Advanced Translation
WS 2012/13
Daniel Kupper, Brit Johannsen
False Friends
01/15/2013
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Outline
1. Definition
2. Types of False Friends
3. Words of wisdom
4. Exercises
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“Make Love not Reclamations.“
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1. Definition
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False Friends vs. False Cognates
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Treacherous Twins
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“False friends are words in two (or more)
different languages which look or sound very
similar but which have different meanings.“
(Parkes/Cornell 1989)
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2. Types of False Friends
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3. Words of wisdom
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no rules
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not THE ONE strategy
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reference books (see sources)
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Practice (and experience) makes perfect!
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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You don't need much fantasy to realize what
the results of such a system would be.
You don't need much imagination to realize
what the results of such a system would be.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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When the water starts cooking, add the cake
mixture and stir well.
When the water starts boiling, add the cake
mixture and stir well.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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I think there is just enough place to fit in another
stool at the bar.
I think there is just enough room/space to fit
in another stool at the bar.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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It is not very sensible to criticize other people if
you can't take critic yourself.
It is not very sensible to criticize other people if
you can't take criticism yourself.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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He's terribly self-conscious about being so
small and I mean he should see a psychiatrist.
He's terribly self-conscious about being so
small and I think he should see a psychiatrist.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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The nearest bank is not far away – turn left at
the next crossing and it's fifty yards down on the
right.
The nearest bank is not far away – turn left at
the next junction/crossroads and it's fifty
yards down on the right.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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This gymnasium's always freezing – the heating
doesn't work and the windows are badly
isolated.
This gymnasium's always freezing – the heating
doesn't work and the windows are badly
insulated.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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Don't blame yourself if you lose the process –
you've only done what you thought was
sensible.
Don't blame yourself if you lose the case –
you've only done what you thought was
sensible.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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Why don't you take Julia to the party? She's
always so cheerful and temperamental, she'll
make it go with a swing.
Why don't you take Julia to the party? She's
always so cheerful and lively/vivacious,
she'll make it go with a swing.
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4. Exercises: Error correction
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It's funny that he should have sold such a
rentable business at such a low price, but it's all
the same to me.
It's funny that he should have sold such a
profitable business at such a low price, but
it's all the same to me.
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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4. Exercises:
Identify the False Friend
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5. Sources
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Parkes, Geoff and Alan Cornell: GermanEnglish False Friends. Books 1-3.
Southhampton: Englang, 1989-93.
Pascoe, Graham and Henriette Pascoe:
Sprachfallen im Englischen. Ismaning: Max
Hueber, 1985.
<http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa030
199.htm> Accessed: 01/09/2013
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