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**EsAllCams** · 03-05-2006, 04:58 AM

That reminds me--the word usage problem is especially bad when you have to translate across languages. Many Japanese martial arts terms do not show up in alomst any dictionary or translation resource, and the only explanation I can think of is that it is because they are specialized terms which are not used outside the field of martial arts.

I suppose an American example would be the word "shoot". To most of us, it means to fire a gun, or to move or propel something very quickly like a bullet. To an english speaking photographer, however, "shoot" can also mean taking a picture of something. So the phrase "shoot that guy" could easily be misinterpreted when spoken between a hit man and a photojournalist, because each would use the meaning most significant to them.

03-05-2006, 04:58 AM	#8
EsAllCams Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 420 Senior Member	That reminds me--the word usage problem is especially bad when you have to translate across languages. Many Japanese martial arts terms do not show up in alomst any dictionary or translation resource, and the only explanation I can think of is that it is because they are specialized terms which are not used outside the field of martial arts. I suppose an American example would be the word "shoot". To most of us, it means to fire a gun, or to move or propel something very quickly like a bullet. To an english speaking photographer, however, "shoot" can also mean taking a picture of something. So the phrase "shoot that guy" could easily be misinterpreted when spoken between a hit man and a photojournalist, because each would use the meaning most significant to them.
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