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Translation - Grieks-Engels - oi perissoteroi zoum me malakies

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This translation request is "Meaning only".
Title
oi perissoteroi zoum me malakies
Text
Submitted by pmpizarro
Source language: Grieks

oi perissoteroi zoum me malakies

Title
most of us live with idiocy
Translation
Engels

Translated by kafetzou
Target language: Engels

most of us live with idiocy
Laaste geakkrediteerde redigering deur lilian canale - 3 Januarie 2009 11:06





Last messages

Author
Message

1 Januarie 2009 16:51

dunya_guzel
Number of messages: 67
Although I do not know the original context of the sentence,I think the translation is not correct. "Idiocy" refers spontaneously to something that would be interior to the narrator (=lack of intelligence) whereas I think he means that we live with stupid things around us (stupid environment or whatever, it is not precise at all), and therefore are external to the persona.

1 Januarie 2009 20:29

kafetzou
Number of messages: 7963
Sorry, dunya_guzel, but "idiocy" also refers to stupid things around us, not just inside us. For example, if I seem some of the people around my neighbourhood trying to drive on the ice and snow without the proper tires and without any knowledge of how to handle a car in these conditions, I may say, "What idiocy!!", just as one might say, "Τι μαλακίες" in Greek.

CC: dunya_guzel

1 Januarie 2009 20:53

elina7lina
Number of messages: 25
I thought that "avec des bêtises"# "with idiocy"
However
according to
1)Concise Oxford English Dictionary
“idiocy” means 'extremely stupid behaviour'.

2)Merriam-Webster Collegiate® Dictionary
a) usually offensive : extreme mental retardation
b) something notably stupid or foolish

3) Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
something that you think is extremely silly or stupid [= stupidity]:


1 Januarie 2009 21:40

Lovelanguage=)
Number of messages: 9
i believe that 'foolishness' is a better translation for 'des bêtises'

1 Januarie 2009 21:54

kafetzou
Number of messages: 7963
Hi everyone. I'm a native speaker of North American English, and I would never say "foolishness" - I don't see what's wrong with "idiocy" - it's what I would say. But if it's too strong for you, how about "stupidity"?

CC: Lovelanguage=) elina7lina dunya_guzel lilian canale

1 Januarie 2009 22:10

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Hi girls,
The term "idiocy" sounds perfectly right to me too, but the problem here seems to be de accuracy about the 'intensity' the Greek 'bêtises' has.
Let's ask for some help, OK?

CC: Lovelanguage=) elina7lina irini reggina

1 Januarie 2009 22:15

kafetzou
Number of messages: 7963
Good idea.

1 Januarie 2009 22:36

Burduf
Number of messages: 238
"faire des bêtises" ou "faire des idioties" ont le même sens en français. It's the same way

2 Januarie 2009 04:28

superfaco
Number of messages: 29
I think the translation is ok, but I would appreciate punctuation, even though the original text uses none.

2 Januarie 2009 04:41

kafetzou
Number of messages: 7963
So why would you appreciate punctuation, superfaco? If I add punctuation, wouldn't I be also adding an interpretation which may be incorrect? For example, if I add punctuation, I have to decide whether this is a complete sentence or part of a sentence, don't I?

CC: superfaco

2 Januarie 2009 11:51

dunya_guzel
Number of messages: 67
Kafetzou: How would you say spontaneously in English "malakies?" It is slang greek, almost vulgar.
"Idiocy" is not as intense and too "politically correct"

2 Januarie 2009 19:07

kafetzou
Number of messages: 7963
Idiocy can be very intense when used by somewhat who is angry. That's why I chose it. Look at my example in my first post above.

The problem is that we have lots of words for the person "malakas", but for the abstract noun "malakies", there are fewer choices. But I still think "idiocy" and "stupidity" are good choices.

3 Januarie 2009 05:43

kafetzou
Number of messages: 7963
Would most of you guys be happier with "stupidity"? I still think it's equivalent, so I don't really care.

Today I was listening to a young woman on the bus talking about some of the drivers around Vancouver, and she referred to them as "idiots", so there you go.