صفحات الموضوع:   [1 2] >
Poll: Have you learned, or started to learn, a new language in recent years to add to your services?
ناشر الموضوع: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
فريق الموقع
Aug 7

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you learned, or started to learn, a new language in recent years to add to your services?".

This poll was originally submitted by Jared Tabor. View the poll results »



 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise  Identity Verified
بلجيكا
Local time: 23:27
عضو (2020)
فرنسي إلى هولندي
+ ...
No Aug 7

Every minute of my spare time is spent on activities that have got absolutely nothing to do with my professional occupation.

 
Brice Fiquemo
Brice Fiquemo  Identity Verified
فرنسا
Local time: 23:27
عضو (2013)
إيطالي إلى فرنسي
+ ...
I am back to my study of German and started Romanian and Spanish Aug 7

I am back to my study of German and started Romanian and Spanish. At school and Uni, (I am a native French) my first foreign language was English, Italian second, and German third. I studied Italian and English at University, and now I am revising and improving my German while learning some Romanian and Spanish at the same time.

Claudio Machado Junior
Maria Laura Curzi
Oscar Núñez Alfaro
 
Constanze Deus-Konrad
Constanze Deus-Konrad  Identity Verified
ألمانيا
Local time: 23:27
فرنسي إلى ألماني
+ ...
impossible Aug 7

Yes I am learning a new language on my own, I started two years ago with bahasa Indonesia, but I know very well that I will never be able to add a new language to my services. At adult age, it is impossible to learn a new language from peak to professional level if not living permanently in the country.

writeaway
Peter Simon
Arjan van den Berg
 
Gregor Trebec
Gregor Trebec
سلوفانيا
Local time: 23:27
أنجليزي إلى سلوفيني
+ ...
no Aug 7

No, I believe most comes in the childhood and teenage years. Later in adulthood it is just extra. Of course, we learn trough whole life as they use to say.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
البرتغال
Local time: 22:27
عضو (2007)
أنجليزي إلى برتغالي
+ ...
No Aug 7

I’m trying very hard to do a bit of a refresh regarding my Italian reading newspapers and magazines in Italian as the work IT/PT has been scarce and I don’t want to forget it. I’ve also been learning Dutch very slowly in my spare time, for family reasons: one of my granddaughters lives in Flanders and is married to a Flemish guy who speaks fluent English but not a word of Portuguese. I wish to surprise them one day if only to go against the proverb "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" (... See more
I’m trying very hard to do a bit of a refresh regarding my Italian reading newspapers and magazines in Italian as the work IT/PT has been scarce and I don’t want to forget it. I’ve also been learning Dutch very slowly in my spare time, for family reasons: one of my granddaughters lives in Flanders and is married to a Flemish guy who speaks fluent English but not a word of Portuguese. I wish to surprise them one day if only to go against the proverb "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" (in Portuguese “burro velho não aprende línguas”).Collapse


Susanna Martoni
Claudio Machado Junior
 
Luca Adie
Luca Adie
ألمانيا
Local time: 23:27
ألماني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
No Aug 7

I have wanted to learn Chinese for a very long time, but this is just because I find the script fascinating. I do not want to add it to my working languages. If I didn't have to work, I would dedicate my life to learning how to read and write Chinese.

Regarding the comment about it being impossible to add a working language as an adult without living in the country where the language is spoken, I have to disagree. Some people can, some people can't.


Claudio Machado Junior
Cilian O'Tuama
Laura Maass
 
Claudio Machado Junior
Claudio Machado Junior  Identity Verified
البرازيل
Local time: 18:27
عضو (2014)
أنجليزي إلى برتغالي
+ ...
Yep! Aug 7

Swedish. Mainly because it's fun (if it's not funny, it's not worth it). Even though it's hard to find any SWE > PT-BR work (especially these days...), I've already done a couple of jobs in this language pair.

Maria Laura Curzi
 
Jennifer Levey
Jennifer Levey  Identity Verified
شيلي
Local time: 18:27
إسباني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Mü, felelaay* Aug 7

OT (slightly): I was born and brought up in post-war Britain. But haven't lived in any English-speaking country for the past 50 or so years - and I haven't set foot in England at all since around the beginning of the present century.
If only to keep track of changes affecting my state pension payments, I occasionally watch some of the UK broadcasters' on-line news channels, and I've come to the conclusion that I'd need to take a crash course in English if I ever decided to return to live
... See more
OT (slightly): I was born and brought up in post-war Britain. But haven't lived in any English-speaking country for the past 50 or so years - and I haven't set foot in England at all since around the beginning of the present century.
If only to keep track of changes affecting my state pension payments, I occasionally watch some of the UK broadcasters' on-line news channels, and I've come to the conclusion that I'd need to take a crash course in English if I ever decided to return to live in the place that I used to call 'home'.

Moving on to the poll question: A few years ago I tried self-learning the basics of mapudungún, the language of the mapuche people who've inhabited the Araucanía region of Chile (my present home) since long before the Spaniards arrived. But that was in support of a hobby project, never with any prospect of offering professional services using the language.
JL
* Mü, felelaay is one of the expressions meaning 'No' in mapudungún.
Collapse


 
DaliaNour
DaliaNour  Identity Verified
مصر
Local time: 00:27
عضو (2018)
أنجليزي إلى عربي
+ ...
Yes! Aug 7

I'm learning German at the moment. I'm in A2 level.

Claudio Machado Junior
Maria Laura Curzi
Laura Maass
 
Philippe Boucry
Philippe Boucry  Identity Verified
فرنسا
Local time: 23:27
أنجليزي إلى فرنسي
+ ...
No point learning or starting to learn for professional reasons. Aug 7

AI learns much faster than we ever will. I don't think that there's any point learning a language to add to our services ; AI will get there before we do (I'm retired, but would think the same if I was still translating for clients).

[PS. Actually, it might well be there already.]

However, learning for private reasons (some have been mentioned here) or as a hobby, now that's an entirely different matter.

[Edited at 2026-08-08 12:44 GMT]


Claudio Machado Junior
Jennifer Levey
Peter Simon
Gregor Trebec
Rachel Waddington
 
Oscar Núñez Alfaro
Oscar Núñez Alfaro  Identity Verified
كوستاريكا
Local time: 15:27
أنجليزي إلى إسباني
+ ...
French! Aug 8

I have to say that French has been my favorite language since I was in high school. I have to say that it is a beautiful language and my dream is to include it as a work language one day. Finger crossed!

 
Michael Newton
Michael Newton  Identity Verified
الولايات المتحدة
Local time: 17:27
ياباني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
new language? Aug 8

I have, over the years, studied Latin, French, Spanish, Hebrew, Russian, Chinese and Japanese, specializing in the latter three. Studies aided by living in France, Mexico and Japan and travel in Russia and China. Several years ago I went through the Odyssey. It was a tough slog. When I retire, I shall continue with my studies of Ancient Greek and start in on Sankrit. Since I am surrounded by universities-Harvard, MIT, Tufts--I don't think I shall lack for resources. Without knowing Ancient Gree... See more
I have, over the years, studied Latin, French, Spanish, Hebrew, Russian, Chinese and Japanese, specializing in the latter three. Studies aided by living in France, Mexico and Japan and travel in Russia and China. Several years ago I went through the Odyssey. It was a tough slog. When I retire, I shall continue with my studies of Ancient Greek and start in on Sankrit. Since I am surrounded by universities-Harvard, MIT, Tufts--I don't think I shall lack for resources. Without knowing Ancient Greek and Sanskrit, I don't think one can count oneself an educated person.Collapse


 
bishan sharma
bishan sharma  Identity Verified
Local time: 02:57
أنجليزي إلى ياباني
+ ...
Widening the knowledge of French Aug 8

I am trying my ability thru mastering the beautiful language of the globe i.e. French. All of you please wish me luck.

Maria Laura Curzi
 
Rachel Waddington
Rachel Waddington  Identity Verified
المملكة المتحدة
Local time: 22:27
هولندي إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Doesn't stack up Aug 9

Learning a new language for professional purposes never really stacked up for me, unless there is a very specific reason to do so. You're still only one person and can only do the same amount of work so probably better to stick to the languages you have and market more. Learning a new language is a massive endeavour and it's really hard to see how that would ever pay back, especially now when you add AI into the mix.

Having said that, I am learning Spanish at the moment - but I woul
... See more
Learning a new language for professional purposes never really stacked up for me, unless there is a very specific reason to do so. You're still only one person and can only do the same amount of work so probably better to stick to the languages you have and market more. Learning a new language is a massive endeavour and it's really hard to see how that would ever pay back, especially now when you add AI into the mix.

Having said that, I am learning Spanish at the moment - but I wouldn't dream of using it professionally.
Collapse


Dan Lucas
Philippe Boucry
Josephine Cassar
Jennifer Levey
Lieven Malaise
 
صفحات الموضوع:   [1 2] >


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

مشرفو هذا المنتدى
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: Have you learned, or started to learn, a new language in recent years to add to your services?






Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »
Anycount & Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000

Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.

More info »