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| | 30 Październik 2007 13:32 |
| | Ian,
Portuguese original means, in a rough and litteral translation, "I am masterpiece and unique work, sent by God". In fact, we have two adjectives ["prima" and "única"], referring to the same noun ["obra"].
To keep that structure, I'd to give up from the word "masterpiece" and use a periphrasic construction, "most outstanding", but this brings the article with.
The original text is clear in that the person is a masterpiece, but not the only one (such a paradox here). So I ask you: what's the best way to solve that?
Maybe "I am a very outstanding..."?
CC: IanMegill2 |
| | 30 Październik 2007 13:43 |
| | Could we say
I am a unique masterpiece, sent (given?) by God
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| | 30 Październik 2007 13:45 |
| | I am a wonderful, unique work of art, given by God? |
| | 30 Październik 2007 13:54 |
| | "Traduttori, traditori"
It seems this can't be translating without losing a bit of sense.
Gentlemen, the candidates:
1) I am the most outstanding and unique work...: here the indefiniteless of the word "work" is gone.
2) I am a very outstanding and unique work...: here we lose the sense of "masterpiece".
3) I am a unique masterpiece...: good one, but we lose the conjunction.
4) I am a wonderful, unique work of art...: that's bad! Too far from the original sense.
"Obra" means "work" in a general sense. "work of art" would be "obra de arte".
"Enviada" means "sent (fem.) as a messenger", therefore we can't use "given" here.
Anyway, it seems to me that #3 is the "less bad" one. What do you think?
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| | 30 Październik 2007 14:15 |
| | Yup, I think we have to sacrifice the grammar here, to get the meaning perfect:I like #3 best, too.
(It's also very natural in English, too!) |
| | 30 Październik 2007 14:23 |
| | #3 has already taken over as President. |
| | 30 Październik 2007 21:53 |
| | One last question before I validate it, goncin!
sent by God
would mean
sent here to do some important work
sent from God
would mean
given as a present to this world
I think the meaning here is
sent from God
Is that right? |
| | 31 Październik 2007 06:49 |
| | I would still insist on "sent by God", Ian. The meaning is totally unrelated to the idea of "present, gift". |
| | 1 Listopad 2007 01:50 |
| | Great! Thanks, goncin! |