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Off topic: True Story! (Translating the word "weathered" into other languages)
Thread poster: NancyLynn
NancyLynn
NancyLynn
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Mar 29, 2004

A Canadian, an Italian and a Pole are standing before a magnificent old church in Barcelona.
Their common language is English.
The Canadian, admiring the stonework and in awe of its age, says to the Pole: "See how the stone is weathered here."

The Pole admires the adjective used: "Weathered. I love that word. It would take 7 words to express the concept in Polish."

The Italian agrees that it would take 7 words in Italian as well, to represent the concept of
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A Canadian, an Italian and a Pole are standing before a magnificent old church in Barcelona.
Their common language is English.
The Canadian, admiring the stonework and in awe of its age, says to the Pole: "See how the stone is weathered here."

The Pole admires the adjective used: "Weathered. I love that word. It would take 7 words to express the concept in Polish."

The Italian agrees that it would take 7 words in Italian as well, to represent the concept of "weathered".

On reflection, the Canadian concurs that in Canadian French, the concept could be rendered in as little as - 6 words. One way to put it would be altéré par l'action des agents atmosphériques .

How could you describe it in your language?

Nancy
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Uldis Liepkalns
Uldis Liepkalns  Identity Verified
Latvia
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3 words in Latvian Mar 29, 2004

"Laika zoba sagrauzts"- "Eaten by the tooth of time"

Uldis


 
NancyLynn
NancyLynn
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So poetic! Mar 29, 2004

Uldis Liepkalns wrote:

"Laika zoba sagrauzts"- "Eaten by the tooth of time"

Uldis


I love it, Uldis!

Nancy


 
Geneviève von Levetzow
Geneviève von Levetzow  Identity Verified
Local time: 04:28
French to German
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German, one word Mar 29, 2004

"verwittert" - the same;)

Geneviève:)


 
PAS
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Polish to English
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Seven? Mar 29, 2004

NancyLynn wrote:
It would take 7 words to express the concept in Polish."


Nadgryziony zêbem czasu - gnawed by the tooth of time.
That's three words in the Polish I learned...

A more literal translation of the word "nadgryziony" is "nibbled" (as in "mouse"), but this surely does not fit in such solemn context.

Cheers,
Pawel Skalinski

Of course a _totally_ literal translation is "zwietrza³y". Just one word.

[Edited at 2004-03-29 14:09]


 
Harry Bornemann
Harry Bornemann  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 20:28
English to German
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1 word in German Mar 29, 2004

verwittert

Maybe it is due to the competition of this term,
why the German tooth of time may not eat - only gnaw

--------------------------------

Several posts at a time
How can time run so fast if it eats so slowly?...
See more
verwittert

Maybe it is due to the competition of this term,
why the German tooth of time may not eat - only gnaw

--------------------------------

Several posts at a time
How can time run so fast if it eats so slowly?

[Edited at 2004-03-29 13:09]
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Gerard de Noord
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France
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English to Dutch
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Dutch: verweerd Mar 29, 2004

In Dutch 'verweerd' can be said about a church as well as about the features of an old fisherman.

Gerard


 
Sylvain Leray
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German to French
1 word in French... Mar 29, 2004

but "érodés" is not so poetic, so I'd prefer "usés par le temps", or "polis par le temps"... 4 words.

Sylvain


 
gianfranco
gianfranco  Identity Verified
Brazil
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English to Italian
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Three words in Italian Mar 29, 2004

NancyLynn wrote:
...
The Italian agrees that it would take 7 words in Italian as well, to represent the concept of "weathered".
...


In Italian we can say it with three words:
"consunto (or segnato, usurato, corroso, logorato, eroso) dalle intemperie"

I can't remember any single word corresponding to "weathered"

Gianfranco


 
NancyLynn
NancyLynn
Canada
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to take a hint from Eastern Europe... Mar 29, 2004

Sylvain Leray wrote:

but "érodés" is not so poetic, so I'd prefer "usés par le temps", or "polis par le temps"... 4 words.

Sylvain


rongés par le temps had occured to me as well, but polished, Sylvain, is even nicer...
N:-)


 
NancyLynn
NancyLynn
Canada
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Several posts at a time Mar 29, 2004

Harry_B wrote:


Several posts at a time
How can time run so fast if it eats so slowly?

[Edited at 2004-03-29 13:09]


It must be a subject close to our hearts!
Nancy


 
sarahl (X)
sarahl (X)
Local time: 19:28
English to French
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Chut ! Mar 29, 2004

Sylvain Leray wrote:

but "érodés" is not so poetic, so I'd prefer "usés par le temps", or "polis par le temps"... 4 words.

Sylvain


Surtout ne le dis à personne, on ne pourrait plus facturer un foisonnement de 30 % !


 
louisajay
louisajay
Spanish to English
+ ...
I find this fascinating, Mar 29, 2004

but all of your suggestions seem to be translating "weathered" in the time sense of the word. Your renderings as you explain them don't seem to convey the true meaning of weathered - that is, the effects of the elements (wind, rain, snow, heat) over a long period of time.

I may be reading these wrong but "gnawed by the tooth of time" doesn't make any reference to weather?


 
Harry Bornemann
Harry Bornemann  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 20:28
English to German
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All but two close relatives - and an ambiguous one Mar 29, 2004

louisajay wrote:
but all of your suggestions seem to be translating "weathered" in the time sense of the word. Your renderings as you explain them don't seem to convey the true meaning of weathered - that is, the effects of the elements (wind, rain, snow, heat) over a long period of time.

I may be reading these wrong but "gnawed by the tooth of time" doesn't make any reference to weather?

"Verwittert" developed from "Wetter" (weather) and I think there is a similar relation with "verweerd", it might also be applied for an old fishermans face

And "le temps" may be weather or time, I wonder what is meant here - maybe both?

[Edited at 2004-03-29 15:27]


 
NancyLynn
NancyLynn
Canada
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back to 5, 6, 7 words, eh ? Mar 29, 2004

louisajay wrote:

but all of your suggestions seem to be translating "weathered" in the time sense of the word. Your renderings as you explain them don't seem to convey the true meaning of weathered - that is, the effects of the elements (wind, rain, snow, heat) over a long period of time.

I may be reading these wrong but "gnawed by the tooth of time" doesn't make any reference to weather?


So in French we're back to "altéré par l'action des agents atmosphériques"...
N


 
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True Story! (Translating the word "weathered" into other languages)






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