Translation of proverbs : Techniques : TranslatorsCafe.com Forums

You are currently browsing as a guest. Please log on to access more features.

Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life. – Ludwig Van Beethoven

	Message format		Current location		Moderators		Thread information		Site Search
			Translation (Show all) Techniques Translation of proverbs		Maxi Schwarz-Bastami		Last Activity January 6, 2009 12:20 PM 235 replies, 16976 viewings		Search Only in Messages

Jump to page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Now viewing page 24 [10 messages per page]

Navigate threads:
< Previous Thread :: Next Thread >

Printer friendly

Sandbox

Help

Posted:
November 26, 2008 9:07 AM

Post #163074—in reply to #163067

Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov

Extreme Veteran
500

Mother tongues: Polish, English
Posts: 709
Online
Joined: September 13, 2008
Location: United States

RE: Translation of proverbs

Hi, Dodo. But they really do. Like Titanic, for example. they can sense the danger. They can probably also sense earthquakes.

Reply|

Quote|

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
November 26, 2008 10:36 AM

Post #163088—in reply to #163071

Jacek Krankowski

Mother tongue: Polish
Joined: February 18, 2003
Location: Poland

RE: Translation of proverbs

Originally written by Janus Jacquet on November 26, 2008 2:49 PM

In the Scandinavian languages (or at least in Danish, though I think it goes for the others, too), ‘black work’ refers not to hard or forced work, but to moonlighting

In Polish, both meanings exist, but they are phrased differently, although the 'black' is in both of them:

- czarna robota is what I mentioned before: dirty work, spadework, donkey work (I find excellent Liliana's literal association with mining work);

- pracować na czarno = to work illegally

Reply|

Quote|

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
November 26, 2008 2:51 PM

Post #163132—in reply to #163071

Dodo Kaipdodo
TC Master

Elite Veteran
500

Mother tongue: Lithuanian
Posts: 814
Joined: August 8, 2007
Location: Lithuania

RE: Translation of proverbs

Originally written by Janus Jacquet on November 26, 2008 8:49 AM

In the Scandinavian languages (or at least in Danish, though I think it goes for the others, too), ‘black work’ refers not to hard or forced work, but to moonlighting, i.e., work carried out without a proper contract and of which no taxes are paid.
Not sure if this is the case in other languages or not.

I`ll try to explain the Lithuanian for this. Black (juodas) is used and understood differently in different idioms. As a rule, if black is the one that does the work, it means the one is working hard and is most probably being exploited; but if it`s the job (work, deed) that`s black, then it means the deed is not kosher. And the doer too, as often as not.

Reply|

Quote|

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
December 14, 2008 8:35 AM

Post #164624—in reply to #163132

Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov

Extreme Veteran
500

Mother tongues: Polish, English
Posts: 709
Online
Joined: September 13, 2008
Location: United States

RE: Translation of proverbs

Hi, Dodo. Do you know anything about this interesting proverb?

Piktas kaip kukutis baloje: As angry as a hoopoe-bird in a swamp

Reply|

Quote|

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
December 14, 2008 1:53 PM

Post #164644—in reply to #164624

Dodo Kaipdodo
TC Master

Elite Veteran
500

Mother tongue: Lithuanian
Posts: 814
Joined: August 8, 2007
Location: Lithuania

RE: Translation of proverbs

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on December 14, 2008 8:35 AM
anything about this interesting proverb?
Piktas kaip kukutis baloje: As angry as a hoopoe-bird in a swamp

This is a simile, not a proverb, and it is most probably not about a bird. Kukutis might have to do with an ancient superstition, or rather a taboo, common to many cultures but especially strong in heathen Lithuania. You don`t utter certain names if you don`t want to attract attention of the something a name is essential to; you call the something something else. In this case the something would be a devil, because two other words in the phrase (piktas and bala) are often used instead of velnias, and swamps are where all kinds of evil beings live. So the user of the simile says (most probably in joke and certainly without anger) that somebody is as angry as a devil. One of the proverbs reflecting the taboo would be Vilką mini - vilkas čia (Talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear, only vilkas is wolf, not devil, so I think the French one - Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue - would be more appropriate in this case). There`s still more to the taboo: uttering the name can be dangerous not only to the speaker, but to the named too. Remember the old Lithuanian tale about Fir the Queen of Grass-snakes?

Reply|

Quote|

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
December 14, 2008 3:32 PM

Post #164654—in reply to #164644

Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov

Extreme Veteran
500

Mother tongues: Polish, English
Posts: 709
Online
Joined: September 13, 2008
Location: United States

RE: Translation of proverbs

Thank you, Dodo. I must read more about this Queen.

Reply|

Quote|

Edit|

Delete

Jump to page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Now viewing page 24 [10 messages per page]

Navigate threads:
< Previous Thread :: Next Thread >

Seven How-To Articles' Authors:

Legend

Action

Jump to a forum

Notification

Recommend Us

Posted Messages:

5000
2000
1000

500
100
25

Colour Coding:
Administrator Forum Moderator Registered User

Toggle e-mail notification

TC on Facebook

Statistics | Who's online? | Random quotes

TC Mobile | Settings | Log On

Forums Disclaimer: The views expressed in the forums are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the site owner and/or moderators. If the reader considers a post to cause offence, then s/he should address a complaint to the moderator of the forum concerned. The complaint should be dealt with within 24 hours, but please respect the fact that the moderator may be living in a different time zone. Use of the forums signifies your agreement with the Forum Posting Rules.

© ANVICA Software Development 2002—2009. All rights reserved.
Running customized MegaBBS Forum Software
Privacy Policy. Terms and Conditions of Use. Use signifies your agreement.
Mail comments and suggestions to TranslatorsCafe.com webmaster
Directory of translators, interpreters and translation agencies