The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

The Deryni Series => The Chronicles of the Deryni => Topic started by: morgan on February 09, 2008, 07:02:08 AM

Title: Translation
Post by: morgan on February 09, 2008, 07:02:08 AM
I'm always curious about the differences between italian and english speaking, wheter I look a film or read a book (especially now that I'm reading Deryni books), so I ask your help to know how sound a particular phrase in the original version.
The book is "Deryni rising": the scene is when, just before Kelson coronation, Duncan helps Morgan to dress and, when finished, he says a comment about his cousin's good looking. Could you tell me which are the words in the original version, please?
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Obiwan3 on February 09, 2008, 08:57:33 AM
Buon giorno, amici.

He is talking about Kelson's appearance  - robed to go to his coronation.  If my italian is close, it might be translated as "Que bella". It's been too long since I tried to speak it, let alone write it.

Obiwan
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: morgan on February 12, 2008, 11:37:53 AM
The italian version says:
Duncan: -No, credo non ci sia modo di evitarlo. Nonostante tutto credo che sarai il campione piĆ¹ dannatamente affascinante che Gwynedd abbia mai avuto-.
Morgan: -Hai proprio ragione-.
I think the english version would sound about this:
Duncan: -No, I guess there isn't a way to avoid it. ?? I think you'll be the more fascinating (or handsome) champion Gwynedd had ever seen-.
Morgan: -You're right-
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Obiwan3 on February 12, 2008, 12:43:44 PM
I'd go with "Handsome" for that translation. But, Alaric is a fascinating (or intriguing) character. A most powerful player on the stage of Gwynedd.
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: the Bee on February 12, 2008, 02:57:47 PM
From the English-language edition:

"No, I'm afraid there's simply no way of getting around it," he muttered.  In spite of everything, I do believe you'll be the most devilishly handsome Champion we've had in a long time!"

"I do believe you may be absolutely right!" Morgan agreed, striking a pose.

"And you may also be the most conceited Champion we have ever had!" his cousin went on.

"What?"

Duncan wagged an indignant finger.  "Now, Alaric, remember.  I am your spiritual father.  I only tell you this for your own good!"
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: morgan on February 16, 2008, 08:11:39 AM
Oh, thank you so much The Bee!
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: tenworld on February 18, 2008, 11:23:43 AM
i am curious how "devilishly handsome" translates to Italian.  I watch a lot of english language movies with spanish subtitles and am amused by how the swearing is handled in espanol (I speak only a little spanish) - part cultural and part lack of colorful metaphors in spanish ;)
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: morgan on February 19, 2008, 11:08:34 AM
"Devishly handsome" is litterally "diabolicamente bello" but, in the italian version of the book they use "dannatamente affascinante"
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Elkhound on March 27, 2008, 09:44:50 PM
Translating this back into English would be something like 'damnably fascinating.'
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: JulianneTK on March 29, 2008, 12:54:30 PM
I could go for that. The older I get, the more 'damnably fascinating' Alaric Morgan gets.

  But I still think he has nothing on the characters from Camber's time!  :)
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Elkhound on March 31, 2008, 02:08:13 PM
I believe you Italians have a saying: "Ogni tradditore traddutore."
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: morgan on April 01, 2008, 11:21:13 AM
Well, in the last years I realised that the italian translations of movie, especially, is very different from the original version, even in some points where it wouldn't be necessary.
I discover it watching "the dukes of hazzard", but I guess it's a bad use of italian to translate title of movie or phrase in different ways
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Elkhound on April 01, 2008, 01:59:48 PM
Quote from: morgan on April 01, 2008, 11:21:13 AM
Well, in the last years I realised that the italian translations of movie, especially, is very different from the original version, even in some points where it wouldn't be necessary.
I discover it watching "the dukes of hazzard", but I guess it's a bad use of italian to translate title of movie or phrase in different ways

To be fair, sometimes a title or bit of dialogue is an idiom or some cultural reference that wouldn't make sense if translated directly.  For example, I remember when I was in Italy seeing posters for "The Frisco Kid"--the Italian title translated back in to English, "Excuse me, sir, which way is West?"  "Il Fancullo de Frisco" wouldn't make much sense in Italian, but "Scusa, signore, dov'e oeste?" really does sum up the plot nicely.  Another American movie out was the Barbara Streisand movie "The Main Event", whose Italian title was, "Ma, e tutte matta?" ("What? Is she totally insane?")--again, it conveys what the movie is about more directly than "Il Fatto Principale" would have done.

I'm not sure what the Italian title of "Dukes of Hazzard" would be--"I Duci del Periglio" makes no sense.
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: morgan on April 05, 2008, 08:58:09 AM
In some case you're right, but in some others there are phrase that make perfect sense in both the languages.
Talking about "the dukes of hazzard" (the italian title is only "hazzard" but, to translate it, it means "i duchi di Hazzard"), the titles of the episodes, in most cases, completely different
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Gyrfalcon64207 on September 09, 2008, 07:46:12 PM
Speaking of translation, could someone please translate elkhound's second to last post?  I'm curious.
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Elkhound on September 10, 2008, 01:50:53 PM
Quote from: Gyrfalcon64207 on September 09, 2008, 07:46:12 PM
Speaking of translation, could someone please translate elkhound's second to last post?  I'm curious.

"Every translator is a traitor."  It doesn't come across quite as well in English (thus proving the point.)

A similar saying--and highly sexist, so I haven't brought it up until now:  "Translations and women: beautiful or faithful, seldom if ever both."
Title: Re: Tranlation
Post by: Gyrfalcon64207 on September 12, 2008, 12:20:51 AM
Thanks.  I like the saying.  The second one is funny, even if it is sexist.  Switch in the word 'people' instead, and you can make it neutral, and prove the first point even within a single language.  :)