Translation Exercise for Beginners: Number 17
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 17:
"Vivir no es sólo existir
sino existir y crear
saber gozar y sufrir
y no dormir sin soñar
Descansar, es empezar a morir."
Gregorio Marañon
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 Wednesday.
Translation:
Living is not simply existing
rather existing and creating
it is knowing pleasure and suffering
and not sleeping without dreaming.
Taking a break from life, is to begin to die.
Congratulations Shemmn!!! Thank you everyone as usual for participating in and voting for this thread...see you in Number 18!
20 Answers
Life is not merely existence,
but existing and creating,
knowing pleasure and suffering,
and sleeping without dreaming.
Resting is the beginning of death
"Vivir no es sólo existir sino existir y crear saber gozar y sufrir y no dormir sin soñar Descansar, es empezar a morir."
Gregorio Marañon
To live is not only to exist
but to be and to create
to experience joy and suffering
and not sleep without dreams.
Contentment, is the beginning of death.
I changed my original 'sleep without dreaming' to 'not sleep without dreams'. I think it would be more peaceful and restful (and I would prefer) to sleep without dreams but he seems to be saying that you are wasting time sleeping.
I also changed 'resting' as in 'resting on one's laurels' to contentment.
To live is not only to exist, but to exist and create, to know and enjoy, to suffer and not to sleep without dreaming. To rest is to begin to die.
Gregorio Marañon
Translation:
Living is not simply existing
rather existing and creating
it is knowing pleasure and suffering
and not sleeping without dreaming.
Taking a break from life, is to begin to die.
Congratulations Shemmn!!! Thank you everyone as usual for participating in and voting for this thread...see you in Number 18!
We have seen how much of a difference implied meaning can make in previous translation exercises! Here we discover it again:
With the word "descansar" you wonder how to fit it in smoothly. You have to ask yourself the question, "Take a break from what?" And then it hits. The whole theme of this prose is how to live life...it is the subject. It would follow naturally, then, that "descansar" (to take a break) is referring to life. Here is the interpretation with the implied meaning in parenthesis.
Taking a break (from life), is to begin to die.
Alright everyone, we have one day before translation! Here is your hint:
Make "descansar" take a meaningful place in the prose...think about the intent of the author. Sometimes to get the same meaning in another language, words need to be added.
If you are reading this, vote, vote, vote! This helps us all!
