Atheist Forums' little corner of translations

[Mr.Obvious]

Hey everybody.

I don't see this being used often, but as we have quite a few nationalities present on the forum, maybe we could use this thread as a place where you can get something you need to write in a foreign language spellchecked and such. Google translate just doesn't cut it, now does it? Context of words get lost, some sayings can't be properly translated...

I for one could use the help of Alex K or die atheistin or anyone else in translating something into German. If someone needs something translated into or from Dutch, let me know. (Off chance, I know.)
I know we have many more languages on this forum, so maybe let people know what you are fluent at?

For starters, I need to translate this into German. (Context, it's a dokter walking in on a couple kissing. The girl is his patiënt.)

 "Alright, alright... Cut it out you two. Move it, Casanova. It's time for her examination."

What I get is:

"Okay, okay... Schneiden Sie sie ihr zwei. Verschieben Sie, Casanova. Es ist Zeit für ihre Prüfung."

But I'm not sure that is right.

Also, I'm looking for a saying in German equivalent to "Out of the mouths of babes..."
But I don't think "Aus dem Mund der Unmündigen..." quite cuts it. Right?

If anyone could help me, I'd appreciate it. If I can help anyone, let me know.

[Alex K]

Your Casanova translation is hilarious because he seems to suggest that they literally get chopped in half and then shifted to the side

One version I'd suggest "Gut, gut, Schluss jetzt, genug, ihr beiden! Aus dem Weg Casanova, es ist Zeit für ihre Untersuchung." But there are obviously many possibilities.

[Mr.Obvious]

Danke!

[Alex K]

"Aus dem Mund der Unmündigen" sounds very deep and literary (would be an excellent title for a book because of the pairing Mund/Unmündige which establishes an interesting contradiction) but does not convey what you mean. The closest German saying I can think of is "Betrunkene und Kinder sprechen die Wahrheit", "Drunkards and children speak the truth" which refers not so much to unexpected wisdom but more to them being brutally honest without regard for politeness.

[Mr.Obvious]

"Aus dem Mund der Unmündigen" sounds very deep and literary (would be an excellent title for a book because of the pairing Mund/Unmündige which stablishes an interesting contradiction) but does not convey what you mean. The closest German saying I can think of is "Betrunkene und Kinder sprechen die Wahrheit", Drunkards and Children speak the truth" which refers not so much to unexpected wisdom but more to them being brutally honest without regard for politeness.

You have no idea how well 'drunkards and children' works in this context. Thank you so much.

[Alex K]

Awesome!

[Rev. Rye]

Well, here's something I cooked up a while back.

Odds are, we all know Sinatra's song "My Way." What some of us might not know is that it was originally based on a song called "Comme D'Habitude" and it turns out that the lyrical content isn't that similar. So, with the help of a literal translation I found online (since I don't actually speak French), and my own flair for the poetic, unencumbered by the restraints of rhyme (because the original version didn't), I created this:

   I wake
   And brush your skin
   You stay asleep
   The same as always

   And then,
   I pull the sheets
   You won’t get cold
   The same as always

   My hand
   It strokes your hair
   Reflexively
   The same as always

   And then
   You turn your back
   The same as always

   So, I
   Put on some clothes
   I start the day
   The same as always

   Alone
   I drink a cup
   I think I’m late
   The same as always

   Doors close,
   I’ve left the house
   The world is grey
   The same as always

   It’s cold
   I zip my coat
   The same as always

   The same as always
   It’s every day
   I’ll play the game
   I’ll make believe
   The same as always
   I’ll make a smile
   The same as always
   I’ll even laugh
   The same as always
   And I’ll go on
   The same as always

   And then,
   The day will end
   I’ll come back home
   The same as always

   And you
   You won’t be there
   You’ll be there soon
   The same as always

   Alone
   I’ll lie alone
   In this big bed
   The same as always

   My tears
   They’ll stay discreet
   The same as always

   It’s the same as always,
   Even each night
   I’ll play the game
   I’ll make believe
   The same as always
   You’ll be back soon
   The same as always
   I’ll wait for you
   The same as always
   You’ll smile at me
   The same as always

   The same as always
   You’ll drop your clothes
   The same as always
   You’ll get in bed
   Yes, the same as always
   We’ll start to kiss
   The same as always
   The same as always
   We’ll make believe
   The same as always
   We’ll make our love
   Yes, the same as always
   We’ll make believe
   The same as always.





Sometimes, it's lucky that you can create a translation that's really faithful to the original and not have to sacrifice form.

[Mr.Obvious]

There's a pretty faithfull dutch translation

Zoals gewoonlijk

'k Sta op,
'k duw je even weg,
je geeft geen krimp,
zoals gewoonlijk
't is koud, ik dek je toe uit zorgelijkheid
zoals gewoonlijk
mijn hand streelt over jou haar, ondanks mezelf
zoals gewoonlijk
en jij, jij draait je om
zoals gewoonlijk

't is tijd ik kleed mij aan,
sluip de kamer uit
zoals gewoonlijk
alleen een snel ontbijt,
ik ben te laat
zoals gewoonlijk
doodstil verlaat ik het huis,
buiten is 't grijs
zoals gewoonlijk

en kil,
ik knoop mijn jas dicht
zoals gewoonlijk

zoals altijd de hele dag
speel ik het spel,
ik doe alsof
zoals altijd blijf ik beleefd
zoals altijd lach ik niet mee
zoals altijd sla ik bijna door
zoals gewoonlijk

en dan, dan vevliegt de dag,
ik kom weer thuis
zoals gewoonlijk
jij, jij bent op stap,
nog lang niet terug
zoals gewoonlijk
alleen stap ik in bed,
die lege plek
zoals gewoonlijk
mijn ogen,
ze blijven droog
zoals gewoonlijk

zoals altijd
de hele nacht
speel ik het spel ik doe alsof
zoals altijd kom jij ook thuis
zoals altijd wacht ik op jou
zoals altijd vraag jij hoe 't gaat
zoals gewoonlijk

ja, zoals altijd kleed jij je uit
zoals altijd kom je bij mij
zoals altijd krijg ik een zoen
zoals gewoonlijk
ja, zoals altijd doen wij alsof
zoals altijd vrij ik met jou
zoals altijd doen wij alsof
zoals gewoonlijk





I must say, word for word though, your version's accuracy beats Raymond's here.

EDIT: The only thing is, in the last couple of verses you go to future instead of present tense. But maybe that's part of the freedom to translate.

[Rev. Rye]

Actually, the original version goes into future tense near the end as well, and my version reflects that, explaining why the narrator stays in this dreary relationship: the promise of sex that, while not exactly great, is a lot less dreary than the rest of his day.

[Mr.Obvious]

Right you are Rev.
My bad!

I decided to translate my favorite folk song from Dutch. Might as well share it here. It's not literal translation, in order to save the rhyme schematic and the rythm. But it comes pretty close.

Aan de oever van de Schelde

Aan de oever van de schelde, zat verscholen in het riet,
een kleine kikker op moeder's schoot, en die had zo'n groot verdriet.
"Zie je daar." Zo sprak zijn moeder. "Zie je daar, die ooievaar?
Het is de moordenaar van uw vader, hij at hem op met huid en haar."

"Godverdomme..." Zo sprak die kleine.
"Heeft die smeerlap dat gedaan?
Als ik groot en sterk zal wezen,
zal ik hem op zijn bakkes slaan."

Vele jaren zijn verstreken
En die kleine, die is niet meer.
Maar die ooievaar zijn bakkes
doen nog altijd even zeer!

At the shore of the Scheldt 

At the shore of the Scheldt, hidden amongst the reef
sat a young frog on mother's lap, and he was struck with such grief.
"See yonder." So spoke his mother. "Do you see that stork over there?
't is the murderer of your father, he ate him in a fight quite unfair."

"God damn it..." So said the youngling.
"Has that bastard done this disgrace?
When I'm tall and strong, I'll hit him
right in his stupid face!"

Many years have since passed.
And the young one is no more.
But that old stork, well, his face
is still just as sore!