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05:17 Dec 24, 2009
English to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / sentence
English term or phrase:sentence undstanding
Here the sentence confused me like this:" Yet without that old man she would not be here,nor would John:not just here on earth but here in the Karoo, On Voelfontein or in Merweville."
What is "not just here on earth but here in the Karoo,on Voelfontein or in Merweville." mean?
Explanation: In English, "Yet without that old man she would not be here" is ambiguous: locative BE or existential BE. "not just here on earth but here in the Karoo, On Voelfontein or in Merweville." is the author's way of clarifying that what is intended is locative BE, i.e., it is not their existence which is due to the old man, but, rather, the various locations.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2009-12-24 10:42:44 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Bold didn't come out as intended. Not able to edit.
We need a little more information to get the "here on earth" right.
I am with Annett. So far, I see it as either existential (alive, here at all) or as a main location (vs. on another planet) - but the latter seems very unlikely.
What I mean is, can you give us more context.... Also, the question appears under Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting - - is there a reason for this? Best regards, Annett
'not just here on earth'. Who's the old man? their father perhaps? or did he save the lives of 'she' and John, so that instead of being in heaven they're still on earth? I mean where else could they be BUT on earth? They don't sound like aliens either.
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Answers
14 mins confidence:
see explanation
Explanation: Karoo, Voelfontein and Merweville are all in South Africa.
The part in question means that the three people, namely, the old man, she and John would not have come all the way up to the three locations in South Africa if the old man was not with them.
Explanation: In English, "Yet without that old man she would not be here" is ambiguous: locative BE or existential BE. "not just here on earth but here in the Karoo, On Voelfontein or in Merweville." is the author's way of clarifying that what is intended is locative BE, i.e., it is not their existence which is due to the old man, but, rather, the various locations.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2009-12-24 10:42:44 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Bold didn't come out as intended. Not able to edit.
T o b i a s Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
