Heaven #3729 - isn't that pun a little too American?
Stop thinking about yourself and how the world seems to write you off. Be a write-in on the ballot, then, and be done.
It's quite well said. There's a pun. A play with words (write off/write in). It has some kind of unique flavor. I do understand it thanks to my knowledge of American culture and of its political system. But this is not understandable by the average French nor is it translatable as it is. Why? Because an election in my country doesn't work like that. One cannot vote for a guy who is not on the list (on the ballot). It doesn't belong to our world. It’s not an option in our electoral system. It's quite specific to US’.
So first, it is usually very difficult to translate a pun or a play with words. Most of the time, it is lost (in translation, ^^).
Then second, it's quite difficult to translate an image which does not belong to our cultural frame of mind, our culture, without being strongly tempted to add a short text to explain the cultural/historical/political context.
The thing is that these sentences are not at the epicenter of the letter. It wouldn’t harm the overall meaning of the letter if I simply write them off. But do I have this right?
What I'm supposed to do? What would God want me to do in such a case? What is your take on this?
With much much love,
Jean-Christophe.
Beloved Jean-Christophe, I
Beloved Jean-Christophe, I understand everything you are saying and expressing so graciously.
Do the French understand the meaning of write-in, or is it a totally foreign concept?
Would it work if, instead of: "Be a write-in on the ballot, then, and be done." it said something like: "Write your name on the ballot, and be done." Or "Write your name on the ballot, and vote for yourself."
I am very tempted to say to the many tried and true translators that Heaven is so blessed to have: Always do as you see fit. Make it easy for yourself rather than difficult. You don't have to be perfect. Your translation doesn't have to be perfect perfect.
In the final analysis, that has to be my response. Translators are fortunate that I do not know their language and I can't second-guess their decisions. Having translators is good training for me to let go. I have to trust, and my trust has been justified time and time again. The thing is that we have translators who care, and who care deeply to have their translations adhere to the original as much as humanly possible. Your very asking the question indicates your conscientiousness. In the end, decisions have to rest with you.
Only I hesitate to say publicly across the board now and forever: "Anything translators want to do is okay!" Do you know what I mean? I don't want to come across as lax.
You and Normand have each other to bounce off of.
Some translators are the only one translating in their language. Paula in Italian has been on her own translating every day for six years, I believe. How many Heavenletters is that? If I'm correct, we're talking about 2,190 Heavenletters. Engin in Turkish is totally on her own. And there are more. Spanish has many translators. For the most part, they are not partnered, however, and each works independently, and that's fine too.
I say to you, beloved Jean-Christophe: I have every confidence in you. I have a world of confidence in you. And this goes for every translator we have, and I trust it may always be so. Do the best you can do, and don't look back.
Also don't hesitate to share questions just as you have done here.
God bless all the translators.
Wonderfully said, Gloria!
Wonderfully said, Gloria!
You couldn't have given me a better answer than the one you just gave.
Deepest blessings,