Translating a simple paragraph (Exercise 9-11)

[laepelba]

Continuing to work through a book of basic Spanish grammar exercises, in an attempt to fill in some of the "holes" in the learning that I've done so far. It has been (I believe) very fruitful so far.

One of the exercises in the chapter covering the "progressive tenses" asks me to translate a simple paragraph from English to Spanish. I did this work on an airplane, so I didn't have access to conjugation charts or the extensive online dictionaries like I usually do. Just a basic tiny little pocket dictionary.

I want to ask some questions, though. So I'm going to include here (1) the original English paragraph, (2) my original translation, and (3) the "corrected" translation. I will indicate my questions at the bottom of this post.




My Questions:
(1) Why no object pronoun there?
(2) Why "para" and not "a"?
(3) Why is "en" necessary?
(4) Again, why "para" and not "a"?
(5) Is this the "personal a"? So "público" is considered a person?
(6) Is what I wrote originally a valid option?
(7) Again, is what I wrote ("están") a valid option? (Two places...)
(8) Is what I wrote a valid option?
(9) And again, is what I wrote okay?

As always, thank you SO much!!!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Estamos reportandote (1) en vivo desde Central Park el parque Central. Vemos a muchos participantes quienes que están preparándose a para (2) correr en (3) el maratón. Los espectadores están esperando ansiosamente el empezar inicio de este evento deportivo. Los atletas están tratando de intentando relajarse, sonriendo. Aquí, a mi derecha, ustedes pueden ver a los voluntarios quienes que están trabajando duro, distribuyendo botellas de agua a los corredores. Los camarógrafos y los reporteros de Canal 1 están trabajando duro a para (4) informar el al (5) público. Al oir el disparo escuchar la señal (6), los corredores están van (7) saliendo, sonriendo de nuevo a nuestras cámaras de nuevo. Y como ustedes pueden observar, estoy yo voy (7) siguiendo a los corredores de este del (8) maratón desde la camioneta del Canal 1, trayéndote las noticias más recientes llevándoles a Uds. las últimas noticias (9). Continúe mirando viendo este programa especial en su canal favorito, el Canal 1.

Wow!! only 9 questions!!!
*phew!*


(1) Why no object pronoun there?
- Because in Spanish impersonal forms tend to be well understood, and you don't have to deal with "tú"/"usted"/"ustedes".
In any case, your answer was not completely wrong, but you should have used "usted"/"ustedes", not "tú". That's disrespectful for a serious TV/radio show (if there's any).

* "Desde Central Park" was correct. Nobody I know would use "parque Central" in Spanish.


(2) Why "para" and not "a"?
- "Prepararse a" is not Spanish. Does the word "purpose" ring a bell?


(3) Why is "en" necessary?
- It isn't. But it has a slightly different point of view:
-> "Correr el/la maratón" is to run all along.
-> "Correr en el/la maratón" is to participate in the race together with other people, whether you finish or not.
I think both would be fine for the purposes of this text though.

* "tratando de" was fine.


(4) Again, why "para" and not "a"?
- Also not Spanish. In both cases, "purpose" is the key word.


(5) Is this the "personal a"? So "público" is considered a person?
- They're persons, right?


(6) Is what I wrote originally a valid option?
- Yes, if the one who gives the signal uses a gun, but "oír".
"Al oír la señal" would have been correct too.
I would actually don't like "escuchar" here, because it's not that they're carefully listening to a sound that lasts only fractions of seconds.
However, in this case, it can be used because they're attentively waiting for the signal to sound.

* Spanish is a flexible language, but the adverb is usually preferred as close to the verb as possible.


(7) Again, is what I wrote ("están") a valid option? (Two places...)
You wrote "estoy". If you want to make it more general, it's "estar".
But yes, it was correct. Although "voy siguiendo" gives a more graphic idea of movement that you're following the runners all along the race.


(8) Is what I wrote a valid option?
Yes.

* "de Canal 1" is fine, if you're aware that you're treating "Canal 1" as a proper name (of a person).


(9) And again, is what I wrote okay?
"Tú" just like in #1.
"Trayendo" is the antónimo of "llevando", but it's valid if want to talk closer to the public at home (you're talking from their homes, where they are).
"Las noticias más recientes" is fine, and more appropriate, but telecommunications idioms tend to prefer "últimas noticias".

* "Mirar la televisión/una película/un programa" is commonly used, but it doesn't sound any good. It's always "ver".

* The article in "el Canal 1" is necessary if you have used "camioneta del canal" before.



It seems I missed many questions, so I had to invent myself a few more.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

* "Desde Central Park" was correct. Nobody I know would use "parque Central" in Spanish.
- Thanks. I thought that was the case. I'm always a bit reluctant to change proper names. In this case, Central Park (both words) is the proper name of the park. At the very least, it should have been translated as "Parque Central", but I still don't like changing it.......

(2) Why "para" and not "a"?
- "Prepararse a" is not Spanish. Does the word "purpose" ring a bell?
- Ah hah!!! We covered "por" and "para" extensively in my classes in BsAs. Now I'm starting to better make those connections.

(6) Is what I wrote originally a valid option?
- Yes, if the one who gives the signal uses a gun, but "oír".
"Al oír la señal" would have been correct too.
I would actually don't like "escuchar" here, because it's not that they're carefully listening to a sound that lasts only fractions of seconds.
However, in this case, it can be used because they're attentively waiting for the signal to sound.
- Before I went to Argentina, Ookami told me that they use "escuchar" almost exclusively there in everyday conversation. I found that to be the case, 100% of the time. I wonder if it comes down to regional preferences....

* Spanish is a flexible language, but the adverb is usually preferred as close to the verb as possible.
- Are you talking about the "de nuevo" here? That makes sense.... One of the problems of these translation exercises in this book ... my tendency to attempt to translate word for word.

(7) Again, is what I wrote ("están") a valid option? (Two places...)
You wrote "estoy". If you want to make it more general, it's "estar".
But yes, it was correct. Although "voy siguiendo" gives a more graphic idea of movement that you're following the runners all along the race.
- The first was "están", the second was "estoy", which I noticed later and just added the extra #7 to the question, forgot to add the "estoy" to the "están". Anyway, this chapter covers other auxiliary verbs used in the progressive tenses, and sometimes it's obvious to me (especially when it's seguir), but sometimes I just don't see why it's one and not the other. I'll keep paying attention (seguiré prestando atención) to that...

I love that you made up some of your own questions. Things I thought I understood, but now understand BETTER. Thank you SO much!!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

* "Desde Central Park" was correct. Nobody I know would use "parque Central" in Spanish.
- Thanks. I thought that was the case. I'm always a bit reluctant to change proper names. In this case, Central Park (both words) is the proper name of the park. At the very least, it should have been translated as "Parque Central", but I still don't like changing it.......

They're using "Central" as the name of the park here, but since it's an NYC landmark, I've always seen the name as it is in English.

Originally Posted by laepelba

(2) Why "para" and not "a"?
- "Prepararse a" is not Spanish. Does the word "purpose" ring a bell?
- Ah hah!!! We covered "por" and "para" extensively in my classes in BsAs. Now I'm starting to better make those connections.

Good to know.

Originally Posted by laepelba

(6) Is what I wrote originally a valid option?
- Yes, if the one who gives the signal uses a gun, but "oír".
"Al oír la señal" would have been correct too.
I would actually don't like "escuchar" here, because it's not that they're carefully listening to a sound that lasts only fractions of seconds.
However, in this case, it can be used because they're attentively waiting for the signal to sound.
- Before I went to Argentina, Ookami told me that they use "escuchar" almost exclusively there in everyday conversation. I found that to be the case, 100% of the time. I wonder if it comes down to regional preferences....

Hmm... I suppose it's a matter of regional preferences, yes.
And in Mexico there are people who believe that "escuchar" is a more "educated" way of saying "oír".
But for a "proper" use of Spanish, please keep in mind that "escuchar" is to listen carefully and "oír" is just to hear.

Originally Posted by laepelba

* Spanish is a flexible language, but the adverb is usually preferred as close to the verb as possible.
- Are you talking about the "de nuevo" here? That makes sense.... One of the problems of these translation exercises in this book ... my tendency to attempt to translate word for word.

"Rest my case, Your Honor".
And yes, "de nuevo" is an adverb.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

(2) Why "para" and not "a"?
- "Prepararse a" is not Spanish. Does the word "purpose" ring a bell?

O sea que no se puede decir "prepararse a tomar (la prueba), (el té)?

En este caso nosotros lo usamos indistintamente con "para", está mal?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

No lo sé. Nunca lo he visto usado así. Probablemente una más de las variantes regionales.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

No lo sé. Nunca lo he visto usado así. Probablemente una más de las variantes regionales.

Bueno saberlo, pero el contexto es importante.

[JPablo]

De acuerdo con que el "para" es más común, pero al menos en España, "a" "para" "con" "contra" son aceptables después de "prepararse".

Moliner da esto, (las negritas las pongo yo)

preparar (del lat. «praeparäre»)
1 («a, para, con, contra») tr. Poner algo de la manera adecuada para cierta cosa o cierta acción:

‘Preparar la mesa para el desayuno’.
‘Preparar la tierra para sembrar’. Disponer.

prnl. Llevar a cabo todas las operaciones previas a la realización de algo:

‘Se preparaba para salir de casa cuando yo llegué’. Disponerse.

Se usa mucho en imperativo, como invitación a que alguien o uno mismo prepare el ánimo para cierta cosa:

‘Prepárate a recibir malas noticias. Preparémonos a aguantar a ese pelma’.

tr. Estar trabajando o haciendo algo para cierto resultado:

‘Le preparamos una sorpresa’.

Hablar a alguien en cierta forma para atenuar la impresión que ha de producirle una noticia. prnl. Haber síntomas o preludios de que va a ocurrir cierta cosa:

‘Se está preparando una tormenta’.

Estar las cosas preparadas o en vías de ocurrir de cierta manera:

‘Se nos preparan mal las cosas para esta temporada’. (Yo espero que se nos preparen bien...)