Jul 9, 2006 12:01
17 yrs ago
Russian term
туфелька с башмаком
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Description
I've translated this temporarily as "boot with a spur", but first of all I am not sure about this interpretation and second I do not understand why the verb is plural (намалеваны). Does this perhaps indicate that they are two different objects?
If I say книга с ручкой, for example, does that also take a plural predicate because there are two objects? Whereas "книга с красивыми буквами" (what a dumb example!!!) would be singular because the objects are not separable? As a non-native, I would have used the singular for both. This issue is not that important. My apologies for placeing the question in an improper place!
Here is the passage:
Лишь мой невольный знакомец с гармошкой вскочил проворно и бросился к вновь вошедшему, причем лицо его просияло радостью узнавания, совершенно неуместной и для всех вокруг, и для человека в дорогом костюме, который чуть повернул голову, затем выставил руку и вдруг толкнул подбежавшего музыканта в грудь, так что тот едва не упал, в последний момент ухватившись за стол, а его гармошка отлетела в угол, к пружинным дверям, на которых были намалеваны ***туфелька с башмаком***. Вокруг раздались смешки...
Thanks for the suggestions and the grammar lesson!!!
If I say книга с ручкой, for example, does that also take a plural predicate because there are two objects? Whereas "книга с красивыми буквами" (what a dumb example!!!) would be singular because the objects are not separable? As a non-native, I would have used the singular for both. This issue is not that important. My apologies for placeing the question in an improper place!
Here is the passage:
Лишь мой невольный знакомец с гармошкой вскочил проворно и бросился к вновь вошедшему, причем лицо его просияло радостью узнавания, совершенно неуместной и для всех вокруг, и для человека в дорогом костюме, который чуть повернул голову, затем выставил руку и вдруг толкнул подбежавшего музыканта в грудь, так что тот едва не упал, в последний момент ухватившись за стол, а его гармошка отлетела в угол, к пружинным дверям, на которых были намалеваны ***туфелька с башмаком***. Вокруг раздались смешки...
Thanks for the suggestions and the grammar lesson!!!
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +7 | a women's shoe and a men's shoe | Andrey Belousov (X) |
5 +3 | slipper with a boot | Serjoga |
4 | grammar | Marina Aleyeva |
3 | a pump with a brogue | Alla Tatyants |
Proposed translations
+7
12 mins
Selected
a women's shoe and a men's shoe
I think....
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Note added at 7 hrs (2006-07-09 19:43:22 GMT)
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На фоне комментариев, думаю одного прилагательного будет достаточно - tiny
a tiny women's shoe and a men's shoe
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Note added at 7 hrs (2006-07-09 19:43:22 GMT)
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На фоне комментариев, думаю одного прилагательного будет достаточно - tiny
a tiny women's shoe and a men's shoe
Peer comment(s):
agree |
koundelev
43 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Vanda Nissen
2 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
neutral |
Olga Vlasova
: I am not sure about "men" and "women" in plural here. Or maybe it's also non-native issues? :o)
5 hrs
|
The natives I talked to did not see anything "non-native".
|
|
agree |
Vladimir Dubisskiy
: it is technically correct but would hardly work in this context (bulky and dry) :-))
5 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Evita Savicka
: The meaning is OK, but the phole phrase sounds a bit "heavy" in context.
5 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Alexander Demyanov
11 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Сергей Лузан
: "with a ladies' slipper and men's boot roughly painted on it" (something in line with Vladimir Dubisskiy)
17 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
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agree |
Olga Layer
1 day 5 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Some modification of this idea will work. Thank you for the explanation."
1 hr
grammar
Yes we normally use plural for a verb referring to two different objects unless one of them is part of the other (as in your example, or in Chekhov's famous "дом с мезонином"). This however is only true for the more bookish type of speech. For lower conversational registers, singular would be more common. As for interpretation, Andrey is right in that this is a (pretty) women's shoe and a (old and ugly) men's shoe.
Note from asker:
Many thanks for your explanation. I was not aware of this. Thank you. |
+3
3 hrs
slipper with a boot
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MRDS11... -
Disney Cinderella Slipper Scaled Replica
Disney Cinderella Slipper Scaled Replica
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Olga Vlasova
: Or "a slipper and a boot"
1 hr
|
agree |
Vladimir Dubisskiy
: a door with a slipper and boot roughly painted on it
2 hrs
|
agree |
David Knowles
: with Vladimir
2 hrs
|
disagree |
Evita Savicka
: It may be a wrong opinion of a non-native speaker, but "slipper" is rather a shabby shoe for wearing at home, not something elegant and fine, as one may imagine from the context.
2 hrs
|
I know, but it was used differently in the past. The delicate crystal shoe of Cinderella was called a slipper...
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agree |
Сергей Лузан
: with a ladies' slipper and men's boot roughly painted on it
14 hrs
|
7 hrs
a pump with a brogue
IMHO.
Discussion