Dear Steve Smith:
Your response to the courteous, if grammatically flawed, letter from the
team at "Ecrans d'Afrique/African Screen" is disappointing indeed. As
someone who doesn't speak French, I find the quality of the English
language translations irritating (okay, even downright annoying at times),
but the publication is an invaluable resource to anyone interested in
African cinema. Rather than suggesting a termination of subscription (by
your example, I mean), it would be far more constructive to suggest to the
editors that while their efforts at providing a bilingual publication are
appreciated, it may be beneficial, from a marketing point of view, for them
to have the English translations proofread by an English speaker prior to
publication.
>Originally from: <owner-african-cinema-conference@xc.org>
>Originally dated: Wed, 23 Jul 97 11:46:00 PDT
>
>I got an interesting letter from the Ecrans d'Afrique (African Screen)
>magazine the other day that I thought might interest some of you. Here it
>is...
>========
>Dear Reader,
>
>We are glad to let you know that "Ecrans d'Afrique/African Screen" has
>reinforced its efforts to widespread the knowledge and the circulation of
>this important instrument concerning African and Black Cinema.
>
>Issuing in time will be our main aim!
>
>First issued of '97 (no. 19) has been published in May.
>The second one (no. 20) will be ready in September.
>The third double issue (no. 21-22) will be ready before January 15th.
>
>We really hope that our magazine could manage to raise your attention, for
>this reason we send you the subscription form.
>
>Best wishes from our Team.
>
>The Management
>========
>As someone that doesn't speak French, I'm not renewing my subscription. I
>find the English in the magazine a lot like the English above and too hard
>to make sense of.
>
>But if anyone wants, I'll give them my subscription form....
>cheers, Steve Smith scs@dsr.us.net
>
>
Haseenah Ebrahim
RTVF Dept.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Tel.: (847) 491-7315
e-mail: haseenah@nwu.edu
In-Reply-To: 199707242242.PAA01422@abraham.xc.org