Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

[jenova_9]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

oh be nice to Mal. Not everyone has the mindset to really learn a new language effectively, especially in the later years it's naturally harder. And also it's a risk/time sort of thing where people could learn a new language but it could be all of vain depending on how it's put to use (or not used). I know someone that knows 5 languages, but did they even use 3 of them for anything really useful and beneficial? No. They probably could have used that time for things they have a greater affinity with and more constructive use of time. Also knowing Japanese doesn't guarantee the job. There are quite a number of people that worked hard but nothing significant came out of that effort. Being reluctant can be an advantage in itself and even laziness can avoid disasters and wasted time. So even the most go-getter out there isn't necessarily more successful than a lazy person. It's an investment that counts as a risk, which isn't something to take lightly.

[Firewind]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

As much as I love to troll Mal, J9 is right.

[Etra]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

Knowing more than one language is also beneficial for the mind and helps prevent deterioration of the brain in later years. Personally, that justifies learning a second language, even to a degree of casual talking ability, is sufficient enough for me.

[Firewind]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

But if you're going to learn a new language then why not something that would actually have some kind of use like English, French, Mandarin or German? Just about every other language out there only has some kind of use if you're going to be working in the country in question.

French and German are the most useful as not only are there a lot of countries that use the languages there are a huge number of other languages that originate from them, and so they would be easier to grasp if you are able to speak the "root language" (because I forgot what the technical term for it is). Actually even basic knowledge in English, French and German will pretty much mean you can visit any country in Europe, the Middle East or Africa and get along perfectly fine. Same with Mandarin and English in Asia.

That way even if you're not going to be working in a country that has the language as a main or major spoken language you will at least have plenty of times to practise it in your lifetime.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm trolling (this is genuinely NOT a troll post for once), but could I ask why someone would learn a language that isn't going to be useful to them unless they plan to move to and work in the country in question?

[Malacite]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

I know English & French (though my French isn't as good as it should be) and I've always wanted to learn Japanese. Just need a program that works is all and RS happens to be the best, though it's also hella expensive. Spanish is also somewhat tempting, but I don't really have as much of a desire to learn that.

Would be nice to be able to watch Japanese media without needing subtitles for once, and it helps to learn the local language before visiting a place. Plus you never know who you'll bump into.

[Etra]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

But if you're going to learn a new language then why not something that would actually have some kind of use like English, French, Mandarin or German?

Going to pretty much negate your entire post with one question and statement.

Have you ever tried to learn something you absolutely had no interest in? It's hard. And boring. If you have no interest in a certain language, why learn it purely for "practicality?" It's going to be much harder and you're likely to give up on it. Learn the language(s) you want to learn. It'll be easier and I'm sure you'll use them in your own way. Not everything has to be for a job.

Edit: herpderp. I haz speeling abilitays.

[Firewind]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

Going to pretty much negate your entire post with one question and statement.

How you ever tried to learn something you absolutely had no interest in? It's hard. And boring. If you have no interest in a certain language, why learn it purely for "practicality?" It's going to be much harder and you're likely to give up on it. Learn the language(s) you want to learn. It'll be easier and I'm sure you'll use them in your own way. Not everything has to be for a job.

I actually agree fully with that; you might as well learn something you're going to enjoy.

You gave me exactly the answer I wanted to hear thanks .

[Aeni]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

I'm familiar with French, Japanese and Korean and they are all secondary to my English. That being said, I wanted to learn German, for all the practical reasons as well as all the WRONG reasons (the story would be too long to go into it) In any event, I'm finding grasping new languages more difficult as the years go by, so for all you young folks, learn now while you can ... it just gets much more difficult later in life.

[Malacite]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

Wonder how many years it'll be before we have full-on communicators?

I mean shit, we're like 13 years away approx from advanced nanomachines that will basically wipe out disease as we know it.

[Etra]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

Complete and accurate translation machines will not be available in our lifetime, if ever. There's too many variables when it comes to language (tone, context, slang, for example) that machines won't be able to keep up with. I'm sure we'll get close, but I don't see it coming into existence for a long, long time. Mimicking the human brain is much different than sending in nanomachines to destroy specific targets, in terms of technological advancements.

[Feba]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

Same with Mandarin and English in Asia.

Spoken like someone who has never been to Asia. There are plenty of Chinese people with shitty Mandarin; do you seriously believe Koreans and Japanese are going to know it? Sure, you can get along with English just about anywhere-- but you're not going to be able to talk to the average local.

Will there be tourist information in Mandarin and English? Sure. If it's a popular area, it'll also be there in Japanese and Korean. Chances are, even outside Japan, they cater to Japanese speaking tourists about as often as English speakers.

And honestly, even if you aren't going to the country in question, you'll still run into speakers of whatever language. People from other countries go abroad too. And you're not the only person learning that language-- I've had Korean friends who don't speak any English; and I can't speak Korean. We did meet in the middle, however, with Japanese, which many Koreans study. The other major reason to learn a language, besides being able to talk to people, is being able to understand media made for a language, be it literature, cinema, or in Japanese's case especially, games. This would make it a useful language to Mal.

Mal, I promise you Rosetta Stone is not the most effective program out there for Japanese (it may be effective for European languages, but Japanese is structured entirely differently; you can't use the same methods for it), and even if it were, you will be far better served by starting your studies as soon as possible with whatever you have and then working your way up from there.

Hayde, I'll PM you.

[Firewind]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

You do realise that Asia is more than just East Asia, a tiny area of the entire landmass right?

Considering you made a sweeping assumption I'm assuming you do not know that I visited Turkey roughly a year ago.

Want to know the languages are more useful there? English, German, French, Russian and Mandarin. My father and I (he speaks French, I speak German) actually went out and spoke to random locals in the middle of nowhere and got coherent answers from them (yes I am using one area of Asia for my argument because by your logic it's fine to do that).

How many people there speak Japanese? Fucked if I know. I'm horrible at Japanese.

[Feba]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

I assumed that you meant East Asia, actually, because if you honestly think that Mandarin is widely spoken through the entire Asian contient and throughout South East Asia, you're just plain bonkers. The only way I could assume you're not a total idiot was to assume you meant only East Asia, as many people do

[Aeni]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

You do realise that Asia is more than just East Asia, a tiny area of the entire landmass right?

You do realize that "tiny landmass" holds 1/5 of the world population, right? India being the other 1/5 and the 3rd "almost 1/5" is Indonesia. Every country from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean probably has a combined population less than that of the United States of America.

Edit:

Need to also add that "tiny landmass" also holds the world's number one and number three economies in terms of GDP. If you want to know what language is "important", you might want to start there.

[Yygdrasil]

Re: Want a Job with SE? Localization Team

I suppose this is as good a place as any to post this:

I have a copy of Rosetta Stone Japanese in my possession and will gladly send a copy to anyone who would like to use it. I got it from a buddy of mine and have been casually learning in an effort to understand some of the websites I frequent.