Sep 15, 2009 19:40
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
español term
Reino Unido
Elegant precision - published writer
Native in: inglés 
Works in: español al inglés, inglés, portugués al inglés
solemne como declaraba y pensaba el misterioso oficio de escribir
español al inglés
Arte/Literatura
Poesía y literatura
Borges, **solemne como declaraba y pensaba el misterioso oficio de escribir**, dijo alguna vez que quien encuentra un tono halla un destino
It's from a short summary of a novel. I think I get the idea (that he thought of and declared the business of writing to be a solemn one?) but can't find a concise and elegant way of putting it in English.
tia
It's from a short summary of a novel. I think I get the idea (that he thought of and declared the business of writing to be a solemn one?) but can't find a concise and elegant way of putting it in English.
tia
Proposed translations
(inglés)
Proposed translations
+3
9 minutos
Selected
solemn as he was about the mysterious business of writing,
I think it transmits the sense without becoming too cumbersome.
Another possibility:
Solemn as he declared the ........ to be.
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-09-15 21:10:45 GMT)
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True, Borges was far more ironic than solemn, but it is in the original. From that point of view perhaps my second would fit in better, even if it is longer.
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-09-15 21:13:06 GMT)
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Earnest/serious??? If you want to get away from 'solemn'
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-09-15 21:46:55 GMT)
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I had to re-read. It's almost as dense as Borges himself: I think he's contagious! However, I personally would not have chosen 'solemn' to describe Borges and his attitude. He is very subtle, full of allusions, and as I said ironic, and certainly hard to understand. You discover something new each time you read one of his stories. He does believe in mysterious forces and predestination, and this includes writing. Perhaps 'earnest' would be closer to the truth. The use of 'declaraba' is probably a pointer here. As for 'pensaba'. nobody really knows! Suerte! Christine Walsh
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Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2009-09-18 14:54:53 GMT) Post-grading
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Good solution. Sweet and short! Saludos
Another possibility:
Solemn as he declared the ........ to be.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-09-15 21:10:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
True, Borges was far more ironic than solemn, but it is in the original. From that point of view perhaps my second would fit in better, even if it is longer.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-09-15 21:13:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Earnest/serious??? If you want to get away from 'solemn'
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-09-15 21:46:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I had to re-read. It's almost as dense as Borges himself: I think he's contagious! However, I personally would not have chosen 'solemn' to describe Borges and his attitude. He is very subtle, full of allusions, and as I said ironic, and certainly hard to understand. You discover something new each time you read one of his stories. He does believe in mysterious forces and predestination, and this includes writing. Perhaps 'earnest' would be closer to the truth. The use of 'declaraba' is probably a pointer here. As for 'pensaba'. nobody really knows! Suerte! Christine Walsh
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Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2009-09-18 14:54:53 GMT) Post-grading
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Good solution. Sweet and short! Saludos
Note from asker:
| nice and concise, am wondering about 'solemn' though |
| thanks for the other suggestions, very nice. So 'solemne' definitely refers to the way Borges viewed writing rather than his thinking of writing as a solemn business? |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: neat!
17 minutos
|
|
Thanks, Carol
|
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| agree |
Evans (X)
: I like it
11 horas
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Thanks, Gilla
|
|
| agree |
patricia scott
: Yes.
15 horas
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Thanks, Patricia
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks for giving this so much thought everyone. I eventually came up with "Borges, for whom the mysterious craft of writing was a solemn business...". All your comments were appreciated, Chris's in particular."
6 minutos
who thought and spoke of the mystery of writing as a solemn business
would be one option
10 minutos
whose words and thoughts conveyed his awe of the mysterious act of writing
solemne = awe-inspiring
Note from asker:
| thanks, I was wondering about the translation of 'solemne'. Solemn just doesn't seem quite right, I agree. I like 'awe' but not sure if it fits with my idea of Borges, might be time to hit the Thesaurus! |
51 minutos
solemn/grave in the way he proclaimed and considered the obscure/unfathomable task/job of
....
2 horas
David Ronder
Reino Unido
Reino Unido
Native in inglés
Reino Unido
Linguistic flair and an eye for detail
Native in: inglés 
Works in: español al inglés, inglés
Related KudoZ points
:
16
who stated his view that the mysterious writer's trade was a sombre one
'stated his view' is my attempt to pack 'declaraba y pensaba' up in a neat English phrase.
As this reference makes clear, Borges did specifically speak of the writer's trade in a very similar context:
http://krledbetter.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/borges-on-writin...
It doesn't say if he addressed the Columbia University students in English, but he worked very closely with his translators and would have approved the phrase anyway. 'Trade' is the primary meaning of 'oficio'.
'Sombre' is not quite a synonym of 'solemn' but it is a little less po-faced and so in my view more suitable for Borges. 'Having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness' - Oxford. Borges was playful but also sad - the melancholy otherness of his calling and all that.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-09-15 22:23:31 GMT)
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You could also say "Borges, whose stated view was that..."
As this reference makes clear, Borges did specifically speak of the writer's trade in a very similar context:
http://krledbetter.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/borges-on-writin...
It doesn't say if he addressed the Columbia University students in English, but he worked very closely with his translators and would have approved the phrase anyway. 'Trade' is the primary meaning of 'oficio'.
'Sombre' is not quite a synonym of 'solemn' but it is a little less po-faced and so in my view more suitable for Borges. 'Having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness' - Oxford. Borges was playful but also sad - the melancholy otherness of his calling and all that.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-09-15 22:23:31 GMT)
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You could also say "Borges, whose stated view was that..."
11 horas
Cecilia Gowar
Reino Unido
Reino Unido
Native in español
Specializes in field
Reino Unido
I read the Alethiometer
Native in: español
Works in: inglés al español, español al inglés, francés al español, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
227
solemn to declare and ponder the mysterious craft of writing
...
Discussion
"Borges, while claiming and believing the mysterious craft of writing to be solemn".
I would not take many liberties with this text because despite the fact that I find it baroque and cumbersome (unlike Borges' own) I believe you should try to stick to it.