Why is a translation "not the same"

[Liquinn3]

Why is a translation of a text "not the same"?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Because all languages have many ways to say the same.

[MWoll]

If you want to get into this, read "le ton beau de marot" by douglas hofstadter.

[Liquinn3]

I translated a message from English into Spanish... it doesn't feel the same. =[

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

For "feeling" what a language is saying, one needs to know a lot of the culture and the meaningful formulas for the foreign speakers, that is why translation is a tough job highly paid. After a certain degree of knowledge, one learns to have a better idea of what expressions convey more or less the same ideas from one language into the other.

[Liquinn3]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

For "feeling" what a language is saying, one needs to know a lot of the culture and the meaningful formulas for the foreign speakers, that is why translation is a tough job highly paid. After a certain degree of knowledge, one learns to have a better idea of what expressions convey more or less the same ideas from one language into the other.

If I give you the original and translated could you tell me what you think is the translated version?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I don't know; I probably could. Sometimes it's easy to spot a translated text from the formulas used in it that remind the original language. But it might be more useful for you to avoid trying to translate what you mean and do your best to think in the foreign language. That is why I always advise learners to start with the most basic structures first and then build up stronger sentences and more complex ideas.

[Mozzo]

Sometimes what is written does not carry the literal meaning. A simple example is the English expression "That's nice". It really means something closer to "I'm not interested and do not care".

[Liquinn3]

Is any of this translated?

¡Hola a todos!/hello to everyone!/Hola a tots!

ESPAÑOL: Mi nombre es Silvia y soy española. Tengo 24 años y soy estudiante de fisioterapia en la universidad. Me encantan los idiomas, especialmente el inglés. Mi sueño es hablarlo bien algun día. Me gusta viajar, salir con amigos, ir al cine, leer y la naturaleza. Me gustaría encontrar alguien en Inglaterra, Estados Unidos o Canadá que quisiera practicar inglés conmigo. Sería todo un placer ayudaros con el español y el catalán.

ENGLISH: My name's Silvia and I'm 24-year-old girl from Spain. I'm currently a college student. I love foreign languages, mainly English. My dream is to speak a fluent English some day. I like travelling, hanging out with friends, going to the movies, reading and nature. I'd really love to find someone in England, USA or Canada who'd like to practice English with me. I could help you with your Spanish or Catalan.

CATALÀ: Em dic Sílvia i tinc 24 anys. Actualment, soc estudiant de fisioterapia a la universitat. M'agraden els idiomes, especialment si es tracta de l'anglés. El meu somni es parlar-lo bé algún dia. M'encanta viatjar, sortir amb amics, anar al cine, llegir i la naturalesa. Desitjaria trobar algú d'Anglaterra, Estats Units o Canada que volgués practicar anglés amb mi. Per descomptat, seria tot un plaer ajudar-vos amb l'espanyol o Català.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Liquinn3

Mi nombre es Silvia

This sounds translated. Nearly all native speakers would say Me llamo Silvia.

My dream is to speak a fluent English some day.

This also sounds translated. I don't think I've ever heard a native speaker talk about "a fluent English". "To speak English fluently" is far more natural.