Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Translations


What is this thing called love?

 

If you need help translating a sentence or longer piece of text, use this forum. For translations or definitions of a single word or idiom, use the vocabulary forum.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old April 25, 2016, 11:34 PM
jrhjazznblues jrhjazznblues is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 40
jrhjazznblues is on a distinguished road
What is this thing called love?

thanks in advance
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old April 26, 2016, 12:42 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
What would be your attempt?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old April 26, 2016, 10:29 AM
jrhjazznblues jrhjazznblues is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 40
jrhjazznblues is on a distinguished road
To translate this sentence.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old April 26, 2016, 02:47 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Rusty is asking you to propose a translation so we can help you with corrections and explanations if needed.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old April 27, 2016, 01:11 PM
jrhjazznblues jrhjazznblues is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 40
jrhjazznblues is on a distinguished road
This is a song title. I was trying to write the title of this song in Spanish in a book of mine, but I realized that you probably couldn't translate this title literally; I would think that you would have to translate it as "What is this thing that is called love?" Is this correct?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old April 27, 2016, 02:01 PM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
The forum really wants you to attempt to write translate the Cole Porter lyric before offering their opinion. Clue: You may want to start with ¿Qué es (the translation won't fit the music unfortunately)
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old April 27, 2016, 02:15 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrhjazznblues View Post
This is a song title. I was trying to write the title of this song in Spanish in a book of mine, but I realized that you probably couldn't translate this title literally; I would think that you would have to translate it as "What is this thing that is called love?" Is this correct?
You can translate it the way you proposed (which introduces a noun clause) or you can translate it as written in the thread title, word-for-word.
Give it a shot.

The point poli is trying to make is that the translation, no matter which one you choose, will not fit the meter of the song. Translations will seldom have a syllable-to-syllable match in quantity, but I'm sure you've already discovered this.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old April 27, 2016, 04:51 PM
jrhjazznblues jrhjazznblues is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 40
jrhjazznblues is on a distinguished road
Qué es esta cosa llamó amar?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old April 27, 2016, 05:42 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrhjazznblues View Post
¿Qué es esta cosa llamó amar?
I added a punctuation mark. The last two words need to be fixed.

The last word is an infinitive. What you need instead is a noun.
(The infinitive plays the role of a noun in Spanish and is the equivalent of the English gerund, which acts as a noun. The translation of 'amar' is 'loving', which is not what you wanted to say.)

The phrase 'thing called love' can be translated two different ways.
-You asked about using a noun clause before ('that is called love'). That is one way to translate it, but I wanted to point out that it is a noun clause and it's using the passive voice. The passive voice exists in Spanish, but isn't used nearly as often as we use it in English. What they would use instead is called a "passive 'se'" construction. So, give that a whirl.
-I mentioned that the thread title could be translated word-for-word. I couldn't find the grammatical words to describe 'thing called love', but basically, the word 'called' is not a verb. It's a past participle. The Spanish equivalent can be used, just as it is in English, but remember that adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify (cosa). So, give that a try.

Given that much, are you now able to provide two translations of 'thing called love'?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old April 28, 2016, 04:32 AM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posts: 3,127
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
Literal:

¿Qué es esto que llaman amor?

Traditional:

¿Qué es esa cosa llamada amor?

where this is replaced by that to convey a sense of puzzlement, besides keeping the way the phrase is laid out in English.
__________________
[gone]
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What has been the most frustrating thing for you? scribbler135 General Chat 14 January 22, 2017 07:27 PM
The same thing as Xinfu Grammar 2 May 23, 2015 04:27 AM
American singer Marc Anthony called a Mexican when he sang the National Anthem Villa General Chat 1 July 22, 2013 04:27 AM
What is it called? Jessica General Chat 3 January 03, 2009 09:28 AM
Somebody here in the Forums is called.? CrOtALiTo General Chat 12 July 30, 2008 04:23 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:32 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X