https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/poetry-literature/7025731-uno-de-ellos-era-absorbido-por-la-colina.html
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a lo lejos el relinchar de unos caballos,
ATICO
Dec 7, 2021 10:22
2 yrs ago
30 viewers *
Spanish term

uno de ellos era absorbido por la colina,

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Literature.
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.

Here is the full paragraph for your review:

se encontraban bordeando el acantilado, uno de ellos era absorbido por la colina, dejando un hueco oscuro y de grandes dimensiones por el que se introducían los demás hombres, con el primero a la cabeza.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +7 one of them was swallowed up by the hill
5 One of them was absorbed by the hill
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (2): philgoddard, Yvonne Gallagher

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Discussion

Lisa Rosengard Dec 8, 2021:
I suggest: 'They were found surrounding the cliff, one of them disappeared into the hill, leaving a large dark hole through which the other men appeared with a leader up ahead.'
Florian Martinez Dec 8, 2021:
The metaphor represents the man (because it´s talking about a group of men) walking away past the view limits of the other men

Proposed translations

+7
1 hr
Selected

one of them was swallowed up by the hill

You could also consider rephrasing: ¨one of the large rocks along the edge of the cliff was swallowed up by the hill¨.
Another option would be ¨dissolved into the hill¨. I believe they sound better than the literal ¨was absorbed by the hill¨.
Note from asker:
Muchas gracias Cecilia.
Gracias Cecilia.
Peer comment(s):
agree liz askew
0 min
Thanks Liz!
agree Barbara Cochran, MFA : Nice! Often best to avoid the literal when it comes to literary translation,
1 hr
Thanks Barbara!
agree philgoddard
1 hr
Thanks Phil!
agree Simone Taylor
3 hrs
Thanks Simone!
agree Katarina Peters
3 hrs
Thanks Katarina!
agree Andrew Bramhall
3 hrs
Thanks Andrew!
agree neilmac
3 hrs
Thanks Neil!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
14 hrs

One of them was absorbed by the hill

it is a metaphor, not quite usual but the author´s writing is proven clever.
Note from asker:
Muchas gracias Florian.
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