I Will Talk About The Translator, Once Again

Friend or foe?

Forgive me for the recurring theme. It had never crossed my mind that one day, I will be this concerned with translators.

It is probably a blessing in disguise. All these brushes with the great translator lately have made me value communication even more. These recent experiences made me re-evaluate how communication has caused a great impact on my life, and realize the many times I sucked with it.

As far as I know, there is only a translator for words. Is there any translator for actions available? A translator of unspoken ideas? Because, if there is one, I would be the first to fall in line.

I would like to understand more. Me gustaría entender más.

Nais kong maintindihan ang lahat ng ito.

Je tiens à comprendre plus. Tres tres beaucoup.

Right now, I just need to laugh, so I am posting a video from Monty Python. Seriously funny.

I do not intend to offend any race here. I just want to make fun of how people succumb to communication breakdowns.

Friend or Foe

There is someone in my life right now that has become, to me, both indispensable and dispensable, depending on the circumstance.

Since communication happens to be a very crucial element of my existence, it would be logical for me to rely on this - creature - during dialogues with people whose language differ from mine.

He seems to be so useful, like a patronising fan of an aging rock star. I certainly rely on him for the most part. He is like someone who would win the Mr. Congeniality Title in some beauty tilt because he tries and has apprently succeeded in winning almost everyone's trust.

He is, of course, a provider of some superficial sense of security. Because, like a lot of people I know - those who put their best foot forward and calls everyone "Sir" and "Madame" until your ear aches, and hits you with a bread knife at the back - this creature has a propensity to do the same thing.

You think you are secured with him? Wait til you find out some nasty things that he is capable of doing.

There are times, when you confide something to him, he changes the context of what you want to actually tell the other person. It can sound a bit ridiculous (The sentence "Do you want to drink a little?" turns into "Do you want to drink a can?"), or sometimes disturbing ("Just like you" turns into "I eat you").

It can get even worse, because this creature can be really vengeful. It can actually reverse meanings ("I don't know" becomes "I know"). What the frigging heck.

Like a lamb, it will just look at you meekly, while the rest of you have started an argument, because of his follies.

I know better now think. I learned to be less reliant on him. He is no different from the many people I have come to meet.

Knowledge is one thing. Sensitivity is another. Too much reliance on someone or something can be fatal.

So, listen up, TRANSLATOR. I still need you, but I am already pissed with you.