English translation: [Re-word] things only change in order for them to remain the same
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:
Gattopardesco
English translation:
[Re-word] things only change in order for them to remain the same
The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2011-09-22 19:54:08 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Italian to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Government / Politics
Italian term or phrase:Gattopardesco
"L'immanenza gattopardesca di questo povero Paese si manifesta anche nelle piccole cose. I soldi e la convenienza vincono sempre sulla meritocrazia."
I'm looking for a translation of "gattopardesco". I know it means "of or relating to a conservative policy according to which any reform must not change the root of existing privileges" but I'm having a hard time finding a concise way (one-two words) of saying that in English. The only thing that came to mind was "Leopardesque" but it doesn't convey the same meaning in English.
Thanks!
Even trivialities betray the insidious belief in this wretched country that things only change in order for them to remain the same: money and convenience always prevail over merit.
Playing on the Leopard's famous dictum:
"Se vogliamo che tutto rimanga come è bisogna che tutto cambi"
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 39 mins (2011-09-19 17:11:30 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Or, better:
Even trivialities betray the insidious belief in this wretched country that things MAY only change in order for them to remain the same: money and convenience always prevail over merit.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-09-19 17:49:37 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hi Rosanna,
If space is at a serious premium...
Even trivialities betray the insidious belief in this wretched country that **change is the handmaiden of conservatism**: money and convenience always prevail over merit.
I think Pasolinian would be quite okay given his global fame, and the fact that Pasolinian quite clearly means "of or in the style of Pasolini". It is also in fairly common use http://bit.ly/pyHpCU.
Not many English readers, I'd wager, would know what il Gattopardo is, let alone able to infer the political meaning of "gattopardesque" which - unlike Pasolinian - is not a well established term.
I don't necessarily think a translator has to explain all cultural references. If, for example, the term "Pasoliniano" was used, would you consider it necessary to explain what that term actually means, or would you just translate it as "Pasolinian"? Personally I would merely translate it as "Pasolinian".
Explanation: In these cases it is best to use the original term with the 'esque' ending.
Example sentence(s):
Meanwhile, I hear that a fearsome Gattopardesque throng is girding its loins to go into battle for an opera house, armed with timpana and a bridge-table, which entirely befits their Tomasi di Lampedusa outlook on contemporary life.
Teresa Valaer Local time: 19:52 Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: I think this might work best! We would say "Pasolinian" for "Pasoliniano" so this is a feasible option.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +3
