I find it annoying when I read something written by a journalist (mainly) which I know full well is inaccurate or down right wrong. Whenever I’ve had to write about a subject I am only partially or moderatly acquainted with I have gone to great pains to ensure I am as accuratte as possible. I wish article writers would be as diligent.

For example, a multi-lingual author writing about how hard it is to learn a new language wrote this:

“Or understand the practical phrase "ça a été" in French, which translates "as it has been", but in conversation is one of the most versatile ways of expressing something was well?”

Noting that the author studied French at university level and spent a year teaching there (presumably as an English -as a second language - teacher) her translation suffers from a typo as it should be translated ‘ as “it has been” ‘. It is also used to mean ‘it has gone well’ not something was well, there is a difference. On top of that, the ‘a’ between ça and été is mute when spoken and the expression can also be used as a question ‘did it go well?.

So there was a lot there to annoy me, enough to toot about it :)

Aside from that the article was interesting, not in the least because i spent a year at a Defence Intensive Language school learning Mandarin back in the 70s.
Read more:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260220-whats-the-best-way-to-learn-a-new-language

#Poliglot #Mandarin #French #Languages #LearningLanguages #Writing #Translation

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