un imprenditore mellifluo

[morgana]

Ciao ragazzi,
Finalmente è arrivata l’occasione che aspettavo da tanto tempo: mi hanno chiesto di fare una prova per una traduzione letteraria!
Vorrei fare un lavoro perfetto (o almeno del mio meglio), perciò chiedo il vostro aiuto per elcune difficoltà che ho incontrato:


Hi people,
Finally I got a chance to work as a literature translator. I have been given a couple of chapters as a test and I’d like to do a good job so anybody who can help me will have my eternal thanks! These are tha hard passages:



“THAT ONE THERE – FIFTH ONE BACK!” (talking about a train of six mules)

A SMOOTH-TONGUED ENTREPRENEUR

HE COULD BARTER THE HIND LEG OFF A DONKEY – ESPECIALLY IF THE DONKEY WAS A LADY.


English speakers: I will also appreciate a monolingual explanation.


THANX EVERYBODY!

 

[DDT]

Ciao ragazzi,
Finalmente è arrivata l’occasione che aspettavo da tanto tempo: mi hanno chiesto di fare una prova per una traduzione letteraria!
Vorrei fare un lavoro perfetto (o almeno del mio meglio), perciò chiedo il vostro aiuto per elcune difficoltà che ho incontrato:


Hi people,
Finally I got a chance to work as a literature translator. I have been given a couple of chapters as a test and I’d like to do a good job so anybody who can help me will have my eternal thanks! These are tha hard passages:



“THAT ONE THERE – FIFTH ONE BACK!” (talking about a train of six mules)

A SMOOTH-TONGUED ENTREPRENEUR

HE COULD BARTER THE HIND LEG OFF A DONKEY – ESPECIALLY IF THE DONKEY WAS A LADY.


English speakers: I will also appreciate a monolingual explanation.


THANX EVERYBODY!

“THAT ONE THERE – FIFTH ONE BACK!” = quello, il quinto lì dietro (you can omit "there" while translating when it's almost pleonastic)

"A SMOOTH-TONGUED ENTREPRENEUR" = un imprenditore mellifluo

"HE COULD BARTER THE HIND LEG OFF A DONKEY – ESPECIALLY IF THE DONKEY WAS A LADY." = avrebbe venduto / sarebbe stato capace di vendere perfino sua madre pur di fare soldi (it's not litteral, but that's the meaning in the end)

Hope it helps,

DDT

 

[morgana]

“THAT ONE THERE – FIFTH ONE BACK!” = quello, il quinto lì dietro (you can omit "there" while translating when it's almost pleonastic)

"A SMOOTH-TONGUED ENTREPRENEUR" = un imprenditore mellifluo

"HE COULD BARTER THE HIND LEG OFF A DONKEY – ESPECIALLY IF THE DONKEY WAS A LADY." = avrebbe venduto / sarebbe stato capace di vendere perfino sua madre pur di fare soldi (it's not litteral, but that's the meaning in the end)

Hope it helps,

DDT

Grazie mille DDT!

1. "fifth one back" mi sembrava più simile a "il quinto da dietro", ma siccome i muli sono solo sei è un po' strano. credo che userò la tua.

2. "mellifluo" è una parola un po' troppo difficile in confronto a smooth-tongued... è un libro per ragazzi. Altre idee?

3. and what about "ESPECIALLY IF THE DONKEY WAS A LADY." ? dopo si parla della sua abilità nel corteggiamento delle signore....

Thanx all

 

[Silvia]

A SMOOTH-TONGUED ENTREPRENEUR

HE COULD BARTER THE HIND LEG OFF A DONKEY – ESPECIALLY IF THE DONKEY WAS A LADY.

Ciao Morgana,
sono veramente contenta per te!

Provo a dire la mia anche stavolta:

Un imprenditore che ci sa fare con le parole, convincente, persuasivo, pieno di lusinghe, lusinghiero, perspicace.

Nella seconda frase credo ci sia un gioco di parole, perchè donkey/asino può indicare sia l'animale sia una persona stupida.

I would wait for native English speakers.

Maybe you can find something interesting here

In bocca al lupo!

 

[Focalist]

Nella seconda frase credo ci sia un gioco di parole

Il gioco di parole è sulla frase: "talk the hind leg off a donkey" = "talk incessantly".

F

 

[Silvia]

Il gioco di parole è sulla frase: "talk the hind leg off a donkey" = "talk incessantly"

 

[DDT]

Il gioco di parole è sulla frase: "talk the hind leg off a donkey" = "talk incessantly".

F

So that your phrase, Morgana, might be rendered as "riusciva a parlare anche con i muri, soprattutto con quelli di sesso femminile" (per la traduzione precedente mi ero riferito al significato di "to barter" = "barattare")

DDT

 

[lsp]

HE COULD BARTER THE HIND LEG OFF A DONKEY – ESPECIALLY IF THE DONKEY WAS A LADY.


English speakers: I will also appreciate a monolingual explanation.

Barter = negotiate for a trade, so I don't think the translation of talking incessantly is purely correct. Especially also seeing the line "A SMOOTH-TONGUED ENTREPRENEUR."

I think it means he is so persuasive he could get his way with anyone, especially with the ladies. (He could get a donkey that needs 4 legs to stand and walk to give up one leg).

 

[DDT]

Barter = negotiate for a trade, so I don't think the translation of talking incessantly is purely correct. Especially also seeing the line "A SMOOTH-TONGUED ENTREPRENEUR."

I think it means he is so persuasive he could get his way with anyone, especially with the ladies. (He could get a donkey that needs 4 legs to stand and walk to give up one leg).

That corresponds to my first suggestion, Morgana. So that more context is needed to understand the suitable meaning of your phrase.

DDT

 

[Gianni]

Hi Silviap and others,

I had never seen 'talk the hind legs off a donkey'. I have a feeling it is British English. I just saw a website which sells cartoons, also called 'Talk the hind leg off a donkey gifts'. The contact address is in Somerset, England. There is a cartoon showing a veterinarian speaking to a couple who have brought in their animal. The doctor is saying "It looks like we'll have to take the donkey's leg off. Who was the last person he was talking to?

 

[mimitabby]

i have heard that out here (i live in the Pacific Northwest)
talking the legs off a donkey...
it's unusual, what a hard test!

 

[Silvia]

You didn't say what it means though, in your own words

 

[morgana]

Thanks so much to everybody, I think "parlare con i muri.." is the best one so far, even if it doesn't refer to selling things.

Context: the guy is a pots man (venditore ambulante?) who seems to be a very good businessman also in other fields and who has a great success with women.

THANK YOU ALL!

 

[morgana]

I've got another one: how can I say "wheleer-dealer" in Italian?
(always talking about the same man)


Cheers

 

[DDT]

I've got another one: how can I say "wheleer-dealer" in Italian?
(always talking about the same man)


Cheers

Morgana, would you please mind to post new topics in new threads?

DDT

 

[morgana]

Morgana, would you please mind to post new topics in new threads?

DDT

Oops,ok, sorry! I thought it would be better here because it's always the same book.