Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
英文 vs 英語
English translation:
written vs spoken English
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
Jul 3, 2006 05:33
18 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Chinese term
United States
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Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Japanese to English, French to English, and 3 more.
英文 vs 英語
Non-PRO
Chinese to English
Science
Education / Pedagogy
Grammatical Analysis
Sentence: 他說英文的時候，有很重的美國口音，所以我知道他不是英國人。
1st Attempt: When he speaks English, he speaks with a very heavy USAmerican accent, so I know that he is not from the UK.
Question: Why do you think the author writes 英文, rather than 英語? Are both acceptable in this context? Is one more appropriate than the other? After all, it is the spoken word that is at issue here, is it not?
As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the sentence, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Warning: In order to provide ProZ.com users with the best glossary entries possible, more than one question for the same entry will be asked from time to time. Please keep in mind when responding that you will be graded on your responses to ALL questions asked.
1st Attempt: When he speaks English, he speaks with a very heavy USAmerican accent, so I know that he is not from the UK.
Question: Why do you think the author writes 英文, rather than 英語? Are both acceptable in this context? Is one more appropriate than the other? After all, it is the spoken word that is at issue here, is it not?
As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the sentence, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Warning: In order to provide ProZ.com users with the best glossary entries possible, more than one question for the same entry will be asked from time to time. Please keep in mind when responding that you will be graded on your responses to ALL questions asked.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +4 | Written English vs. Spoken English |
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
|
Proposed translations
+4
20 mins
Selected
Written English vs. Spoken English
This is also a good question.
我不会英文，我只会说英语。不过，大家都是翻译者，有时间的时候，我倒可以陪大家说说英文，谈谈英语。
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Note added at 22 mins (2006-07-03 05:55:32 GMT)
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Correction: 我不会说英文，我只会说英语。不过，大家都是翻译者，有时间的时候，我倒可以陪大家说说英文，谈谈英语。
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Note added at 24 mins (2006-07-03 05:57:24 GMT)
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However, most people do not distinguish written and spoken languages nowadays. I don't mind at all, because we always know which one is meant in the context.
我不会英文，我只会说英语。不过，大家都是翻译者，有时间的时候，我倒可以陪大家说说英文，谈谈英语。
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Note added at 22 mins (2006-07-03 05:55:32 GMT)
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Correction: 我不会说英文，我只会说英语。不过，大家都是翻译者，有时间的时候，我倒可以陪大家说说英文，谈谈英语。
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Note added at 24 mins (2006-07-03 05:57:24 GMT)
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However, most people do not distinguish written and spoken languages nowadays. I don't mind at all, because we always know which one is meant in the context.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Final rendering: When he speaks English, he speaks with a very heavy USAmerican accent, so I know that he is not from the UK.
Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part2/II-9b-g.html#s20 for further discussion.
Acknowledgement: I am glad to see that so many people can at least agree on some of the answers to my questions. Thank you, Wenjer, peter, Chinoise, wherestip, and Bill.
Certainly I will feel more confident in the future about using "jing man" when I mean to say "jing jy".
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/phonics2.html
Best wishes from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides.
"
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