I need some help with the homework for a translation class I am taking. We are at a chapter dedicated to "untranslatable" sayings. In this chapter, phrases that do not exist in the other language have been translated and it is my job to translate them back. The thing is, I am having a heck of a time. The phrases make no sense. Zero. I'm supposed to take a phrase with no meaning and translate it? Anyway, that's why I need your help. I dont want you to do the assignment, I want you to critique that which I have written. So, if you ignore the lack of meaning in any of these, what do you think? Was word choice and order okay? Puedes responder en cualquier lengua. Mientras parece que no puedo hablar el idioma bien, no es la verdad. No es que no puede hablarlo, sino traducir es mas dificil que hablar. Muchoisisisismo mas.
A. Seeing is believing, especially spanish sausages. TRAD: Hay que verlo para creerlo, especialmente salchichas. What is up with this phrase? Is there a saying in spanish that is similar? I can't even begin to figure out what this is trying to say. Here, you could simply say “Ver para creer” – which is not quite correct in terms of grammar, but it is how we say it, at least in Mexico. Spanish sausages – is that talking about Chorizo? Are you translating to Spanish from Spain? B. Original: Our host has great charisma, and is married to the best model at work today. Modulated: Our host has great charisma and is married to the best model that is working today. Option 1: Nuestra anfitrion tiene gran charisma, y es casado al modelo mejor que esta trabajando hoy. Option 2: Nuestra anfitrion tiene gran charisma, y es el esposo al modelo mejor aqui hoy. If your host is female, you can say “Nuestra Anfitriona” – if she is, indeed, married to a male model. Otherwise, say “Nuestro Anfitrión.” The verb “To be” in “be married” cannot be translated as “Ser” – because it’s a state. So you say “Está casado/a con el mejor (la mejor) modelo que hay hoy en dÃa (o – la mejor modelo en activo)” B. Derramó mucha sangre al recibir un balazo en la frente cuando asistió a la reunión en el frente. TRAD:He lost a lot of blood when he was shot in the forehead while attenting the meeting (at the front). This one is a trap: Frente = forehead Frente also equals “front” – So you need to translate by context D. The unexpected always happens, we had a quiz 2 classes in a row. TRAD: Donde menos se piensa salta la liebre, tenÃamos una prueba por dos clases en hilera. WTF “Donde menos se piensa salta la liebre” is a cliché. Try – “Siempre ocurre lo inesperado” – tuvimos examen (prueba) dos clases seguidas (Seguidas / Seguidos = in a row) e. Nos demoramos porque el guÃa perdió la guÃa en la farmacia y después Juan se descompuso. TRAD: We were delayed because the guide left the guidebook in the drugstore and then became Juan angry. “Juan became angry.” - "Descompuso" could also mean "felt ill" or "was sick" f. Luz said that, God willing, this regime will be democratic, but past regimes have not been. Modulated: Luz said that, God willing, this regime will be democratic, unlike past regimes. TRAD: Luz dijo que, Dios mediante, este régimen va a ser democrático, a diferencia de los anteriores. This one is okay g. Donde hay fuego hay cenizas y es evidente que el cura necesita la cura. TRAD:Where there is smoke, there is fire, and it's evident that the priest needs the cure. You're right on the money with this one. This one needs more context. http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=245978 Hope this helps somewhat. It's like three A.M. here, so I'm almost coherent enough to help you, I hope.
Thanks. That really helps. I really screwed up B didn't I? Thanks for your help, again. I'm going off a mostly book knowledge of Spanish, so I have trouble with the phrases and common slang-- the exact topic of these translations. Still don't know what A is trying to say, but I guess it's good enough.
