Re: Tricky translations

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 01:04:06 +1100, Tristan McLeay
<conlang@...> wrote:

>On 16 Jan 2005, at 12.46 am, Chris Bates wrote:
>
>> Try translating "Mr" into Basque. ;) The closest you can get is "jaun"
>> which means literally "lord" (also can mean "god")... which is
>> ridiculous if used for "mr" in the same way calling Mr Smith "Lord
>> Smith" is ridiculous unless Mr Smith has been knighted.
>
>To be a pedant, you'd only do that if Mr Smith had received a peerage
>(one of a particular group of peerages?). Being knighted just means he
>becomes Sir Smith.
>
>As for translating, I have a difficult time translating 'bludge' into
>standard English :)
>
>--
>Tristan.

I believe the term used in my branch of English is "sponge" as a verb.

Geoff.