I hope a meta post like this is fine. I have seen some people literally translate Zangendeutsch into English. In my opinion, this community should focus on literally translating proper German into English. Otherwise, all meaning gets lost rather quickly.
I understand this contribution not. What for one strange language is that?
Explain
Probably this comment. My opinion after, this makes fun and is no problem, but naturally is harder to understand.
This is what I meant. If it’s used rarely, it might be fun. But if it’s used more frequently, it will quickly make everything unintelligible. I’m not advocating for a complete ban but for some guidelines to keep it rare.
Are you talking about my comment?
Wait, is this the place where we always yet disturb may mays pole can?
Translated:
Warte, ist dies der Platz wo wir immer noch Stör Maimais posten können?
(Was ist daran Zangendeutsch?)
Not OP and not using any “weird” language in any way.
IMHO: (mis-)translating literally from English to German to get Zangendeutsch and then (mis-)translating the result again to English to get very weird language is bad.
I’m torn on whether it’s fine or not to use e.g. German word order while (mis-)translating literally, as those can be very hard to read and understand, but may yield hilarious results. I’m more on the “please don’t do that” faction for that in general.
What’s definitely fine is using German sayings and compound words and (mis-)translating them literally.
Do you also like to give your mustard to this, yet?
(Or with German word order: Like you also yet your mustard to that give?)
I think using German word order is fine, as long as you are careful.
Plier English may include:
- literal translations of common German phrases (not the yellow of the egg)
- intentional mistranslations of words (I like eating blue bears)
- transfers of German word order into English (I like it when it spicy is)
But you probably shouldn’t combine more than two of these methods in a single phase. Did I forget any methods?
Honestly, I will leave it up to the users. Main intention would be literal translation. If things are unclear, reiterations can be made. If German word order is too hard for some, they can do English word order, however German idioms and Germanisms must be literally translated.
Otherwise, when we hit the ten post mark, we can just hold a vote whether to use German word order or not. However I will be for at least using some German grammar such as using “in the” and “of the” in instances that are usual for German but not English. Example: “That is the car of the Mr. Miller.” instead of “That is Mr. Müller’s car.” (Das ist das Auto vom Herrn Müller)