Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Translations
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


Help translating a quote?

 

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 16, 2012, 08:52 PM
Sunflower Sunflower is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14
Native Language: English - American
Sunflower is on a distinguished road
Help translating a quote?

"Dreads do not grow just on the outside. They also grow inward. They grow into your brain so you think differently. Then they grow into your eyes so you see differently. And then they grow into your heart so you feel differently."

My attempt is:

"Los dreads no crecen solamente por fuera. También crecen hacia adentro. Crecen en tu miente así pienses diferentemente. Entonces crecen en tus ojos así ves diferentemente. Y entonces crecen en tu corazon así te sientes diferentemente."

I feel like this is completely wrong because I don't know if crecer can be used that way, and I'm not sure if I should be using a slightly more impersonal construction like, "crecen en los ojos así uno ve diferentemente" although the original paragraph seems pretty strongly second person.

Any help is appreciated!
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old April 16, 2012, 09:38 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunflower View Post
"Dreads do not grow just on the outside. They also grow inward. They grow into your brain so you think differently. Then they grow into your eyes so you see differently. And then they grow into your heart so you feel differently."

My attempt is:

"Los miedos no crecen solamente por fuera. También crecen hacia/por adentro. Crecen en tu mente/cerebro para que pienses diferente. Entonces crecen en tus ojos para que veas diferente. Y entonces crecen en tu corazon para que pienses/sientas diferente."

I feel like this is completely wrong because I don't know if crecer can be used that way, and I'm not sure if I should be using a slightly more impersonal construction like, "crecen en los ojos así uno ve diferentemente" although the original paragraph seems pretty strongly second person.

Any help is appreciated!
Instead of "crecer" you can use "aparecer" (appear)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old April 16, 2012, 09:38 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,368
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Please provide a definition of 'dreads'.

If you're not addressing a specific person, you should be using an impersonal construction. I would use the 'se impersonal' instead of 'uno'. You would also not use the determiners, but would use the articles, instead (no 'tus ojos', sino 'los ojos').

cerebro = brain
mente = mind
miente = a conjugated form of the verb mentir or mentar

hacia fuera (hacia adentro)
corazón

Your usage of 'así' is not correct. That word means 'like that/thus'.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old April 16, 2012, 10:16 PM
Sunflower Sunflower is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14
Native Language: English - American
Sunflower is on a distinguished road
Dreads are another term for dreadlocks: ropes of matted hair common in Rastafari, but other non-Rasta folks have them, too. And I used "miente" because it carries more connotations of thinking for me, but on second thought, I like the more literal brain/cerebro translation better.

Gaah! That's what was wrong about it: I should have been using the subjunctive! I probably would have had no problem if I weren't translating someone else's words. That's what I get for trying to quote somebody.

So, using the subjuntive construction and the se impersonal I've got:

"Los dreads no crecen solamente por fuera. También crecen por adentro. Crecen en el cerebro para que se piense diferente. Entonces crecen en los ojos para que se vea diferente. Y entonces crecen en tu corazón para que se sienta uno diferente."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old April 16, 2012, 10:39 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,368
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunflower View Post
Dreads is another term for dreadlocks (That's what I thought you meant, but wanted to make sure.)

...

Los dreads no crecen solamente hacia fuera. También crecen hacia adentro. Crecen en el cerebro causando que se piense diferente. Entonces crecen en los ojos ocasionando que se vea diferente. Y entonces crecen en el corazón con consecuencia de que se sienta uno diferente."
I believe the corrections I've made yield a literal translation of the English paragraph, but there are most likely other ways to say the same thing without being so literal (waxing towards poetry). One of our illustrious native speakers may be able to help you out.

Last edited by Rusty; April 16, 2012 at 10:57 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old April 16, 2012, 11:22 PM
Sunflower Sunflower is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14
Native Language: English - American
Sunflower is on a distinguished road
Thank you! I think I'm going to keep it as literal as I can, though. I like translations to stick as close to the original words as possible.

Are you sure it shouldn't be "se sienta uno" though? I thought that when doing an impersonal construction with a reflexive verb, you should add "uno" as a subject.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old April 17, 2012, 01:35 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,368
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunflower View Post
I thought that when doing an impersonal construction with a reflexive verb, you should add "uno" as a subject.
Yes, that sounds like a good thing to do.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old April 17, 2012, 09:23 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Ha! Context as always.
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

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
A José Artigas quote... laepelba Translations 12 February 09, 2011 05:02 PM
Received my quote CrOtALiTo Translations 11 August 19, 2010 07:17 AM
Translating a Tolkien quote - "Not all those who wander are lost" tedmagnum Translations 23 September 28, 2009 06:44 AM
Quote translation Hombre-Araña Translations 6 January 25, 2009 09:03 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:39 AM.

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

X