Translation question using Nacer

Question

Hi, I have a question re: translating part of the following sentence. Nacerá, Nació de nosotros, aquel que sin tener nada, no querrá nada, salvo que le dejen la nada que posee.

I translated it as: a man will be born who, without having anything, will not want anything; He will just want to be left alone with his nothingness.

I am confused at the part that says "nacio de nosotros". It doesn't make sense to translate the phrase as "he will be born, he was born from us", he who, without having anything, will not want.....etc.

Is there an idiom I'm missing here? How should this be translated, do you think? Please let me know if you get a chance. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hello Roberto, welcome to the Forum. Lorenzo is right, and you are not too far off. However, if we wanted to be faithful to the translation, we should avoid both "man" and "child". This is old-style prophecy-mode language, so I would write it as:

"Unto us will be born, has been born one whom, having naught, will want naught save that he (or she) is left with the nothingness he (or she) possesses."

This is why I think Biblical texts are a badmodel for learning how to speak a language with people who are alive today. - lorenzo9, Dec 29, 2010

Well, yes... Trying to speak like the Old Testament or even worse, like the Popol-Vuh, will only get us odd, blank looks. :-) - Gekkosan, Dec 29, 2010

It all depends on the translation lorenzo. Some are more modern that other. - BellaMargarita, Dec 29, 2010

I gew up reading the King James version and the Spanish language one my friends have here is very similar. - lorenzo9, Dec 29, 2010

Answer 2

Muchas gracias por la respuesta.

Answer 3

Hola, Roberto:

 

Your question concerns a quotation from the play "Mercier and Camier" written by Samuel Beckett. It was originally written in French as follows:

"Il naîtra, il est né de nous, dit Watt, celui qui n’ayant rien de voudra rien, sinon qu’on lui laisse le rien qu’il a."
(Mercier et Camier, p. 198 – Samuel Beckett)

 

It has been translated to English as follows (not my translation):

"One shall be born, said Watt, one is born of us, who having nothing will wish for nothing, except to be left the nothing he hath."
(Mercier and Camier, p. 114 – Samuel Beckett)

 

Here is one more complete translation to Spanish:

"Nacerá, nació de nosotros, dijo Watt, aquél que sin tener nada no querrá nada, salvo que le dejen la nada que posee."
Samuel Beckett (Mercier y Camier)

 

You will notice the only thing added to your Spanish enquiry are the words "dijo Watt" or in English "said Watt". The does nothing to change the meaning.

 

Muchos saludos/Best regards

Answer 4

unto us a child will be born