atw: Re: Looks good, but ....

> "Fluency" tends to be identifiable with whether you "think in" the =
language. If=20
> you think in yur native language, then mentally translate into the =
second=20
> language as you speak, you'll rarely display anything like true =
fluency.

This is an interesting definition - I speak French as a second language, =
and when I'm immersed in it I tend to think in it - but not with =
anything near the fluency of native speakers. My grandparents are =
another example of this - native Dutch speakers, they think in English, =
presumably the same way they talk English... badly, with an accent!


But another interesting point about this discussion is something I am =
currently dealing with. My company is dealing with an Indian software =
company. Indian English seems to be stuck in turn-of-the-century (that =
would be the turn before last) colonial English, and involves using as =
many words as possible to convey a minimum of information. This is also =
their verbal style. (In my opinion. Allegedly.)

On top of this, in this particular company they have "generalists" - =
that is, one person does the analysis, design and build work for a =
project. So we also have the "developer wrote this" factor...

It can be very frustrating to figure out what they mean (and I'm sure =
there are things about our use of language that drives them nuts, as =
well - my only solace!), but if you sit down and look at it, you can =
actually figure out the bits which are simply their normal forms of =
expression, and which bits are just badly written, and that's quite =
interesting. Though it doesn't necessarily aid comprehension.

I suspect, also, that the wordiness of their English may be influenced =
by the forms of the other Indian languages and culture, but I don't know =
a great deal about them. Something to check out one day.



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