User Comments - riceeater

Posted on: Translation Issues

Translation is a difficult task. So is improving fluency.

When writing a speech do you think it is better to write it first in your primary then translate it into the 2nd language and that way use more sophisticated language, or to write it in the 2nd language and then translate it?

I came up with this speech by thinking through it in Chinese, my second language.

Tell me what you think of it. I'm the American with sun glasses and a hat.

http://www.rti.com.tw/ajax/Activity2010Ajax/Foreigner2010VoteE.aspx

While you are at it don't forget to click on the tab at the bottom right of the page after highlighting my speech.

Posted on: The Monks in the Temple on the Mountain

This reminds me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNTxr2NJHa0

Enjoy!

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

I googled 火山豆 (Volcano Nut) to see how common it is and Google came up with

"About 8,950,000 results in (0.21 seconds) "

According to Google the next most common term was 澳洲坚果 (Australian Walnut)

with "About 1,160,000 results (0.06 seconds) "

Followed by 夏威夷果 (Hawaii nut)

showing "About 636,000 results (0.27 seconds)"

Bringing up the rear was "昆士兰坚果" (Queensland walnut)

With only "About 34,800 results (0.45 seconds)"

Terms Googled on 4/18/2010

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

I'm from Hawaii and there they are known by only one name that I know of : Macadamia Nuts.

Here in Taiwan they are known by yet another name in Chinese: 火山豆 or "Volcano bean/nut"

So, I guess that means you need to learn four terms for Macadamia nuts.

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

I'm from Hawaii and there they are known by only one name that I know of : Macadamia Nuts.

Here in Taiwan they are known by yet another name in Chinese: 火山豆 or "Volcano nut" which is probably another variant of "Hawaii nut."

When I was on traveling with my in-laws as part of a tour group from Taiwan I heard "火山豆" used by Chinese in both Thailand and Hawaii as they tried to sell chocolate covered macadamia nuts to us.

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

I'm from Hawaii and there they are known by only one name that I know of : Macadamia Nuts.

Here in Taiwan they are known by yet another name in Chinese: 火山豆 or "Volcano bean/nut"

Posted on: These Napkins Ain't Free

I have been here in Taiwan for twenty years now. Usually in a restaurant we would call "Xiao jie" (miss) or "Xian sheng" (sir or mr.). Although I know the term "fu wu sheng" and someone would use it if you asked them what they do at work, it is not used to call people here in Taiwan.

When I first got here public toilets never had toilet paper and you would buy it from someone at the door (in the park) or from a vending machine on the wall for 10 nt dollars for a small pack with about 10 sheets.

Nowadays, most public restaurant and shopping mall toilets will be stocked with toilet paper, have western toilets, and be fairly clean. Of course there are a few exceptions: parks, museums, or other ,government run facilities come to mind. Gas stations always have public toilets, but you never know how clean or filthy they will be or if they will have toilet paper or soap. It is always good to be prepared.

At restaurants here, no matter how basic the food or decor may be, the napkins, and disposable chopsticks and such are always free.

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

I explain it to my English students this way: When it comes to food, if you eat it raw, on its own, and enjoy its sweet taste. We call it a fruit. If you cut it up and use it as an ingredient it is considered a vegetable.

The following are technically "fruits," from a botanist's perspective, but treated as vegetables in the kitchen.

tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, egg plant, bitter melon, bell peppers,

These are but a few of the seed bearing fruits of flowering plants widely considered to be vegetables when speaking of food.

Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Day

Chinese Pod,

Why is the photo for this lesson that of a western graveyard?  If you are going to use a stock photo for this at least choose one of a Chinese graveyard or tomb.  I

Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Day

I listened to that one. It was great. I'm going to ask my caligraphy teacher about that poem next time I see him. Thanks.