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[R]

I bought a Japanese-to-English-to-Japanese dictionary today in order to translate a four sentence email I received from Romaji into English. So far I've translated two sentences I am banging my forehead against my desk and making a strange sound, similar to "unggggggggggggg."

It's fun, though.

I'll be fluent in a month... and watashi wa unagi desu

Rob.

[Wolf]

[scot47]

This tale reminds me of the anecdote about a Portuguese publisher. He knew no English but had passable French. He bought himself a French-English dictionary and with that and his native speaker ability in Portuguese, crafted a Portuguese English dictionary. It was not a great success.

Translation is sometimes best left to those hwo know what they are doing.

[guest of Japan]

R. Are you really an eel?

Wolf, nice job on that sentence. I can read it, but I can't say it.

[R]

Yes, I really am an eel.

New email, containing one sentence which I can translate as either:

"I am raising up a small box"

or

"There is a trout in the regional office."

Maybe language classes would be a good idea...

[Will.]

No anecdote but a real book.
Pedro Carolino in 1855.
republished as English as she is spoke, in 1970 by St Georges Press, London. Price at the time ten bob
I have it in front of me.
some examples from the Eatings section.
Some wigs,
A chitterlings sausages,
A dainty dishes,
A little mine,
Hog fat,
Some marchpanes,
An amelet,
a slice,steak,
And a British speciality
Vegetables boiled to a pap.

On the French language.
Do you study?
Yes, sir I attempts to translate of french by portuguese.
Do you know already the princial grammars rules?
I am apleed my self at to learn its by heart.
Do you speak french alwais?
Some times; though I flay it yet.
You jest, you does express you self very well.


You get the idea I am sure.