Of all the things you might have had on your mind this morning, one of them probably was not …
WHAT IN THE WORLD MIGHT STEVE BE DOING AT HIS DESK TODAY?
But since you are part of this team, I thought I’d share something with you. It won’t take 10 minutes. I’m working on editing the Spanish translation of a training powerpoint for Bible translators. Here’s a sample:
In means-purpose relations, the purpose is stated explicitly, but it is not stated as fulfilled.
- They moved so as to be nearer his work.
- She followed the instructions closely, in case she got lost.
- They saved for years so that their son could go to America.
- I gave him a note to take to his teacher
Answers the question, "What was done in order to achieve the purpose?
Here’s what it looks like in Spanish:
En las relaciones medi-propósito, el propósito se expresa explícitamente, pero no se declara el cumplimiento del mismo.
- Se mudaron para vivir más cerca del trabajo.
- Ella siguió las instrucciones al pie de la letra, para no perderse.
- Ahorraron dinero por muchos años para que su hijo pudiera ir a América.
- Le dí una nota para entregar a su profesor.
Se contesta la pregunta, "¿Qué se hizo para lograr el propósito?"
Does that look like fun?
Actually, it is pretty interesting. In order to translate this stuff, we first need to understand it (since our translations are “meaning-based”). So as we work, we’re learning. This material is actually helping us understand some aspects of the things we already do as translators.
And every once in awhile we bump into fun little things. One of the illustrations this morning referred to “popcorn” and because I have lived in Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico, I’m aware that they have a different name for popcorn in each of those countries. So I googled it and this is what I found:
Argentina: pochoclo (de pop y choclo), pororó (del guaraní), ancua (en el norte)
Bolivia, Brasil: pipoca
Canary Islands: cotufas, roscas [spirals]
Chile: cabritas [little goats]
Colombia: maízpira, crispetas, totes
Cuba: rositas [little roses]
Ecuador: canguil
Mexico, Spain: palomitas [little doves]
Paraguay: pororó (en guaraní)
Perú: canchitas, cancha
República Dominicana: cocaleca
Uruguay: pororó, po
Venezuela: cotufas, gallitos [little roosters] (en parte de la región Zuliana y Andina)
Since I can’t use the whole list, I’ll select a few that will cover the locations where this presentation is most likely to be used.
God is on His throne. Let’s work while it is day; the night is coming when no man can work. Hope you have a great day!
Leave a Reply