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Learning TechSpeak in a New Language?
dlthomas asks: "I'm a tech worker moving to a country where English is not the primary language. While I've found lots of resources for learning the language, I'm wondering what resources people know of for learning technical jargon (and any unique grammatical constructions) in languages other than English. I'm personally looking for Latin-American Spanish, but would still be interested in seeing broader discussion."
I don't think this qualifies as "jargon," but I found it interesting when asking a Chinese friend of mine to teach me some Mandarin that the term for computer translates literally to mean "electronic brain." That's a lot cooler than the English etymology.
My mother tongue is Portuguese, which is a Latin language, similar to Spanish.
I'm not absolutely sure if things in Latin America are just like in Portugal. We don't have much of our own jargon, we mainly use the English words or some simple translation/neologisms. Maybe you'll have a little more trouble with Spanish speaking people, they are very tight to their language and are known to use their own words for everything ("all" English movies have Spanish doublings).
As an example, we use Megabytes as English people do, but Spanish use Megabitas.
You can use google and search for Spanish Tech Dictionary (found this one: http://www.spanish.bz/technology.htm).
KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid!
The KDE's Spanish Translation Team have done a very good job, take a look at their glossary: http://kurly.org/kde/glosario
The best way to predict the future is to invent it
This is true in most non-English languages, but it makes me wonder if the worldwide spread of tech calls for a standardized naming convention for technology, similar to the taxonomic system for plants and animals. Under this system, a black widow spider is "Latrodectus mactrans" no matter the local language. Ergo, a "server" might become "Servius filum" or whatever.
Ignorance is curable, stupid is forever.
red == network (or any old kind of net)
teclado = keyboard
ratón == mouse, but everybody I know says mouse.
tarjeta == card
disco duro == hard disk
programador == programmer
Many are obvious: Computadora, programa, cable.
Plain English ones:
hub, router, server, web, internet, dvd & cd (usually pronounced as the english letters!)
I'm sure I'll think of a bunch more right after I post this. One not really technical but odd: a VCR is (at least around here) a "vay achay" as in the spanish pronunciation of the letters V H. Similarly, a BMW is a bay emmay.
The best resource is people. Find some computer enthusiasts and talk to them in the language you're trying to learn. (Resist English!) You'll pick up the terminology just by being around it and being corrected when you use the wrong one.
Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
Si estas viniendo a Argentina no te hagas problemas, los terminos tecnicos en ingles los entendemos todos...
:)
Simplemente rodealos con las palabras en español apropiadas.
(for the Spanish Disabled)
If you're coming to Argentina don't worry, the technical jargon we all understand.
Just surround them with the proper spanish words
enjoy
NEOCA - Custom LED Flashlights
The country I now live in has a different language from my mother tongue, and it's not English :)
Just as with the 'normal' language, I learned all the tech terms by observing. After you get the basics of the language just read tech magazines or books, surf the local tech web sites, talk to computer nerds or listen to them talk. You can try visiting computer-related eshops which have pictures and just browse randomly, noticing the categories various things are listed under or descriptions given.
For example, if there is a picture of a memory module with the following description:
"ECC awoseihgna 266MHz pijsdae (aikjrst PC2100), sjlfdg 2GB."
It should be obvious that "awoseihgna" means registered, "pijsdae" means memory, "aikjrst" stands for standard or compatible, and "sjlfdg" is size or capacity. Note: sample words created by dropping hands on keyboard.
It (everything, not just the eshop thing) worked for me, and I think the talking/listening part is very important, as A) you will hear the pronunciation and B) many things have completely different 'official' and commonly used names, like box vs. computer in English but with 100:1 usage ratio.
Hope this helps.
Another thing you want to do is set goals. Give yourself a date where you want to totally turn off English (and any other languages you know). 2-3 months is usually good. However, in the shops you should speak Spanish from day one. It can be funny.
Another thing,
In some countries, although less in Spanish-speaking countries, you really have to watch out for people wanting to talk English with you once your Spanish gets good enough. When I first started learning German here in Berlin, I sometimes had to be very persistent in speaking German with people. At first you think it's just because your German sucks. But even after 6 years of speaking the language some people still respond in English.
Self-promotion: blixtra.org
As someone who's gone through this, I can assure you, technical language is going to be the least of your problems. I moved to France without speaking any French, and technical French was what I learned first and easiest, as there's a lot of influence from English, and it's what I used most. My French colleagues say the same thing about their English. Technical jargon is what they learned first and easiest.
Conversational language is what you'll have the most problems with. While there will be only one word for database, or network, there are three different ways to say that you're happy, or 19 different ways to express you feelings for someone.
So, to sum up... Don't sweat the small stuff, and start boning up for everything else...
So, to sum up
http://barrapunto.com/
/. but not as active. Has contributors and posters from both Spain and Latin America.
A Linux/tech news and discussion site in Spanish built on Slashcode. Like
French technophiles say this stuff all the time. After all, who do you think invented "Le Script Kiddie"? - cr43ndR3 mo1 1337 h4X0r - 4V01r w00t?
Uruguay, actually.