Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald
Yes, it is our responsibility. If we wish to understand them we must make the effort to decrypt their message better.
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If they want to be understood, just as if we want to be understood, they'll have to meet us half-way. As of yet, "they" aren't even trying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald
We don't understand their context, which is why linguists with a grasp of those languages and regions are so important when it comes to translation.
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And yet, when broached on the translation, those who understand their context and language never disagree with it. Show me where they have said "we don't actually want to eliminate Israel" and you'll have me in your corner.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald
When I say "I'm going to hunt you down and make you pay for the sins of humanity" does that mean I'm going to find you at all costs, and kill you in a ritualistic way, or does it mean we're going to meet later and have enough drinks that you wish you were dead? Again, depends on context.
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So if anyone is ever hacked on for an exaggeration they can claim that their context is not understood? Whatever...
If I hear someone say "You're a dead man" and he has a history of agressive behavior, I'm going to take the threat seriously. If I hear Hezbollah say "Israel is to be wiped from the earth" with a history of attacking Israel, I'm going to take that threat seriously. I'm not going to back down and study it, looking for language translation context errors. Doing so only provides them with an excuse for their words/actions.