我孫子市国際交流協会

Date/time: Sunday, Sep.23, 2006 1:30pm-4:00pm
Place: Civic Plaza (Room 2)
Instructor: Mr. Greg Getzan (USA)

Every year AIRA holds English translation class 3 times, the second of which for 2006 was held on September 23 with 6 learners attended.
Generally a column is chosen as an exercise material from leading newspapers.
The theme of the day was on working conditions involved for doctors at hospitals. With regard to the recent trend that doctors at hospitals tend to quit the profession, the column writer reasons that a decline of morale would be a matter of question.
The slight difference of pronunciation between the two words, moral and morale, comes from the different position of accent posed of the each word, which should be clearly pronounced, the instructor explained.
He raised some other examples on usage of words from the article.
A French word "reportage" is commonly expressed as "report" instead in English.
Japanese are talented in creating abridged new words. Kinmui and Kaigyoui will not be properly understood by English natives unless paraphrased as, for example, a doctor working at a hospital and at the doctor's office respectively.
One of students quoted a proverb, "A drowning person will even catch a straw", to which, however, the instructor showed negation saying that he had never heard such expression in English. It may be attributed to the difference of customs or way of thinking between the two nations. He said the word "clinic" should be used for a medical institute smaller than a hospital. The word "home doctor" should be replaced by "family doctor". He also suggested that unnecessary words or phrases should be drastically omitted as much as possible in creating better English.
One of Japanese favorite casual expressions, "as a result", for example, may be eliminated in most cases since the whole sentence is correctly understood without it.
He further advised that learners should bear in mind that all Katakana words have not necessarily originated in English.
After the fruitful study, all attended enjoyed chatting over some sweets and soft drinks.

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