Poll: When not at work, I am most commonly thinking in:
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Aug 8, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When not at work, I am most commonly thinking in:".

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Enrique Soria
Enrique Soria  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 10:09
Spanish to English
+ ...
Source vs target Aug 8, 2020

These terms are incorrectly used in this question. When I translate from English to Spanish, English is my source language. When I translate from Spanish into English, Spanish is my source language.

Yoana Ivanova
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 16:09
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
My target language Aug 8, 2020

I think mostly in my target language (Portuguese) either at work (I translate exclusively into my native language) or out of it. I lived in the francophone part of Belgium for 30 years and there I was “forced” to think in French. I no longer do that since I moved back to Portugal 3 years ago, but I still say an occasional “Pardon” if I happen to stumble into someone and I use the French “Allô” when I pick up the phone (in Portuguese we say “Estou”). Besides that, though I don’... See more
I think mostly in my target language (Portuguese) either at work (I translate exclusively into my native language) or out of it. I lived in the francophone part of Belgium for 30 years and there I was “forced” to think in French. I no longer do that since I moved back to Portugal 3 years ago, but I still say an occasional “Pardon” if I happen to stumble into someone and I use the French “Allô” when I pick up the phone (in Portuguese we say “Estou”). Besides that, though I don’t swear very often, when I do is either in French or in English (it sounds much better).

[Edited at 2020-08-08 16:51 GMT]
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Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 17:09
French to English
. Aug 8, 2020

If my shopping list is anything to go by -and it should be because I jot things down as I think of them, so it will accurately reflect my thought processes- it's a merry jumble of both source and target.

Christine Andersen
Anja Hajek
Alexandra Speirs
Ventnai
texjax DDS PhD
Thayenga
Kimberly Wastler
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 17:09
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
Other - Sometimes I do not think in any language at all Aug 8, 2020

I often think in the language of the context - my language of habitual usage is not my native language. It is often my source language, and I tend to write shopping lists, plan to meet friends etc. in Danish, because they ´happen´ in Danish.

If I think of my family and English-speaking friends, then I think in English, but if for example I am envisaging a trip over the border to Germany (which we are planning next week), then I think largely in images, and perhaps smatterings of
... See more
I often think in the language of the context - my language of habitual usage is not my native language. It is often my source language, and I tend to write shopping lists, plan to meet friends etc. in Danish, because they ´happen´ in Danish.

If I think of my family and English-speaking friends, then I think in English, but if for example I am envisaging a trip over the border to Germany (which we are planning next week), then I think largely in images, and perhaps smatterings of German, which will be expanded when we get there and I need to talk to people.

I envisage activities like knitting or cooking as images, impressions and actions - the stitches and patterns my grandmother taught me or the smells of frying onions and herbs, or apples, plums or whatever. If a neighbour wants the recipe, I can put words to it immediately, but I believe a lot of my thoughts are wordless, not in any language at all until I need to communicate them.

[Edited at 2020-08-08 12:24 GMT]
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Clement Cheung
Jean Dimitriadis
Agneta Pallinder
Katya Kesten
Philip Lees
 
Andrea R
Andrea R
Spain
Local time: 17:09
English to German
+ ...
Potpourri of languages Aug 8, 2020

I mostly translate from English to German (mother tongue) but live for almost 20 years in a Spanish speaking country.
Also translate sometimes from Spanish into German.
However, I often have like a big confusion in my head, thinking in all languages I know at the same time, it all mixes up.
Going to end up like the monk in movie The name of the Rose who expressed himself mixing up various languages.
Also know some French and Kisuaheli.
Sometimes totally lost ..
... See more
I mostly translate from English to German (mother tongue) but live for almost 20 years in a Spanish speaking country.
Also translate sometimes from Spanish into German.
However, I often have like a big confusion in my head, thinking in all languages I know at the same time, it all mixes up.
Going to end up like the monk in movie The name of the Rose who expressed himself mixing up various languages.
Also know some French and Kisuaheli.
Sometimes totally lost ... but I still manage
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KHALDUN ALQAYSI
KHALDUN ALQAYSI
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 20:09
English to Arabic
+ ...
Translator endeavors to master target language Aug 8, 2020

I think I'm target language because it is important to master it to be able to communicate the message.

Christopher Schröder
Aline Amorim
 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 16:09
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In my native language and dialect/regional variety Aug 8, 2020

When I am not at work I usually think mostly in Portuguese and "Portuense". We have a peculiar way of expressing ourselves in this "dialect".
I need to think only in my source languages (and my target language, of course!) when working, taking a vacation/travelling abroad, or meeting a foreigner/colleague in translation events.

[Edited at 2020-08-08 21:15 GMT]

[Edited at 2020-08-08 21:15 GMT]


 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 09:09
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Target language Aug 9, 2020

That said, a lot of thoughts also pop up in one of my source languages: Brazilian Portuguese. I use the language with my my husband's family and for the past 6 months I've been editing documents in Portuguese.

 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 17:09
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Other Aug 9, 2020

I'm "usually" thinking in whichever language happens to first come to mind that day. This could be my target or source languages, or one I'm in the process of learning or have learned.

neilmac
Madonna Milad
Philip Lees
Nadia Silva Castro
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 17:09
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Aug 9, 2020

Usually a bit of both... And it depends what I'm thinking about.

Madonna Milad
Philip Lees
 
Aline Amorim
Aline Amorim  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 13:09
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Both Aug 10, 2020

I am most commonly thinking in my source language and my target language. And it depends what I'm thinking about. And I am thinking in italian language because I am studying this language.

 
Edward Potter
Edward Potter  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 17:09
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Mostly target Aug 10, 2020

I often say that my eyes think in Spanish (source) and my fingers think in English (target) as I type. On top of that, as I type my mouth often speaks in English. When I get rolling I go into robot mode and it feels like I'm thinking in both languages somehow.

 


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Poll: When not at work, I am most commonly thinking in:






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