Interpretation Game: Creative Translation (1): Perdidos!
The other day, when I started getting some really creative translation attempts to my post "Translate the Tweet", I go the idea for this game. I'm not quite sure yet how it's going to play out, but let's give it a try and see how it goes.
The basic idea is this: I am going to post a sentence, and I invite you to offer your most creative effort at interpreting it. The rules are simple, but I ask you to please stick to them:
1. It really must be translation. That is, do not just make something up: I need to understand why you chose the words you did. Use the interpretation of the words that most appeal your imagination, but do offer an actual translation of the words provided. 2. Your translated text must make sense when read. In other words, just random, disconnected text does not qualify. 3. Your translated text must be grammatically correct and use proper spelling and capitalization. 4. Use your imagination! Think outside the box! Contemplate the possibilities - Have fun!
This is open to everyone, regardless of level. Don't be afraid to try, it's just for fun! I may, however, accept an answer if I find it really clever, or if it gets a lot of votes and popular acclamation!
Today's sentence is this:
Los exploradores se adentraron en la selva y siguieron avanzando durante un par de horas. Acabaron perdiéndose, pues Vanzando no conocía el camino.
Now, do your worst!
9 Answers
The (would be) explorers penetrated the jungle and forged ahead for a couple of hours. They ended up getting lost since Vanzando (having lost the first letter of his name) didn't have a clue about advancing along the path.
I wasn't too sure about how far from literal we were allowed to go. I hope that this is acceptable according to the rules.
George he's not. Speaking of Señor A. Vanzando.
After pounding down a few cases of Corona, Avanzando an his buddies decided to explore the jungle. Avanzando went into the jungle with his buddies following. After a couple of hours they got lost since Avanzando did not know the way either. It was like the blind leading the blind 
The explorers delved deep into the jungle and kept on going for a couple of hours. They ended up getting lost since Mr. Let's-keep-going didn't know the way.
Los exploradores se adentraron en la selva y siguieron avanzando durante un par de horas. Acabaron perdiéndose, pues Vanzando no conocía el camino.
The explorers entered the jungle and made really great progress for a couple of hours. They had just finished getting lost...Vanzando didn't know the way.
The trail-blazers made their way into the land overgrown with thick layers of vegetation and plant life, and they continued pressing forward for two hours. Since Vanzando was not aquainted with the path, they ended up getting lost.
![alt text][1]
[1]: http://www.cyrilbrass.com/images/Three toed Sloth 1.JPG "Vanzando"
The amature explorers entered the forest and continued for a couple of hours, (tying white ribbons to the trees as they went). They ended up getting lost (on the return trip) because Vanzando did not know the way (as his friends thought he was littering and quietly cleaned up after him.)
Ok, I think this has been a pretty good first run. Let's see if I can make the rules a bit clearer, from the results we got today, for future issues of the game.
Did eveyone like it? Would you like to see more? Let me know in the comments.
Modified rules:
The principle of the game is to take advantage of the fact that many words can be interpreted in different ways. So the challenge is to try and ignore the mental image we get from reading the whole text, and see what alternate meanings we can come up with for the words provided, so that we end up with a text that is unquestionably a translation of the words provided, but with a different, creative meaning. The guidelines for the game are:
It really must be translation. That is, do not make something up: I need to understand why you chose the words you did. Use the interpretation of the words that most appeal your imagination, but do offer an actual translation of the words provided. Please do not add elements that are not in the original text. The idea is to see what much we can do with what we have.
Your translated text must make sense when read. In other words, just random, disconnected text does not qualify.
Your translated text must be grammatically correct and use proper spelling and capitalization.
Use your imagination! Think outside the box! Contemplate the possibilities - Have fun!
Some of the answers show that several of you got the general idea. Here's one example of what else we could do:
Los exploradores se adentraron en la selva y siguieron avanzando durante un par de horas. Acabaron perdiéndose, pues Vanzando no conocía el camino.
The surveyors immersed themselves in the competitive environment, and followed the progression for the time partners. They ended up condemning themselves, as Vanzando was not learned in The Way.
Ok, it is weird, but it is grammatically correct, and every word of the original is translated with a valid meaning. The interpretation is way off from the original meaning, but this is the sort of thing that automated translators do unwittingly, because they do not understand context.
Here, I'm asking that you get outside the context box, and play with the meanings, so that the result is something readable, with a different meaning from the original. What do you all think? Are we game?
The explorers went deep into the jungle and continued forward for a couple of hours. The ended up getting lost, since Vanzando didn't know the way.
Los exploradores se adentraron en la selva y siguieron avanzando durante un par de horas. Acabaron perdiéndose, pues Vanzando no conocía el camino.
The explorers went into the bush and followed Mr. Vanzando for a few hours. They ended up getting lost since he didn't know the way. (Very funny!)
