How Does it Affect You When eBooks Aren't Published in Your First Language? - Page 2

Joebill · 01-25-2010, 07:25 PM

Hmmm... I would hope that a book is in a language I know. American English is what I know best, with some bits of British English from various stories I have read.

I wouldn't mind finding some in languages I am attempting to learn. At present, that is just Japanese I am attempting. I am not very good at it.

I would like to learn Comanche. I have found a source of learning materials. Some of my ancestors are Comanche.

rebl · 03-29-2010, 10:09 AM

My ebooks are moslty in two languages (English + my native language), maybe a few in German and French. I don't mind reanding in English when I can't find in my native language, although, depending on the topic and corresponding vocabulary I might prefer my native language. (I can read science and sci-fi in English with no problems but an historical novel might have a higher precentage of terms I'm not familiar with).

What really bothers me is that I can't find a way to easily sort and organize my collection by language.

I am yet to decide between these folder structures:
ebooks/[language]/nn.Topic/Author Name/title.ext
(or /Title/title.ext when having several format)

or
ebooks/nn.Topic/Author Name/[language]/Title ... etc
or even
ebooks/nn.Topic/Author Name/Title/[lang]-title.ext

Don't ask me why organizing them in folders! I like browsing my folders like taking a walk through a library.

ficbot · 03-29-2010, 12:03 PM

It was never much of an issue for me because English is my native language. But I do read in French as well and find it a challenge to improve my French when there is so little available. For example the book which won the 'Canada Reads' promo on CBC is actually originally a French book but Kobo only had the English version. With a book like that, given the choice, I would have rather had the French. The only French ebooks I have found are things like The Three Muskteers on Project Gutenberg.

pkovak · 03-29-2010, 01:45 PM

English is not my native language, but I read a lot of books in this language. Helped me to improve my vocabulary

I have also read many books in Czech, my native language and the only other one I know well enough to read books in. If the book was written in English, I prefer English - if for nothing else, then because I don't want to wait years for them to be released in Czech, if ever. Translated books I have read... some were great, for example Jan Kanturek, who translates Terry Pratchett books, won several main prizes for it. I have read those books in both English and Czech and I understand exactly why he want those prizes. Pure genius.
On the other hand, I have read several horrible short stories, something nagged me about it, so I look who translated them... you can guess, same name every time. And I almost put those autors on my black list of "never again". When you read the books in their native language and you are good enough to enjoy them, great, that's a way to go.

rebl · 03-30-2010, 05:34 AM

A bad translation can ruin a book, indeed

darknessangel · 04-04-2010, 09:29 AM

While 95% of my library is in English, there are sometimes that I really miss some literature in German. Also, sometimes the version in the original language is so superior and you miss nice details or ambience on the translation (like the Count of Montecristo in French). And now I have to learn Dutch and want some books to start.

In summary... not finding a book in it's original language bugs me, but... I'm willing to make sacrifices for the greater good (which is the worldwide sharing of books).

GJMS

03-29-2010, 10:09 AM	#17
rebl r.eads e.njoys b.ooks lol Posts: 76 Karma: 580748 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: It's time to get this Book a Rest Device: Kindle 4 NT	My ebooks are moslty in two languages (English + my native language), maybe a few in German and French. I don't mind reanding in English when I can't find in my native language, although, depending on the topic and corresponding vocabulary I might prefer my native language. (I can read science and sci-fi in English with no problems but an historical novel might have a higher precentage of terms I'm not familiar with). What really bothers me is that I can't find a way to easily sort and organize my collection by language. I am yet to decide between these folder structures: ebooks/[language]/nn.Topic/Author Name/title.ext (or /Title/title.ext when having several format) or ebooks/nn.Topic/Author Name/[language]/Title ... etc or even ebooks/nn.Topic/Author Name/Title/[lang]-title.ext Don't ask me why organizing them in folders! I like browsing my folders like taking a walk through a library. Last edited by rebl; 03-29-2010 at 10:09 AM. Reason: between :D

03-29-2010, 01:45 PM	#19
pkovak Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth Device: none	English is not my native language, but I read a lot of books in this language. Helped me to improve my vocabulary I have also read many books in Czech, my native language and the only other one I know well enough to read books in. If the book was written in English, I prefer English - if for nothing else, then because I don't want to wait years for them to be released in Czech, if ever. Translated books I have read... some were great, for example Jan Kanturek, who translates Terry Pratchett books, won several main prizes for it. I have read those books in both English and Czech and I understand exactly why he want those prizes. Pure genius. On the other hand, I have read several horrible short stories, something nagged me about it, so I look who translated them... you can guess, same name every time. And I almost put those autors on my black list of "never again". When you read the books in their native language and you are good enough to enjoy them, great, that's a way to go. Last edited by pkovak; 03-29-2010 at 01:48 PM.

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01-25-2010, 07:25 PM	#16
Joebill Fanatic Posts: 517 Karma: 459442 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Alpha Centauri's Library of Alexandria Device: Pandigital Novel	Hmmm... I would hope that a book is in a language I know. American English is what I know best, with some bits of British English from various stories I have read. I wouldn't mind finding some in languages I am attempting to learn. At present, that is just Japanese I am attempting. I am not very good at it. I would like to learn Comanche. I have found a source of learning materials. Some of my ancestors are Comanche.

03-29-2010, 12:03 PM	#18
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	It was never much of an issue for me because English is my native language. But I do read in French as well and find it a challenge to improve my French when there is so little available. For example the book which won the 'Canada Reads' promo on CBC is actually originally a French book but Kobo only had the English version. With a book like that, given the choice, I would have rather had the French. The only French ebooks I have found are things like The Three Muskteers on Project Gutenberg.

03-30-2010, 05:34 AM	#20
rebl r.eads e.njoys b.ooks lol Posts: 76 Karma: 580748 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: It's time to get this Book a Rest Device: Kindle 4 NT	A bad translation can ruin a book, indeed

04-04-2010, 09:29 AM	#21
darknessangel Addict Posts: 297 Karma: 1018140 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: PRS-505, iPad	While 95% of my library is in English, there are sometimes that I really miss some literature in German. Also, sometimes the version in the original language is so superior and you miss nice details or ambience on the translation (like the Count of Montecristo in French). And now I have to learn Dutch and want some books to start. In summary... not finding a book in it's original language bugs me, but... I'm willing to make sacrifices for the greater good (which is the worldwide sharing of books). GJMS

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