Everyday I read repliers to language questions end stating that "it" is their mother language. Why do people assume that if one’s mother language is X the translation or text is correct? I am a writer and translator who speaks correctly seven languages besides, classical Greek, Latin & can transliterate several archaic languages yet I never write it’s my mother language. However, since several times askers chose incorrect answers before my correct one just because of the mother language statement, I wonder why so many in Answers automatically assume that because someone says it is their mother language the translation or text are correct. In Answers & Internet, I could write, if I wanted, that I am from Mars and it would not make my statements about this planet more reliable. Natives make grammar & spelling errors too. Should you choose answers on "mother language" basis without a fast background check? Wouldn´t checks at least prevent wrong choices and even worse results?
2007-06-06 22:48:21 · 8 answers · asked by San2 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I wish there were a way to prove once and for all who knows what, on here as well as the rest of the world.
I only answer when I know I am correct. But even I know that that that doesn't necessarily mean that it IS. I speak French fluently, but even if you speak it better and more correctly, you can't possibly answer EVERY question there is about it. So I contribute.
Every day I see people give "best answer" to wrong answerers, and there's nothing I can do about it so I've made my peace with it. It's unnerving to see the spread of ignorance, but I hope you can too. = )
2007-06-06 23:00:34 · answer #1 · answered by Nénuphar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess no matter how well you speak a language you will never reach mother tongue proficiency in it...I am a translator too and I know very well that being a native speaker does not qualify you as a translator or teacher of that language...I am a native spanish speaker and I do state it when I answer a Spanish question, but I am also a qualified translator and English teacher, which I think makes my answers more authoritative than many English native speakers', but I do not call myself an English native speaker...I guess sometimes I answer out of personal satisfaction...I mean, it is nice to obtain your 10 points and be acknowledged as the best answerer, and I do feel sorry when someone chooses a wrong answer, but I also feel good knowing I know something others don't...
2007-06-06 22:58:37 · answer #2 · answered by Queen of the Rÿche 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For me, "mother language" is just another data point, as is "Top Contributor". People should use their common sense and remember that even native speakers make mistakes or learned mistakes, the same as "Top Contributors" can make mistakes and don't know everything about their particular categories. Compare and double-check. It's so easy on the Internet.
2007-06-06 23:00:07 · answer #3 · answered by Erik Van Thienen 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People take mental shortcuts instead of making logical decisions. It is easier to think a native speaker would have a perfect answer. If this were true though, everyone in the US would have straight A's in English and the writing skills of Hemingway.
2007-06-06 23:01:50 · answer #4 · answered by Bobtastic 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
crimson Floyd. Rick Wright positioned out 2 solo albums and is working on a third. Syd Barrett positioned out 5. Gilmour did 3 and is working on yet another. Waters has 6 or maybe Nick Mason has 2 and wrote a e book. whilst all of them did no longer leave, they did pass directly to have separate solo careers. edit: howdy sarah
2017-01-10 17:42:04 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. All I can think of people who proudly say my "mother tongue" even if their answer is not really correct just want to tell Yahoo Q/A users that that they belong to that country. I notice one user here that in every of his/her answer, he/she would end as "my mother tongue" when in fact his/her answer is not the correct one. And I would tend to sometime correct that person. But at the end, it was chosen as best answer. For this, I surely doubt that the person who asked that question is a bit ignorant. When in fact, I'm speaking the same language too but just I didn't end up my answer with a "mother tongue". huh.
2007-06-07 00:07:30 · answer #6 · answered by ~o0o~ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't give up. If YA has any credibility it's because of the patience and perseverance of people like you.
2007-06-06 22:57:23 · answer #7 · answered by robbob 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would agree with Queen of the Rÿche
2007-06-07 02:57:20 · answer #8 · answered by Martha P 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋