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Locomotiva Italia

English translation: slight re-arrangement of sentence...


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11:30 Feb 22, 2011
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Government / Politics
Italian term or phrase: Locomotiva Italia
Hello everybody, I am translating a very old speech by an Italian Finance Minister who says: "La Lira è in netta ascesa su tutti i mercati; la "Locomotiva Italia" ha smesso di essere un trenino a vapore e corre veloce verso il 2000." My first solution was a literal "Italian Locomotive", but I'm not happy with it... Thanks in advance for your help.
SCARlet37
English translation:slight re-arrangement of sentence...
Explanation:
e.g.

Italy is no longer a little steam train, but an express train approaching the year 2000 at high-speed...

As we approach the year 2000, Italy is no longer a little steam train, but a high-speed express...

As we approach the year 2000, Italy no longer ressembles a little steam train so much as a high-speed express...
Selected response from:

Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 12:12
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2Italy as a driving force
Tom in London
3 +2slight re-arrangement of sentence...Colin Rowe
3Italian express
Wendy Streitparth
3driving forcemanducci


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Italy as a driving force


Explanation:
try this. It still works OK with the "trenino a vapore" even though the metaphor gets partly lost.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2011-02-22 11:40:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

e.g. : as a driving force, Italy has ceased to be a little steam train and is now powering towards the year 2000

Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 62

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  manducci
37 mins
  -> thx manducci. but no thanks for your own entry !
agree  missdutch
19 hrs
  -> Thanks Miss D
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
slight re-arrangement of sentence...


Explanation:
e.g.

Italy is no longer a little steam train, but an express train approaching the year 2000 at high-speed...

As we approach the year 2000, Italy is no longer a little steam train, but a high-speed express...

As we approach the year 2000, Italy no longer ressembles a little steam train so much as a high-speed express...


Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 12:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  manducci
31 mins
  -> Thanks once again!
agree  Oliver Lawrence
9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Oliver!
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
driving force


Explanation:
I agree with Tom and Colin's suggestions - this is just a variation on the theme.
... from steam train to high speed express, Italy has become a powerful driving force and is now racing ahead towards the third millennium

manducci
Local time: 12:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tom in London: you're just repeating my own suggestion. I see no variation
16 mins
  -> With all due respect Tom, if Italy was a little steam train in the late 20th century it would not be considered to already be a driving force - my 'nuanced' suggestion conveys the idea that by becoming a 'high speed express' it is NOW a driving force..
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Italian express


Explanation:
Since we're all revolving around the theme, I'm submitting my original idea:

No longer a steam train, the Italian express if forging ahead towards the year 2000.....

....and the passengers on board

Wendy Streitparth
Local time: 12:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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