Thread: Let anyone have their own ways

Originally Posted by Deborski

I think translation is one thing, and conversation is another. Sometimes people get the two things mixed up.

In translation (depending on the situation of course) it can be critical to be precise - to use exactly the word which most correctly conveys what is being said.

In conversation though, I think we as linguists tend to be too nit-picky. The way I see it, if I understand the sense of what they said, and the grammar is correct, then it's good enough!

I'm trying to be more flexible. I think in the end sometimes a word can be indispensable, but as I'm learning one can't sacrifice the comprehensible for the sake of retaining word order or exact translation.

Ah, I didn't say it "ruin" doesn't make sense! I'm just going from the perspective of what's literate and what's not. I mean, I think Helen got to that point where it's OK to nitpick her writing and give her some deeper analysis. Eradicated is also a good word for it, but I wouldn't use any of the other words Deb suggested to be honest, though it wouldn't be wrong, some words are just more fitting to specific phrases. Don't despair, Helen!

Maybe "destroy" would be a better word, "Helps to destroy them."

I don't like words like destroy and ruin in these cases. These words describe the infliction of great damage, they sound very harsh to my ear without a good reason, whereas words like disintegrate or eradicate describe a relatively slow disabling or extrusion of a certain element. That's why they're better. My tips are intended to make you sound better, and be more careful in your choice of words. Yes, you can use any word and be understandable, I just don't think that's your intention.

I understand the difference between “are ruined” and ”are being ruined”. Actually I meant that it was characteristic of all stereotypes to be cast away slowly, irrelative of their existence in the past, present or future.
Is it possible that I used the correct grammar form with my meaning?

uhm, I guess so. I'm not actually that good at explaining it, just sounded a tad more natural with "being", but maybe you're right

I am very comfortable helping people with English since it is my native language and I was also a professional writer for most of my life, so I actually understand quite well what words may sound better than others)))

My previous post was supposed to be a bit humorous with all the crazy examples of words!!!

I do not generally correct people's Russian, because that is not my native language and there are many others on this forum who know that language inside and out and are infinitely more qualified than me! In fact, I am reluctant to even help "teach" someone Russian, because I think it comes off as presumptuous, and I sincerely do not want to teach anyone wrong! I also don't much care for non-native speakers to try to "teach" me. No offense to anyone is intended! Others may see things differently.

I am very comfortable helping people with English since it is my native language and I was also a professional writer for most of my life, so I actually understand quite well what words may sound better than others)))

My previous post was supposed to be a bit humorous with all the crazy examples of words!!!

No one doubts your proficiency, I just said let's nitpick Helen's writing because she's asking for it in her sig Ergo, those of us with such extensive "wordly" experience (such at yourself) can hold her to a higher writing standard. Had she not asked, I wouldn't have bothered.

I also don't much care for non-native speakers to try to "teach" me. No offense to anyone is intended! Others may see things differently.

So, if I see you made an egregious grammatical mistake in Russian of which a Russian speaker already corrected me in the past, for instance.... I should let it go and not correct you?

Meh, your lost :P

Originally Posted by Valda

So, if I see you made an egregious grammatical mistake in Russian of which a Russian speaker already corrected me in the past, for instance.... I should let it go and not correct you?

You know something? In most cases, yes. I would. Because until you truly know a language, inside and out, breathe it, sweat it, feel it, think it... you may not really know a mistake when you see it.

And also... what I said about being presumptuous

Meh, you lost :P

Life is not really a competition, my dear. I think you'll come to see what I mean some day. The race is long. Long. And in the end, it's less about who we beat, and more about who we had a beer with.

I actually meant "your loss"...

Did I call it a competition? Maybe you see it as one, I see it as a collective effort for self-enrichment. In school, we don't only get our information from our teacher, but from our classmates as well. No arrogance, offenses, competition or ego-games involved...or at least, not from side. I'm really quite surprised you see it differently.

But good thing you let me know...

Originally Posted by Valda

I actually meant "your loss"...

Did I call it a competition? Maybe you see it as one, I see it as a collective effort for self-enrichment. In school, we don't only get our information from our teacher, but from our classmates as well. No arrogance, offenses, competition or ego-games involved...or at least, not from side. I'm really quite surprised you see it differently.

But good thing you let me know...

I think perhaps you have misunderstood me.
There was no hostility in anything I said. But somehow, I detect a quarrelsome tone in yours. Have a good evening my dear. Consider the conversation over for me. I do not enjoy arguments)

Heh, no quarrelsome tone whatsoever, relax there... I'm just surprised by your attitude to refuse help since we're all here to learn...having gotten to know you, I kinda expected better. So, I still think it's your loss, but maybe I did misunderstand...I don't know, it's a shame you take things so personally, it wasn't my intent to cause offense.

Originally Posted by Valda

Heh, no quarrelsome tone whatsoever, relax there... I'm just surprised by your attitude to refuse help since we're all here to learn...having gotten to know you, I kinda expected better. So, I still think it's your loss, but maybe I did misunderstand...I don't know, it's a shame you take things so personally, it wasn't my intent to cause offense.

There's nothing personal about it, and no offense taken. It's a shame you make so many assumptions from my words and are so quick to judge. We are here to learn, and to learn correctly! That is why we should concentrate mostly on our own learning and not on trying to show others the errors of their ways unless we are qualified to do so. I am not refusing "help." I am simply saying that I don't think non-native speakers should be the ones to do the helping, unless they are very advanced and thoroughly knowledgeable about the language.

And anyway, the title of this thread is "let everyone have their own ways" of learning! if you learn from non-native speakers and that works for you, great! But I am going from my own experiences and I simply prefer not to! Why feel disappointed or surprised about that? Concentrate instead on your preferred method of learning and let me have mine!

Девочки, милые, не ссорьтесь!

Did I try to convince you otherwise? I just said your loss, because that's what I honestly think. It's not such a big deal, anyway, since I haven't noticed a trend of non-natives in Russian trying to correct other non-natives, but as two prominent non-natives here it's "good to know" that I'm not allowed to correct you, as I'd not want to transgress upon your ways. I anyway think your Russian is better than mine, so I don't think it'd have come to this unless you were to have been very negligent.

There is something wrong with this thread

Простити всем если обидались)) Наверное я слишком много болтала.

Да, проехали, пожалуйста.

Проехали

Originally Posted by Deborski

Простити всем если обидались)) Наверное я слишком много болтала.
Да, проехали, пожалуйста.

Originally Posted by Valda

Проехали

What a relief to see that, girls.