Translation Exercise for Beginners: Number 13
This is a thread specifically designed with beginners in mind. If other exercises intimidate you this one shouldn't! Keep in mind that it doesn't matter if you don't get it all right. The actual process of attempting translation, and then correcting yourself is what helps us learn!
There are three rules:
- Don't look at other people's translations until you have made your own.
- Do not use a translation engine. (Although you can use a dictionary)
- Do vote for the best answers and this thread. If there is a tie, votes make a difference.
So here is our sentence for Number 13:
"La tierra que no es labrada llevará abrojos y espinas aunque sea fértil; así es el entendimiento del hombre."
Santa Teresa de Jesús
Please remember to answer and then vote! This helps our thread and helps to choose a winner because if there is a word-for-word tie the answer with the most votes wins! The winner automatically recieves 20 reputation points not counting any votes he/she may have garnered. Every participant receives a vote from me as well for participating. Keep in mind that if you need some time to come up with an answer and if the thread disappears you can find it under the category: Games and Challenges. Have fun! The translation will be posted on Sunday.
Answer:
(Please see the details at the bottom of the page for reasonings on the correct translation as well as thanks and congratulations! Good job everyone!)
Uncultivated soil, even though it is fertile, will produce thistles and thorns; so is the intellect of man.
Santa Teresa de Jesús
22 Answers
Land that is not plowed, though fertile, will yeild thistle and thorns. As such is the mind of man.
Land that is left unworked will be covered in thistles and thorns . Thus will be barren the mind of man if left untended.
Even though it is fertile, fallow earth will have thistles and thorns; so too is the mind of man.
I hope it's not to late to contribute, but here is my try:
Even if the land is fertile it will lead to thistles and thorns if not labored; such is the understanding of man.
The land that is not worked on will have thistles and spines although it is fertile; that is the understanding of man.
"La tierra que no es labrada llevará abrojos y espinas aunque sea fértil; así es el entendimiento del hombre." Santa Teresa de Jesú
"The land not cultivated brings thistles and thorns even if fertile; so it is with man's mind." Saint Teresa of Avila
Land that is not worked will carry thistles and spines though they are fertile, thus is the understanding of man.
La tierra que no es labrada llevará abrojos y espinas aunque sea fértil; así es el entendimiento del hombre.
The land that is not cultivated will bear thistles and thorns although it is fertile; so is the intellect of man.
Land that is not worked will have thistles and thorns even if it is fertile; so it is with the human mind.
Congratulations Yesero! You are best answerer and rightly deserve the votes as well! Honorable mention goes to Crazy! She was amazing. She only lacked votes this time. Congratulations everyone on a job well done! Despite all the comments that this exercise was challenging, I was pleasently suprised to see how well you all did! I had a really great time as usual seeing all the input and creative ideas. It is obvious that the very normal Spanish sentence structure was a little tough on everyone's English brain! Getting used to this difference is just a matter of practice...like participating in this thread! So to address the structure I will translate the Spanish sentence without adjusting the structure so you can visualize the difference:
"La tierra que no es labrada llevará abrojos y espinas aunque sea fértil; así es el entendimiento del hombre."
The land that is not cultivated will carry thistles and thorns although it be fertile; like this is the intellect of man.
In English this sounds rough.
- We do not say the land "carries" weeds.
- We wouldn't end with adding that the earth is fertile. We would include the description of the land in the same phrase.
So now let's take care of the structure problem. Remember, as a result of this change some words must be changed as well...
The land that is not cultivated, even though it is fertile, will produce thistles and thorns; so is the intellect of man.
Everyone reading this please vote for our thread and the participants. I know I could not do this without everyones participation! You are what make it fun! See you in Number 14!
Land that is left unworked even though fertile will be covered in thistles and thorns , thus also will mans intellect wither if left untended.
Land that is not cultivated will bring thistles and thorns, even if it is fertil; so is the intellect of man.
To be fertile, the land must be worked, if not there will be no produce as it is surrounded in thistles; this is the way of understanding of man.
The earth with no tilling carries thistles and thorns even though it is fertile, as is the mind of man.
Land that is left unworked will be covered in thistles and thorns And the intellect of man will wither if left untended.
