What comes to your mind, when you hear "foreign language" ? Without a doubt, Shakespeare's mother tongue ! And how could it be else, as English (and its different derivatives) is the native language of around 350 million people throughout the world ? Moreover, it is the most studied and used language in international communication, and maintains its leadership since years in all the schools, even far beyond the European borders...
Some may say that a German version of M-O would have been smarter, whereas some others think that a Swahili translation would have had an uncomparable exotic charm. But despite these arguments, English is the best means of communication to broadcast M-O's words across the frontiers.
Since I heard this news, I had to know more about reasons and motivations that led the webmaster to do so.
The devoted reporter I am managed to obtain an interview with one of the leaders ! Being close to the management team, this person prefers being anonymous, for obvious reasons we all understand (family and job safety...).
Let's call him Mr D..
The scene takes place in his dark office, on the first floor of a building, empty due to the late hour.
The stormy and moist weather of this end-August night gives a strange atmosphere to this appointment with an even more strange person...
It is only with the weak light of my torch, that I write the whispered words of this unbelievable interview.
Fastfreddy: "Can you tell me why does M-O has now an English version ?"
Mr D.: "We think that the language shouldn't be an obstacle, when people share the same passion for motorbikes. And it is a great means to discover and share more models or news."
FF: "How did this idea come to your mind ?"
Mr D.: "As soon as M-O was created, we were already thinking about internationalizing the website. But it's a hard work, and it takes time (3 months for the basic modifications only !). At the beginning, it was too difficult to work on both French and English, so we decided to concentrate our efforts on the French version. Then, once reassured by the success of the French pages, we thought it was time for us to launch the English ones."
FF: "What do you expect and/or fear with this new "English M-O" ?"
Mr D.: "As far as we know, there is currently no other bilingual motorcycle website, so no one can predict if there will be two separate groups, or if we will all gather under the colours of the M-O flag..."
FF: "As the English version is a "copy/paste" of the French website, will there be any foreign Honorary Members ?"
Mr D.: "This is what we really hope. English-speaking people subscribe more easily than the "Froggies" to such a website. And actually, these financial contributions would help us to pay for the cost of a real translation..."
FF: "Shall we expect a future Spanish, German or Italian version of M-O ?"
Mr D.: "Why not ? If many people ask for it, and if we have enough cash !... Because one translation is expensive enough, so I can't imagine another one now ... but why not !"
FF: "To finish, Mr D., just a last question, that worries all the french Members: will the topic "Pardon d'avance" ("sorry in advance") be also translated ?"
Mr D.: "Are you kidding or what ??"
Suddenly, Mr D. promptly jumps out of his chair and puts his ear against the door: "Oh my God ! I hear some noise in the hall ! Come on, quick ! They're coming up, and if they find us together, we're dead ! Go out through the rubbish chute !"
And that is how ended this interview with Mister D.. And even if I know that my life is at stake, nothing will prevent me from writing these few lines...
I do it for you, my dear fellows !
Whatever may happen to me now, you know the truth, and don't forget:
God save M-O !
Yours faithfully,
Fastfreddy.
Translation: Tusmaster
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(not translated yet) Edito Avril 2011: « lairduncon »
