Translator's pains

[Vytenis]

Not at all, Roger. That girl was taught English at school for 10 + years and still could not translate such a simple sentence into normal English. What kind of "teaching" is this?

[Vytenis]

Sorry to use this forum for the purpose like that, but I am to do an urgent translation from Lithuanian into English and need some native speaker's feedback whether the following sentences sound/do not sound natural for their ear and suggest the possible corrections.


Since the actor-creator is at the same time the material of his own creation, he himself and no one else can best embody and express it. Therefore, as already has been mentioned, we should begin the development of the speech elements necessary on the stage by carefully preparing the speech organs.

First of all, the students are acquainted with the physiology and anatomy of speech organs and the adverse effects of things like smoking, too spicy, too hot or too cold food on one’s voice. At the same time, the stress is on the free breathing as a necessary precondition for a resonant, clear and strong voice.

Thank you very much in advance, I keep posting some more as I proceed with my translation.
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[Lorikeet]

First of all, the students are acquainted with the physiology and anatomy of speech organs and the adverse effects of things like smoking, too spicy, too hot or too cold food on one’s voice. At the same time, the stress is on the free breathing as a necessary precondition for a resonant, clear and strong voice.
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Here's one that sounds better to me (never know about anyone else.)

First of all, the students are acquainted with the physiology and anatomy of speech organs and the adverse effects on one's voice of things such as smoking or food that is too hot, too cold, or too spicy. At the same time, the stress is on free breathing as a necessary precondition for a resonant, clear and strong voice.

[Duncan Powrie]

Hiya V, regarding "the", I would maybe put one in before "speech organs" in the second paragraph - there is one in the first paragraph, anyway! ("...by carefully preparing the speech organs.").

I don't know if "free breathing" needs "the", because it is not clear whether it is a general term or referring to a specific (named) exercise type. Either way, I would maybe say something along the lines of:

"At the same time, free breathing is stressed as a necessary precondition for a reasonant, clear and strong voice."

This would help maintain the "voice" of the writing ("acquainted" - adjective and almost like a passive? - linking nicely with passive "stressed").

Lorikeet's suggestions are fine otherwise!

[Vytenis]

Thanks both of you. In any case, you should know better.

[Duncan Powrie]

We should know better...than to post advice when it's asked for?! Or know better than you?! I'm sure you mean to say the latter...but you have great English, V!

[Vytenis]

We should know better...than to post advice when it's asked for?! Or know better than you?! I'm sure you mean to say the latter...but you have great English, V!

I mean: "know better than me", since you are native speakers after all and whatever you say, you are not lost in the translation jungle where the patterns of both the native language and the target language intermix so intricately and hopelessly that I am left angry and confused with my brains producing a sort of Lithuanian-Englishh pidgin type of thing. Watch this:

In the article THE FIRST THIRTEEN the autor introduces the first batch of actors in the National Conservatory and the history of their studies from the entrance exams all the way to the graduation ceremony. The names of the course instructors in major and minor sujects are also mentioned. In the article the autor also lists the major accomplishments, more successful stage roles and other creative work of the first thirteen Lithuanian home-trained actors.

please help!

[Duncan Powrie]

Here you are matey! Hope this does the trick:

In the article THE FIRST THIRTEEN the author introduces the first generation of (thirteen) Lithuanian actors who trained at the National Conservatory, detailing their studies from entrance exams all the way through to graduation; the author then lists their major accomplishments e.g. more successful stage roles and other creative work. The names of (their?) course instructors in major and minor subjects are also mentioned.

(I presumed that only one batch/group/generation (of thirteen actors) is being talked about, so I moved/merged some information from the end of your original draft to nearer the start, in the interests of cohesion).