Translation Exercise for Beginners: Number 16

Question

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:

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1. Don't look at other people's translations until you have made your own.
2. Do not use a translation engine. (Although you can use a dictionary)
3. Do vote for the best answers and this thread. If there is a tie, votes make a difference.

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So here is our sentence for Number 16:

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"No existe la libertad, sino la búsqueda de la libertad, y esa búsqueda es la que nos hace libres."

Carlos Fuentes

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Please remember to answer and then vote generously! 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.

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Translation:

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Without the search for liberty, liberty does not exist; for it is the search that makes us free.

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Congratulations, Ken! You did an excellent job! Thank you everyone for participating. You make my threads possible by your participation and votes. See my comments below for an explanation of the translation. See you next time!

Thanks for continuing to do these! - 008f2974, Mar 25, 2010

Thanks for the thanks! - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Answer 1

"No existe la libertad, sino la búsqueda de la libertad, y esa búsqueda es la que nos hace libres."

Carlos Fuentes

Liberty only exists in the search for liberty, and that search is what makes us free.

Hi Ken! Welcome back... - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Had jury duty this week - been tied up (so to speak) ;-) - 00d7cd75, Mar 25, 2010

Congratulations, you are best answerer. Excellent job, Ken! You managed to convey the nuance of the sentence quite well! See my comments for details. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 2

There is no freedom except for the search for freedom, and that search is what makes us free.

thanks for participating fatchocobo...we'll see everyone Sunday... - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

fatchocobo, you did a really good job and garnered a lot of votes, but there is one clear winner this time! Hope to see you in #17. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 3

Freedom does not exist, only the search for freedom, and that search is what makes us free.

Thanks for your loyal support! I love to see you here. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

I'm just a SD addict trying to get my daily dose from SD lords (ladies) like you. :-) - Rikko, Mar 25, 2010

Great job! You made the same general error that almost everyone made...see my comments. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Thanks, Renea! Yes, the quotation makes a lot more sense the way you smoothened it out. I now realize how choppy my translation is by comparison. Thanks again! - Rikko, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 4

There is no freedom but for the quest of freedom and it is that quest that makes us free.

I like the word quest yesero. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Thanks, keep your quest for exercises going, they're great. - Yeser007, Mar 26, 2010

Really good job as usual...you are missing an important nuance that almost everyone missed. See my comments. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 5

Freedom itself doesn’t exist, but the search for freedom is what makes us free.

Hi Crazy...it's nice to see you here. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Great! See then comments to catch the last finishing touch to the translation... - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 6

"No existe la libertad, sino la búsqueda de la libertad, y esa búsqueda es la que nos hace libres."

Carlos Fuentes

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"Freedom doesn't exist, solely the quest for freedom, and that quest is what makes us free."

Carlos Fuentes

Hi hisbookworm...nice to see you. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Very good! Please see my comments as almost everyone had the same mistake in common! - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 7

OK, this is my first try at one of these so you have to promise not to laugh.

"No existe la libertad, sino la búsqueda de la libertad, y esa búsqueda es la que nos hace libres."

= Liberty does not exist, but the search for liberty, that search is what makes us free.

Mine feels too literal and awkward, I think... it's really hard not to peek at others first! This is a fun idea though!

Welcome to my thread! I am glad that you tried it out. It is looking like you do have a good idea as to what the sentence says. Just try to revise the sentence now that you have it translated into a better English structure. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Thanks! More natural in English would be something like, "Liberty does not exist, but the search for liberty is what makes us free" but that felt like it was changing the original too much. - schemmn, Mar 25, 2010

You did an excellent job for you first translation exercise. See my comments on extra details...hope to see you back. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 8

"No existe la libertad, sino la búsqueda de la libertad, y esa búsqueda es la que nos hace libres."

There is no freedom, but rather the search for freedom, and it is that search that makes us free.

Hey Ian! 10k looks good! Welcome back to my thread... - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Very good! Everyone is doing great, there is just a small detail overlooked...see my comments. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 9

There is no freedom, but the search for freedom, and it is searching that makes us free.

nametaken, it's great to see you. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Very good...see my comments for all the details. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 10

Freedom doesn't exist, only the search for freedom, and the search itself is what makes us free.

...couldn't make my mind between "the search itself" and "the very search", but here it is:) - luz_72, Mar 25, 2010

I like search itself a little better...nice work. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Great job, luz. Hope to see you in the next exercise. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 11

There is no such thing as liberty, but the pursuit of liberty; and this pursuit is that which makes us free.

Welcome to #16! - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Nice job...see the comments on the exercise below. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 12

Freedom doesn't exist except for the search for freedom, and it is the search that makes us free.

Hi Lisbeth! It's always great to see you here! - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

As always, great job! See my comments for more details. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 13

Freedom doesn't exist, only searching for freedom, and it is the searching that sets us free.

Hi galsally! It's great to have you again. - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Nice! Everyone did really well. See my comments for improvements. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 14

There is no liberty without the search for liberty, and the search is what makes us free.

Thanks for coming back to my threads and persevering as well! - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

very good! See my comments to get the details. - renaerules, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 15

Freedom doesn't exist, but the search for freedom does, and that search is what makes us free.

Hi pescador..Nice to see you again... - renaerules, Mar 25, 2010

Thanks! Thank you for all of your great translation exercises! - pescador1, Mar 26, 2010