English translation: To those who find my vision of the world too optimistic... (etc.)
Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:
l'impressione di
English translation:
To those who find my vision of the world too optimistic... (etc.)
Italian to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Economics / Essay
Italian term or phrase:l'impressione di
I'm looking for confirmation of the meaning.
"Le riflessioni che seguono sono quelle di una persona la cui abitudine, che chiamerei professionale, è di pensare ai problemi dal punto di vista dell’azione, del “da farsi”. A chi avesse **l’impressione di una visione** del mondo troppo positiva chiedo di comprendere che ogni effettivo impegno nella pratica deve fondarsi, oltre che su una analisi realistica dei fatti e delle situazioni, sulla convinzione che la realtà possa mutare per effetto di azioni umane.”
This is a quotation in an essay from a book by the late economist Padoa-Schioppa. Since it is a quotation the surrounding text doesn't help too much.
The more literal translation doesn't make a lot of sense: "I ask those who might have the impression of an over optimistic vision of the world to understand..." The interpretation that makes sense is "I ask those who feel I have an over optimistic vision of the world to understand... ", but I'm afraid there is something I am missing, because it seems to be stretching the Italian too far.
Native Italian speaking posts are especially welcome. It is really interpretation I need help with.
totally by the context here. If we add a "NOT" I think Cedric's intepretation (or his wife's) would be the only one possible.
"Le riflessioni che seguono sono quelle di una persona la cui abitudine, che chiamerei professionale, è di pensare ai problemi dal punto di vista dell’azione, del “da farsi”. A chi avesse **l’impressione di una visione** del mondo troppo positiva chiedo di comprendere che ogni effettivo impegno nella pratica deve fondarsi, oltre che su una analisi realistica dei fatti e delle situazioni, sulla convinzione che la realtà NON possa mutare per effetto di azioni umane.”
I had got that far by myself. My problem was whether that interpretation was not going too far. Maybe there was something I had missed, a typo or omission in the Italian. As you say, I like DrSeuss's interpretation.. "Le riflessioni che seguono sono quelle di ..." [...] "A chi avesse l’impressione..." (data da queste riflessioni che seguono) "... di una visione del mondo troppo positiva"
"convinzione che la..."
he is saying: you may think I am too optimistic, but you have to understand that an effective, practical commitment needs the CONVICTION that human action may change things..
If you dont interpret it this way, the sentence makes no sense:
"a chi ha una visione troppo ottimistica del mondo, dico che è importante la convinzione che si può cambiare il mondo.." ..this would make no sense
and I agree, , l'ottimismo è quello che esprime nelle riflessioni che seguono..
Perhaps it is merely the verb "impressionarsi" that means "emotional shock": I am surprised that the noun "impressione" has such a bland meaning as that attributed to it by other commenters.
and I feel every answer and comment has been useful and has helped me understand this better. The real problem is I think my lack of context because this is a quote and all quotes are by definition necessarily out of context.
That's right. My wife is a native speaker with a degree in Law and she is certain that he is not referring to himself in this sentence but to those people who...
He is not asking those who feel that he has but he is asking those whose possible view of the world might be too optimistic.
I have asked the opinion of a highly literate native speaker. If you get too literal, you'll lose the sense
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
19 mins confidence:
l\'impressione di
To those whose those whose possible view of the world might be too optimistic
Explanation: The phrase is in the congiuntivo, therefore in the subjunctive in English.
Since he has placed his object as subject, that is, "A chi", which is why I might not reverse this, placing the first person subject at the head of the sentence: To those whose those whose possible view of the world might be too optimistic, I ask that they try to comprehend....
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 42 mins (2011-12-13 17:11:43 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
It seems to me that the idea of "a too positive view" or as might be translated, too optimistic, is in reference to those whom I've often met in this country who believe that things will occur regardless of their action or non action, whilst he is asserting just the opposite: that is that change requires action, work and conviction. I don't see the sense in his reference to himself in such a veiled manner.
Cedric Randolph Italy Local time: 19:50 Native speaker of: English, Italian
To those who find my vision of the world too optimistic... (etc.)
Explanation: " A chi avesse **l’impressione di una visione** del mondo troppo positiva..."
Try this - or something like it
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2011-12-13 22:31:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Thanks to all those who agree with my suggestion !
Tom in London United Kingdom Local time: 18:50 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 44
Notes to answerer
Asker: To DrSeuss. Yes "this" makes sense. I think you should post it because it is definitely the most helpful interpretation, where "this" is of course (thanks to you) the vision contained in "Le riflessioni che seguono" at the begining and not the general vision of the author.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +8
