Italian: far parlare di se`English translation: speaks for itself KudoZ The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators ... More |
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| GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | | Italian term or phrase: | far parlare di sè | | English translation: | speaks for itself | | Entered by: | Parrot |
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Italian to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings | | Italian term or phrase: far parlare di se` | un prodotto che e` buono e si diffonde la notizia
a product which is good |
| | | speaks for itself | Explanation: I can find no idiomatic phrase exactly the same, this is the closest. |
| Selected response from:
Parrot Spain
| Note from asker to answererThank you. I liked your answer best.
Paola 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| speaks for itself
Explanation: I can find no idiomatic phrase exactly the same, this is the closest.
| Parrot Spain Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 11
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| Note from asker to answererThank you. I liked your answer best.
Paola |
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| "causes itself to be talked about"
Explanation: The clue here is the verb construction "far[e] parlare," in which the main action (here, "parlare") is caused to happen.
Putting together the pieces, "un prodotto che è buono e si diffonde la notizia fa[r] parlare di sè" becomes, in a literal translation, "A product that is good and for which the news is widespread causes itself to be talked about," or, more fluently and more concisely, in standard business English, "A good product with good press gets itself talked about."
(Here, of course, the word "press" refers to general news coverage and to opinions about the product expressed in print.) Hope this helps...
Harrap-Zanichelli, _English-Italian / Italian English Dictionary_ (2nd ed., Prentice-Hall, 1990)
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| Cara Paola --
Explanation: With all due respect to you and to Parrot, the answer that you liked best and selected is, unfortunately, not the right one. If the product did indeed "speak for itself," the Italian phrase would be "parla per sé," not "far parlare di sé" -- which has quite a different meaning, namely, "to cause or generate talk ABOUT itself, by other entities." Surely you understand this distinction, particularly in the context of a document in the marketing or advertising field, whose entire purpose is to cause favorable talk about particular products. It would be a shame if your client were to receive an incorrect translation of this text. -- With all best wishes, H.C.
(PS -- If your e-mail address had been available, I would have sent you this note privately.)
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