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Translation - Greek-English - τι βοτάνι ήταν αυτό

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This translation request is "Meaning only".
Title
τι βοτάνι ήταν αυτό
Text
Submitted by tasosspanos
Source language: Greek

...τι βοτάνι ήταν αυτό
που μου έδωσες να πιω,
ήταν βοτάνι της αγάπης
ήταν βοτάνι μαγικό.
Remarks about the translation
Before edit: ".... ti botani itan afto pou mou edoses na pio itan botani tis agapis itan botani magikos..."

Title
... what herb was that
Translation
English

Translated by galka
Target language: English

... what herb was that
you gave me to drink?
It was the herb of love,
it was a magical herb.
Validated by lilian canale - 15 February 2010 18:23





Last messages

Author
Message

15 February 2010 00:02

maki_sindja
Number of messages: 1206
kruidendrank - herbal drink
liefdesdrank - love drink (love potion)
toverdrank - magic(al) drink

15 February 2010 00:18

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Hi Maki,
I think you are making those suggestions based on the Dutch version, right? However User10 voted "correct" from the original in Greek
Perhaps that version needs to be reviewed

Let's wait a bit

CC: Lein

15 February 2010 00:38

maki_sindja
Number of messages: 1206
Yes, that's right.

Let's wait for Lein...

15 February 2010 11:24

Lein
Number of messages: 3389
Judging from the Dutch text as well as from the context, Galka uses 'herb' here with the meaning of 'herbal drink' (strictly spoken, one can't drink a herb). Marija is absolutely right in correcting the translation based on the Dutch translation. I think you will have to decide wether you accept 'herb' instead of 'herbal drink'. If you do, this one seems fine to me.

CC: lilian canale

15 February 2010 12:36

Chantal
Number of messages: 878
Yep to me it also seems that the English version isn't correct (like you said you can't drink a herb..). Maybe we need a Greek expert to have a look at it, maybe in Greek it is said in this way . At least I know that in the English version it should be 'what kind of herb was it that you gave me to drink'

15 February 2010 15:04

User10
Number of messages: 1173
In the original Greek version (song lyrics) it's "herb" (βοτάνι) and not "herbal drink". "βοτάνι" just like "herb" refers to the plant. However, what we have here is a phenomenon of metonymic extension. In my opinion, Galka's decision not to give an explanatory translation is the right one (within the specific context, since it's not a scientific text or whatever) as her translation conveys not only the meaning, but also the writing style of the original.

15 February 2010 15:39

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Thanks, User10.

@ Chantal, The syntax in the question is correct. It's an ellipsis of "What herb was that (one that) you gave me to drink?"

@ Lein,
Is there anything that can be edited in the Dutch version so that it will be closer to the original and to this version?

CC: galka Lein

15 February 2010 17:45

Lein
Number of messages: 3389
I would rather leave it as it is. It is pretty clear how the different words are different ways to express the same thing. The Dutch translation is very nice and fluent at the moment and would appear artificial is we replaced 'herbal drink' etc. by 'herb'.