NationStates Jolt Archive

I was looking over my books the other day, and noticed that there were some things that I had a ridiculous number of versions or translations of.

For example, Bibles. And Shakespeare's plays. And dictionaries. I even have excerpts from The Divine Comedy in the original Tuscan dialect.

Am I the only one who's this nerdy? Or are there other people who do this too? And what's your reason for it?

Personally, I just like to see language differences because I find them interesting and useful for understanding.

My abilities with other languages aren't good enough to bother with other translations of things. I'd lose the nuance anyway.

My abilities with other languages aren't good enough to bother with other translations of things. I'd lose the nuance anyway.

That's a fair point. But in the case of The Divine Comedy, for example, I wasn't looking at the original language for nuance, but for a better sense of the rhythm and rhyme scheme. It was quite helpful in that respect.

There are a few books I have in both German and English, in cases where I already had the German version since before my English was fluent enough to read English books in English. The Lord of the Rings, for example, or The Grapes of Wrath. Not many, though.

Practically all the books I read are originally English language so I read them in English, so I only have one version of them because there's no need to buy a translation, too.

For books in foreign languages other than English I buy the German translation. I don't think I've ever bought an original in a language I don't speak just to own the original.
I might buy a French book in French on top of the German translation, maybe, if it really spoke to me and/or if it was poetry (French is about the only other language that I'm somewhat "fluent" in (not really, but for reading purposes, you know...)).

*snip*
I thought you meant several different English translations of a single book, which I do have (the Bible).
I think I may have a few books in German, too, but I don't speak German and am not sure where they came from. I don't know if I have the English versions of what they are.

I thought you meant several different English translations of a single book, which I do have (the Bible).
I think I may have a few books in German, too, but I don't speak German and am not sure where they came from. I don't know if I have the English versions of what they are.

Well, I was meaning "versions" as slightly different translations in the same language, and translations as being in another language entirely.

I have a fair number of versions of the Bible. Which ones do you have?

I've got 3 or 4 versions of War and Peace. GREATEST BOOK EVER! I don't like the historical philosophy of Tolstoy much, but the novelistic part is awesome! If you haven't read it, READ IT!!!

I've got 2 copies of "The Wealth of Nations"

More copies then I can count of some of the Harry Potter Books, spread across 3 states.

I have an English and Arabic version of the Qur'an rolled into one book.

Yes, I have different translations and editions of quite a few books. I don't think that's all that terribly nerdy. :)

4 versions of the Bible, two versions of Goethe's Faust, three Odyssey, two Illiad, two versions of Beowulf

dozens of different copies of Shakespeare and two copies of Moby-Dick

Am I the only one who's this nerdy? Or are there other people who do this too? And what's your reason for it?

Personally, I just like to see language differences because I find them interesting and useful for understanding.

I do. There's several 'classics' I have in those handy "several languages in one book" versions, most notably my one Waiting For Godot copy that is laid out so that you'll have the repeating cycle of a French page, then a German one, an English one, and then starting again with the continuation of the first page in French.. makes it confusing to read, but a fun book to own.

I've got the German translation of most French and Spanish books I own because I'm not confident enough about my fluency in those languages to rely on the original only for complete understanding.

All my books are in English. I may have the odd Irish or German textbook lying around, if that counts.

I have a couple of different translations of Herodotus, same for the I Ching, and Hagakure.

not really. i don't read too much anyhow... i do have multiple versions of some movies, however >.>

might have a few versions of LOTR hanging about. don't think i have a bible.
and i certainly wouldn't have books in different languages, considering how much i suck at learning other ones :P

not really. i don't read too much anyhow... i do have multiple versions of some movies, however >.>


Nice, quick, effective and fun way to learn a catchphrase in various languages: Get a DVD with Titanic in as many languages as possible, fast forward to the scene where the two walk down a corridor together despite that not being allowed, then being stopped by an on-board cop wannabe, whom they'll then flip off and give a nice "Fuck off!" shout.

.. immensely educational if viewed in different languages.

Nice, quick, effective and fun way to learn a catchphrase in various languages: Get a DVD with Titanic in as many languages as possible, fast forward to the scene where the two walk down a corridor together despite that not being allowed, then being stopped by an on-board cop wannabe, whom they'll then flip off and give a nice "Fuck off!" shout.

.. immensely educational if viewed in different languages.

Have you ever thought about joining the Dilpomatic Corps?

Have you ever thought about joining the Dilpomatic Corps?

Indeed I have; funny you should ask. I am, however, too young and too degree-less to take any active steps towards an application as of right now :]

I only speak English, and I wouldn't get another copy of a book I already own when I could spend the money on something I don't.

I was looking over my books the other day, and noticed that there were some things that I had a ridiculous number of versions or translations of.

For example, Bibles. And Shakespeare's plays. And dictionaries. I even have excerpts from The Divine Comedy in the original Tuscan dialect.

Am I the only one who's this nerdy? Or are there other people who do this too? And what's your reason for it?

Personally, I just like to see language differences because I find them interesting and useful for understanding.

You think that's bad, er good? Take a look at Goethe's Faust.

Edit: I own four copies/translations of The Prince, by Machiavelli.

hmmmm when i started the thread i was thinking "well i have a few copies of lord of the rings" but having read through...

of course i have a couple different bibles including the new testament in greek.

of course i have a couple different translations of the tao de ching including the chinese.

of course i have a couple different translations of the iliad.

surely everyone has a bunch of different dictionaries.

There are a few books I have in both German and English, in cases where I already had the German version since before my English was fluent enough to read English books in English. The Lord of the Rings, for example, or The Grapes of Wrath. Not many, though.That's horrible.

Indeed I have; funny you should ask. I am, however, too young and too degree-less to take any active steps towards an application as of right now :]The Auswärtiges Amt takes applicants without degrees, as far as I know. Requirements are good knowledge of English, French, and German, as far as I know.

The Auswärtiges Amt takes applicants without degrees, as far as I know. Requirements are good knowledge of English, French, and German, as far as I know.

Not for the höhere Dienst, which is what I'd be looking at. Trust me, I really have been looking into this quite seriously, so I better know that.

Here's a link anyhow (http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/AAmt/AusbildungKarriere/AA-Taetigkeit/HoehererDienst/Uebersicht.html); it makes for quite interesting reading if you care for such things.

Not for the höhere Dienst, which is what I'd be looking at. Trust me, I really have been looking into this quite seriously, so I better know that.

Here's a link anyhow (http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/AAmt/AusbildungKarriere/AA-Taetigkeit/HoehererDienst/Uebersicht.html); it makes for quite interesting reading if you care for such things.Hm... I wonder how the define "wissenschaftliches Hochschulstudium." I might actually qualify, once I manage to graduate.

Yes, I have different translations and editions of quite a few books. I don't think that's all that terribly nerdy. :)

That's probably because you're a nerd. :p

I do. There's several 'classics' I have in those handy "several languages in one book" versions, most notably my one Waiting For Godot copy that is laid out so that you'll have the repeating cycle of a French page, then a German one, an English one, and then starting again with the continuation of the first page in French.. makes it confusing to read, but a fun book to own.

That would be really cool, and a good way to help learn other languages.

hmmmm when i started the thread i was thinking "well i have a few copies of lord of the rings" but having read through...

of course i have a couple different bibles including the new testament in greek.

of course i have a couple different translations of the tao de ching including the chinese.

of course i have a couple different translations of the iliad.

surely everyone has a bunch of different dictionaries.

Don't call me Shirley.

But seriously, do you read Greek and Chinese?

I was looking over my books the other day, and noticed that there were some things that I had a ridiculous number of versions or translations of.

For example, Bibles. And Shakespeare's plays. And dictionaries. I even have excerpts from The Divine Comedy in the original Tuscan dialect.

Am I the only one who's this nerdy? Or are there other people who do this too? And what's your reason for it?

Personally, I just like to see language differences because I find them interesting and useful for understanding.

I have multiple bible translations... I think that is pretty common these days... Some stuff I also have multiple translations of, such as works by Geoffrey Chaucer or Homer... With Shakespeare, I only have original language works, and even though I have dual translation Chaucer works, I tend to read such in the original language (Middle English is not that hard, and I see no reason why someone would need a translation of Elizabethean version of Modern English).

Hm... I wonder how the define "wissenschaftliches Hochschulstudium." I might actually qualify, once I manage to graduate.

Well, I guess it might exclude a couple of the more 'practical' FH courses and maybe the old Lehramtsstudiengänge, but you ought to be fine with any BA / MA / Diplom / Magister, or so I'd say. What's it you're trying out for, Diplom?

I will have to brush up on my Spanish and French if I still plan to apply some day, but seeing how I'd want to finish all my other uni courses and probably my Rferendariat first, that'll take another few years.

That's probably because you're a nerd. :p



That would be really cool, and a good way to help learn other languages.



Don't call me Shirley.

But seriously, do you read Greek and Chinese?

i took both in college. im 50 now. my greek and chinese are very rusty.

classical greek is the bestest language to learn. those ancient greeks knew shit.

chinese is good too but it has a pretty long lead time to being able to read the classics.

That would be really cool, and a good way to help learn other languages.

I'm not sure just how well that is suited to actually learn a language from more or less scratch, but it sure is a very nice way to get you to read in a language you know somewhat, but would never pick up a book in if it were on its own.

Well, I guess it might exclude a couple of the more 'practical' FH courses and maybe the old Lehramtsstudiengänge, but you ought to be fine with any BA / MA / Diplom / Magister, or so I'd say. What's it you're trying out for, Diplom? Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Resource Management. Bachelor should meet the "hochschul" part.

I will have to brush up on my Spanish and French if I still plan to apply some day, but seeing how I'd want to finish all my other uni courses and probably my Rferendariat first, that'll take another few years.Well, you'd only need one :p

I have multiple bible translations... The only book I have in both English and German is "My Secret Garden" by Nancy Friday. The funny thing about that is that I picked both of them up in a church...

Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Resource Management. Bachelor should meet the "hochschul" part.
As an aspiring BA, I sure hope so. Though of course my bachelor is oh so much superior to yours, what with being from the Social Sciences and all.. ;P

Well, you'd only need one :p

.. to meet minimum requirements, yes. ;P

As an aspiring BA, I sure hope so. Though of course my bachelor is oh so much superior to yours, what with being from the Social Sciences and all.. ;PFunny you should mention social sciences, considering that I have a block seminar on Environmental Economics this weekend...
.. to meet minimum requirements, yes. ;P
:rolleyes: :p

I have multiple bible translations... I think that is pretty common these days... Some stuff I also have multiple translations of, such as works by Geoffrey Chaucer or Homer... With Shakespeare, I only have original language works, and even though I have dual translation Chaucer works, I tend to read such in the original language (Middle English is not that hard, and I see no reason why someone would need a translation of Elizabethean version of Modern English).

Yeah, it's not so bad. It didn't take me long to get the hang of it when we were covering Chaucer in college.

i took both in college. im 50 now. my greek and chinese are very rusty.

classical greek is the bestest language to learn. those ancient greeks knew shit.

chinese is good too but it has a pretty long lead time to being able to read the classics.

Well it's understandable that they're rusty. My Japanese is pitiful now because I seldom use it.

I'd like to learn classical Greek. There are plenty of philosophical writings that I'd like to read in the original language, in addition to the New Testament.

Yeah, I imagine it would take me quite a long time to get to the point where I could read the I Ching in the original language. I'll just stick to the English version I have for now.

I'm not sure just how well that is suited to actually learn a language from more or less scratch, but it sure is a very nice way to get you to read in a language you know somewhat, but would never pick up a book in if it were on its own.

One way I like to help myself learn a language is to get a dictionary for that language and English, then work my way through a text in that language. It actually helps a lot, in my experience.

I just like to have a sense of the pronunciation and basic syntactical structures first.

Funny you should mention social sciences, considering that I have a block seminar on Environmental Economics this weekend...
Oh, do have fun! I'll have one on "Vergangenheitsbewältigung und Jugend" week after next; hope that'll be interesting but I think it will.
:rolleyes: :p

*/smileyspam* ;P

One way I like to help myself learn a language is to get a dictionary for that language and English, then work my way through a text in that language. It actually helps a lot, in my experience.

I just like to have a sense of the pronunciation and basic syntactical structures first.
I've found going out drinking with other people under the premise that you may only converse in said language is a very effective way as well, particularly for learning how to speak a particular language. You'll also learn words you'll need, which is something book-learning often fails in.

I've found going out drinking with other people under the premise that you may only converse in said language is a very effective way as well, particularly for learning how to speak a particular language. You'll also learn words you'll need, which is something book-learning often fails in.

Indeed. I would have never learned a lot of...uh...useful words in Spanish had I not grown up around people who were actually speaking it.

Indeed. I would have never learned a lot of...uh...useful words in Spanish had I not grown up around people who were actually speaking it.Heh :p
Also, the drinking helps loossen your tongue somewhat; you're less afraid of making mistakes when you're a bit tipsy, and that makes it easier to find out what you're doing wrong for others.

I've got the English and French of several of Sartre and Camus' books (Les Mouches, Huis-Clos, L'etranger, La peste.), and an English and Russian version of Turgenev's Fathers and Sons.

I was looking over my books the other day, and noticed that there were some things that I had a ridiculous number of versions or translations of.

For example, Bibles. And Shakespeare's plays. And dictionaries. I even have excerpts from The Divine Comedy in the original Tuscan dialect.

Am I the only one who's this nerdy? Or are there other people who do this too? And what's your reason for it?

Personally, I just like to see language differences because I find them interesting and useful for understanding.

No, but my parents have a few books in Bengali.

That's horrible.

The old green one?? It's great! The new one is awful. Which is why I'd never give away my old green books, no matter how garish they look.

I've got a few different English translations of the Bible and two versions of The Hobbit. I've also got a couple Spanish books from Spain, though I don't have English translations for them (only one of them has even been published in English). English is my first language and I'm semi-fluent in Spanish, I can read and speak some German and I can only speak a little bit of Japanese. Can't read a word of Japanese, not even what I can speak. I did try learning at least the hiragana and katakana once, but it never stuck.

Well, I was meaning "versions" as slightly different translations in the same language, and translations as being in another language entirely.

I have a fair number of versions of the Bible. Which ones do you have?

The King James, New American, and Jerusalem, I think.

The King James, New American, and Jerusalem, I think.

That's a pretty good spread.

I have the KJV and the NAB. I also have the RSV, the NJB, the NIV, and nine different versions of the New Testament. And those are just the ones that are in English.

I have both English and German editions of Shakespeare's sonnets, most of Marx and Marx/Engels, Geothe, Thomas Mann, and sundry other philosophers. And Wittgenstein, how could I forget him?