Translating Cortazar (WAS: Translating from a conlang into a conlang)
| From: | FFlores <fflores@...> |
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| Date: | Friday, April 23, 1999, 15:47 |
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Andrew Smith <hobbit@...> wrote:
>=20
> Translating from conlang to conlang is harder than translating from
> English. Perhaps we may see more such projects in the future, or
> translation projects provided from other natlangs (with gloss please!)
>=20
Let me propose this short story for Julio Cort=E1zar,
in the original Spanish version, plus interlinear glosses.
Not really that different from English, but...
TEMA PARA UN TAPIZ
El general tiene s=F3lo ochenta hombres, y el enemigo cinco mil.
En su tienda el general blasfema y llora. Entonces escribe
una proclama inspirada, que palomas mensajeras derraman sobre
el campamento enemigo. Doscientos infantes se pasan al general.
Sigue una escaramuza que el general gana f=E1cilmente, y dos
regimientos se pasan a su bando. Tres d=EDas despu=E9s el enemigo
tiene s=F3lo ochenta hombres y el general cinco mil. Entonces el
general escribe otra proclama, y setenta y nueve hombres se
pasan a su bando. S=F3lo queda un enemigo, rodeado por el ej=E9rcito
del general que espera en silencio. Transcurre la noche y el
enemigo no se ha pasado a su bando. El general blasfema y llora
en su tienda. Al alba el enemigo desenvaina lentamente la espada
y avanza hacia la tienda del general. Entra y lo mira. El ej=E9rcito
del general se desbanda. Sale el sol.
In the interlinear version below, I've tried to be simple
(the verbs are indicated as "he_did", not "do.3s.PAST").
The only strange thing here is the mark PR (for pseudo-reflexive),
applied to the pronoun _se_. In general it marks a middle voice
construction. For example, _se pasan_: the meaning is among
"they pass", "they pass themselves", and "they are passed".
The same in _se desbanda_ "(the army) disbands": they disband,
they are neither disbanded nor disband anything. The action is
internal to the army itself, so internal it's not even reflexive.
TEMA PARA UN TAPIZ
theme for a tapestry (or "topic")
El general tiene s=F3lo ochenta hombres, y el enemigo cinco mil.
the general has only eighty men & the enemy five thousand
En su tienda el general blasfema y llora. Entonces escribe
in his tent the general blasphemes & cries then he_writes
_llora_ "(he) cries" as in "he weeps", not as in "he screams"
una proclama inspirada, que palomas mensajeras derraman sobre
a proclamation inspired which doves messengers pour over
Note the adjective comes after the noun. In _palomas mensajeras_,
_mensajeras_ is more like an adjective, "message-carrying".
_derraman_ "(they) pour" as in "they let drop a quantity".
el campamento enemigo. Doscientos infantes se pasan al general.
the camp enemy 2_hundred infants PR pass to_the general =20
Sigue una escaramuza que el general gana f=E1cilmente, y dos
it_follows a skirmish which the general wins easily & two
regimientos se pasan a su bando. Tres d=EDas despu=E9s el enemigo
regiments PR pass to his side three days afterwards the enemy
tiene s=F3lo ochenta hombres y el general cinco mil. Entonces el
has only eighty men & the general five thousand then the
general escribe otra proclama, y setenta y nueve hombres se
general writes another proclamation & seventy & nine men PR
pasan a su bando. S=F3lo queda un enemigo, rodeado por el ej=E9r=
cito
pass to his side only is_left one enemy surrounded by the army
del general que espera en silencio. Transcurre la noche y el
of_the general that waits in silence it_passes the night & the
enemigo no se ha pasado a su bando. El general blasfema y llora
enemy not PR has passed to his side the general blasphemes & cries
en su tienda. Al alba el enemigo desenvaina lentamente la espada
in his tent to_the dawn the enemy draws slowly the sword
y avanza hacia la tienda del general. Entra y lo mira. =20
& goes_forth towards the tent of_the general he_enters & him he_looks
El ej=E9rcito del general se desbanda. Sale el sol.
the army of_the general PR disbands it_comes_out the sun
Well, this should be easy... Maybe later I'll give you
some Drasel=E9q :)
--Pablo Flores
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
En gian idgrivar fr=FAmneltel frasi=E9rraser gian pavonn
be i malladhar siqged=FCer.
"Don't blame your enemy for your disgrace=20
if you've just given them a chance."
(Traditional Dr=E1selhadh saying)