Author: Kirk

“Translator” vs. “Interpreter”

Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Nouns

I often hear “translator” when people mean “interpreter”.

Problem:
The noun “interpreter” should be used when one specifically is referring to something spoken.

Explanation:
The primary definition of the noun “translator” is someone who translates written text from one language to another. The primary definition of the noun “interpreter” is someone who provides an oral interpretation between speakers who speak different languages.

In other words, “translator” is for written language, whereas “interpreter” is for spoken language.

Many will use “translator” when what they really mean is “interpreter”. I believe that this is consistent with my “Devolution toward Simpler” linguistic hypothesis. The noun “translator” has three syllables; the noun “interpreter” has four syllables and is more difficult to say.

Solution:
Use “translator” when you’re talking about someone who converts written text from one language to another language. Use “intepreter” when you’re talking about someone who converts spoken text from one language to another language.

“10 lucky employees and there one guest have …”

Common English Blunders, Nouns, Possessives, Pronouns

I saw this in an email message.

Problems:
1. Numbers that begin sentences should be written as words.
2. The word “there” is not a possessive pronoun.
3. It’s unclear whether the ten employees have one guest each or have a total of exactly one guest.

Explanation:
1. Some say that numbers less than 100 should be written as words, whereas others say that numbers less than ten should be written as words. Ignoring this controversy as well as the liberties taken by advertisers and headline writers, it is widely accepted that a number that begins a sentence should be written as a word.

2. The word “there” is not a possessive pronoun. As homonyms or homophones, “there” and “their” and “they’re” are too frequently misused. The guest belonging to or possessed by the employee(s) (see #3) takes the possessive pronoun “their” — not “there” or (even worse!) “they’re”.

3. Based on the first two explanations, we can rewrite this sentence introduction as “Ten lucky employees and their one guest have …”, but confusion remains! We don’t know whether each employee has a guest or the ten employees as a group have one guest. The remainder of the sentence was “… the opportunity to go on the floor and greet the [basketball] players as they go out on the court during half time.” Assuming that each lucky employee gets to have his or her own guest, we get the solution.

Solution:
“Ten lucky employees and one guest per lucky employee have …”

“We can setup a meeting.”

Common English Blunders, Nouns, Verbs

I saw this in an email message.

Problem:
Other than the auxiliary verb “can”, there is no verb in this (non-)sentence.

Explanation:
The word “setup” is a noun and means the way in which something is planned or arranged.

The writer of the email message should have used the verb phrase “set up” instead of the noun “setup”.

The verb phrase “set up” in the context of what was intended by the writer means arrange or establish.

In other words, “setup” and “set up” are not synonyms!

Solution:
“We can set up a meeting.”