pursuing my dream I picked up enough languages that I can spare Shoo, French, shoo. Here, German, let me show you the door. No, Icelandic, you stay, I still love you and want to know you better.

To be fair, English still isn't my favorite.
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Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 15:06
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
One that I don't use for work Apr 5, 2017

That seems pretty obvious to me.

If I didn't work and I had to choose between my two source languages, I would give up Spanish, which accounts for most of my work, and keep Portuguese, which I speak with my family.


 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 23:06
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Apr 5, 2017

I assume the query refers to working languages. About 99% of my work is translation from Spanish to English, so I'd have to keep them. I occasionally get a bit of French or Catalan to translate, but only rarely, so I'd keep them too. So that only leaves German and Russian, neither of which are working languages for me as a translator, but I'd still be loath to give them up. I also know a smattering of Polish, which I'd be only too happy to throw onto the sacrificial bonfire, if that meant saving... See more
I assume the query refers to working languages. About 99% of my work is translation from Spanish to English, so I'd have to keep them. I occasionally get a bit of French or Catalan to translate, but only rarely, so I'd keep them too. So that only leaves German and Russian, neither of which are working languages for me as a translator, but I'd still be loath to give them up. I also know a smattering of Polish, which I'd be only too happy to throw onto the sacrificial bonfire, if that meant saving the others.Collapse


 
Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 23:06
English to Italian
not my working languages Apr 5, 2017

strange question anyway....

 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 17:06
German to English
+ ...
I don't get the question Apr 5, 2017

How would one "lose" a language? How does this relate to translation?

 
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 23:06
French to English
Haha! Apr 5, 2017

Elizabeth Tamblin wrote:

Would I be able to "find" it again later?


Like!


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 22:06
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Apr 5, 2017

Why would I have to lose one of my languages? I just see no reason to! Anyway that would be kind of a “Sophie's Choice” for me, even if I translate much more from English than from my other three source languages, and losing my only target language would be a catastrophe…

 
Jack Doughty
Jack Doughty  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:06
Russian to English
+ ...
In memoriam
@Teresa Apr 5, 2017

I never heard the expression "Sophie's choice" before, but I assume it is the same as "Hobson's choice".
Hobson's choice - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobson's_choice
In other words, one may "take it or leave it." The phrase is said to have originated with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who offered customers the choice
... See more
I never heard the expression "Sophie's choice" before, but I assume it is the same as "Hobson's choice".
Hobson's choice - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobson's_choice
In other words, one may "take it or leave it." The phrase is said to have originated with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in his stall nearest to the door or taking none at all.
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Rita Utt
Rita Utt  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 23:06
English to German
+ ...
Impossible to choose Apr 5, 2017

I love all of my languages even those I don't speak very well.
(Or, maybe Latin which is already nearly lost)


 
Edwige Thomas
Edwige Thomas
France
Local time: 23:06
Member (2014)
English to French
+ ...
ahem... Apr 5, 2017

Worst poll ever

 
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Poll: If you had to lose one of your languages, which would you choose?






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