Do you read books in more than one language? - Page 8

irenas · 05-16-2010, 05:15 PM

For almost 20 years i read mostly in English (my second language) because there were more books available for me , but now with my book reader i read in English and Russian.

Freeshadow · 05-17-2010, 09:33 PM

I'm Polish so reading in native language is one point.
Since I live nearle 20 years in Germany and speak german on the same level of quality as polish, i could name it as equal to native.

so the Poll misses an "I'm multilingual or multi-native speaker" option

Finally I've got to name english since i got used to read and use english texts by Linux usage and RPG

from then on I read some of my stuff in english, even if I have to accept that it is a bit heavier sometimes *sigh*
But I'd never let myself frighten of bythe fact that a good book is available only in english to me and Cooks Wizardry series taught me it is worth the effort

tehKitten · 05-18-2010, 02:03 AM

I'm Dutch, but I read all my books in the original language because then it feels more 'real'. So no translations for me. I use it a little bit for my language skills, but mainly for the real feeling ;3

trekker99 · 05-19-2010, 11:35 AM

I read mostly in English, but do enjoy reading an occasional Chinese novel. Since the education system in my country (Singapore) requires every student to study a second language (typically Mandarin, Malay or Tamil) up to middle school, everyone here is effectively bilingual. I have found that to be really good in the 2nd language, reading books in that language is pretty important.

Too bad the Chinese ebook library offered by my library uses a different DRM scheme, so I can't load it into my ebook reader.

rogue_librarian · 05-19-2010, 11:44 AM

I am reading mostly English books, although it's not my mother tongue. Why? I enjoy reading books in the original language and abhor most translations. Sure, if I don't speak the language a good translation is better than nothing, but if the original is available and I speak it I much prefer that. I also read books in German and French on occasion.

Since I'm starting out to learn Spanish I expect to read a few books in that language as well before too long.

anabelee · 05-28-2010, 05:43 AM

In the last six months, I read half the books in English, that is not my native language, I started to do this because they are unavailable in spanish ebook, generally.

But now, I prefer reading the author in its native language if possible, and as I read a lot of Science Fiction. There is a lot of good writers in english, so I try to read them from the original. I know now I was loosing a lot with poor translations, in some cases.

FlorenceArt · 05-28-2010, 06:04 AM

My native language is French, but I hate to read poorly translated books. Unfortunately the only other language I can read fluently is English, so I read a lot of English books. Books in other languages I read in the French translation, sometimes grinding my teeth at the horrid translation

Of course I also read French books in French

lukasfikr · 05-28-2010, 02:27 PM

Most of my books I read in English, but some in Czech (my native language), Slovak (very close), Russian (which I was forced to learn at school) and Spanish.

Mike_73 · 05-29-2010, 04:46 AM

I wish I could read russian. I find the alphabet very interesting

Latinandgreek · 05-29-2010, 05:12 AM

I mostly read books in English, but I also often read in Croatian, French, Italian, Latin and Greek. Occasionally I read in Spanish. I took some Catalan, German and Japanese courses a few years ago and would love to start reading in those languages.

max861 · 05-30-2010, 08:26 AM

I just read a native language, speak as many languages as well

sorinxdx · 05-30-2010, 09:18 AM

I don't read pretty much anything in my native language. I read in English. As for reasons they are diverse: work related, pleasure related(huge selection to choose from) and also because I'm always looking to improve my english.

Jaime_Astorga · 05-31-2010, 12:46 PM

Although I am a native Spanish speaker, all of my "serious" education took place in English, so that is the langauge I know the most vocabulary and expressions in. Consequently, I mostly read in English. It works out for me, too, since between the U.S. and England, it is probably easier to find reading materials written in English than in other languages.

happy_terd · 06-02-2010, 01:37 PM

Just English here. I wouldnt mind learning another language though.

Logseman · 06-02-2010, 05:59 PM

I read in Spanish and English indifferently. German needs an effort from my side, an effort that I really want to make.

View Poll Results: Do you read inmore than one language? What and why?
No, I only read in my native language	65	25.39%
Yes, I read in another language---for work reasons	8	3.13%
Yes, I read in another language---some books are not available in my native language	44	17.19%
Yes, I read in another language---to improve my language skills in that language	60	23.44%
Yes, I read in another language---for another reason not mentioned (please explain)	71	27.73%
Other	8	3.13%
Voters: 256. You may not vote on this poll

05-19-2010, 11:44 AM	#110
rogue_librarian Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 4269175 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Europe Device: Pocketbook Basic 613	I am reading mostly English books, although it's not my mother tongue. Why? I enjoy reading books in the original language and abhor most translations. Sure, if I don't speak the language a good translation is better than nothing, but if the original is available and I speak it I much prefer that. I also read books in German and French on occasion. Since I'm starting out to learn Spanish I expect to read a few books in that language as well before too long. Last edited by rogue_librarian; 05-28-2010 at 01:41 AM.

05-31-2010, 12:46 PM	#118
Jaime_Astorga Member Retired Posts: 274 Karma: 4446 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Device: PRS-350-SC: Sony Reader Pocket Edition	Although I am a native Spanish speaker, all of my "serious" education took place in English, so that is the langauge I know the most vocabulary and expressions in. Consequently, I mostly read in English. It works out for me, too, since between the U.S. and England, it is probably easier to find reading materials written in English than in other languages. Last edited by Jaime_Astorga; 06-05-2010 at 01:42 PM.

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05-16-2010, 05:15 PM	#106
irenas Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orange County Device: Astak EZ reader	For almost 20 years i read mostly in English (my second language) because there were more books available for me , but now with my book reader i read in English and Russian.

05-17-2010, 09:33 PM	#107
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	I'm Polish so reading in native language is one point. Since I live nearle 20 years in Germany and speak german on the same level of quality as polish, i could name it as equal to native. so the Poll misses an "I'm multilingual or multi-native speaker" option Finally I've got to name english since i got used to read and use english texts by Linux usage and RPG from then on I read some of my stuff in english, even if I have to accept that it is a bit heavier sometimes sigh But I'd never let myself frighten of bythe fact that a good book is available only in english to me and Cooks Wizardry series taught me it is worth the effort

05-18-2010, 02:03 AM	#108
tehKitten Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 696 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: none	I'm Dutch, but I read all my books in the original language because then it feels more 'real'. So no translations for me. I use it a little bit for my language skills, but mainly for the real feeling ;3

05-19-2010, 11:35 AM	#109
trekker99 Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 487442 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9	I read mostly in English, but do enjoy reading an occasional Chinese novel. Since the education system in my country (Singapore) requires every student to study a second language (typically Mandarin, Malay or Tamil) up to middle school, everyone here is effectively bilingual. I have found that to be really good in the 2nd language, reading books in that language is pretty important. Too bad the Chinese ebook library offered by my library uses a different DRM scheme, so I can't load it into my ebook reader.

05-28-2010, 05:43 AM	#111
anabelee Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 583 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vigo, Spain Device: Woxter Scriba 150, pocketbook 360	In the last six months, I read half the books in English, that is not my native language, I started to do this because they are unavailable in spanish ebook, generally. But now, I prefer reading the author in its native language if possible, and as I read a lot of Science Fiction. There is a lot of good writers in english, so I try to read them from the original. I know now I was loosing a lot with poor translations, in some cases.

05-28-2010, 06:04 AM	#112
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	My native language is French, but I hate to read poorly translated books. Unfortunately the only other language I can read fluently is English, so I read a lot of English books. Books in other languages I read in the French translation, sometimes grinding my teeth at the horrid translation Of course I also read French books in French

05-28-2010, 02:27 PM	#113
lukasfikr Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cowtown, Alberta Device: Sony PRS-650, Kindle 3, Apple iPad/iPhone 4	Most of my books I read in English, but some in Czech (my native language), Slovak (very close), Russian (which I was forced to learn at school) and Spanish.

05-29-2010, 04:46 AM	#114
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	I wish I could read russian. I find the alphabet very interesting

05-29-2010, 05:12 AM	#115
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I mostly read books in English, but I also often read in Croatian, French, Italian, Latin and Greek. Occasionally I read in Spanish. I took some Catalan, German and Japanese courses a few years ago and would love to start reading in those languages.

05-30-2010, 08:26 AM	#116
max861 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: no	I just read a native language, speak as many languages as well

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05-30-2010, 09:18 AM	#117
sorinxdx Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Romania Device: Irex Iliad	I don't read pretty much anything in my native language. I read in English. As for reasons they are diverse: work related, pleasure related(huge selection to choose from) and also because I'm always looking to improve my english.

06-02-2010, 01:37 PM	#119
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	Just English here. I wouldnt mind learning another language though.

06-02-2010, 05:59 PM	#120
Logseman Orisa Posts: 2,001 Karma: 1035571 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Onyx Poke 5	I read in Spanish and English indifferently. German needs an effort from my side, an effort that I really want to make.