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  2. Italian to English

Se non mi sento bene

English translation: What Tanya wanted, I believe, is our

09:35 Jul 12, 2001
Italian to English translations [Non-PRO]
Italian term or phrase: Se non mi sento bene
Pamphlet for prison inmates: The Italian is mostly in 1st person singular, I‘m tempted to use 2nd pers. sing. in English (or at least avoid 1st person). Can anybody confirm whether this would be OK?

Here is an extract FYI:

HEADING: Sono in carcere (-> your stay in prison)
TEXT BELOW: Se al momento dell‘arresto sono in cura medica, informo immediatamente ... .

HEADING: Se non mi sento bene ... (->If you are feeling unwell)
TEXT BELOW: ... posso chiedere di andare in infermeria… posso parlare apertamente dei miei problemi ... (il personale sanitario è tenuto al segreto professionale).

What do you think?
Thanks for any help!
Tanya
Tanya Harvey Ciampi (X)
Local time: 14:21
English translation:What Tanya wanted, I believe, is our
Explanation:
assessment of whether it is OK to use the second person singular to translate a pamphlet in the first person singular.
My answer is yes. One of the problem I have translating similar Canadian pamphlets into Italian is how to translate the second person singular. You are in prison, your are not feeling well, you do this or that....
Most of the time I opt for the impersonal form (which makes for very awkward constructions at times), to avoid the second person plural that some clients, however, request and that sounds very weird to my hear. The first person is used here to avoid the second or third personal singular in Italian, I believe (tu sei in prigione, lei è in prigione....).
Once I had to translate a pamphlet on the same subject as yours which started: "Welcome to the.... maximum security institution!" I am not kidding people. I hope yours does not start in the same way.

Buon lavoro

Paola L M
Selected response from:

CLS Lexi-tech
Local time: 08:21
Grading comment
I'd like to thank everybody who contributed with their opinion... I think I'll go with the "you" (as "I" does sound funny, perhaps OK just for the introductory questions, e.g. "Is there anyone I can talk to about my problems"?). I'll try not to overdo it, though, as that might give the impression of "it's YOU that's in prison, not ME"!!).
Thank you all once again!
Tanya
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
na +3What Tanya wanted, I believe, is our
CLS Lexi-tech
na +1If I don't feel myself well
SCOALB (X)
na +1Answer:
Gary Presto
na +1If I feel ill/unwell
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
naif I don't feel well [if I feel ill]
DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X)
naIf I don't feel well
b612
naPaola...
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL


  

Answers


10 mins peer agreement (net): +1
If I don't feel myself well


Explanation:
Best regards,
SCOALB

SCOALB (X)
PRO pts in pair: 36

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X): less than acceptable English
9 mins
  -> sorry Dr. don't take it!
agree  Ilde Grimaldi: ciao, io vivo in Italia e parlo un inglese maccheronico, leggo che vivi negli USA. Ma l'inglese è cambiato :-)
17 mins
  -> Thanks Mrs. Ilde, that's true
agree  b612: completlely wrong: in English the expression "feels oneself" doesn't exixt
44 mins
disagree  Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL: I'm afraid I have to agree with b612 on this matter... sorry SCOALB
51 mins
agree  gianfranco: Perhaps Scoalb was not feeling well himself
1 hr
  -> Forse non ti Manca qualcosa per la tua grossolana Ironia
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23 mins peer agreement (net): +1
Answer:


Explanation:
The text is trying to say:

"If I am not feeling well...," and then it goes on to elaborate further: "I may ask to be taken to the infirmary...I may discuss my problems openly...the health personnel are sworn to professional secrecy."

Good luck! Gary :-)


    G
Gary Presto
Local time: 08:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 51

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  giogi
2 hrs
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24 mins
if I don't feel well [if I feel ill]


Explanation:
Pretty straightforward translation.

As to the person problem, very often such pamphlets are written in this manner (first person singular) to, perhaps debatably, impart a "personal" touch. So it might be OK to keep it in the first person. But go with your gut feeling!


    .
DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X)
PRO pts in pair: 60
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56 mins
If I don't feel well


Explanation:
but your translation is ok too, I believe.
Good luck,
Tatiana

b612
Italy
Local time: 14:21
PRO pts in pair: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr peer agreement (net): +1
If I feel ill/unwell


Explanation:
as some of the colleagues have already suggested above...
As far as the style is concerned, I don't think it's to impart a personal touch, it's just... weird!

Giovanni

Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:21
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in pair: 634

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Peter Cox: I prefer this o
11 hrs
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4 hrs peer agreement (net): +3
What Tanya wanted, I believe, is our


Explanation:
assessment of whether it is OK to use the second person singular to translate a pamphlet in the first person singular.
My answer is yes. One of the problem I have translating similar Canadian pamphlets into Italian is how to translate the second person singular. You are in prison, your are not feeling well, you do this or that....
Most of the time I opt for the impersonal form (which makes for very awkward constructions at times), to avoid the second person plural that some clients, however, request and that sounds very weird to my hear. The first person is used here to avoid the second or third personal singular in Italian, I believe (tu sei in prigione, lei è in prigione....).
Once I had to translate a pamphlet on the same subject as yours which started: "Welcome to the.... maximum security institution!" I am not kidding people. I hope yours does not start in the same way.

Buon lavoro

Paola L M


CLS Lexi-tech
Local time: 08:21
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in pair: 1505
Grading comment
I'd like to thank everybody who contributed with their opinion... I think I'll go with the "you" (as "I" does sound funny, perhaps OK just for the introductory questions, e.g. "Is there anyone I can talk to about my problems"?). I'll try not to overdo it, though, as that might give the impression of "it's YOU that's in prison, not ME"!!).
Thank you all once again!
Tanya

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Floriana (X): I agree w. Paola. I believe it's acceptable to change all headings to the second person ("If you don't feel well"
1 hr
agree  Sabrina Rivaldo
1 hr
agree  Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL: let's give SCOALB a break. I think he just meant "I don't feel well myself" which is correct, but not in this context
13 hrs
  -> You are right, but I was not responding to Scoalb, rather to the general trend of the answers. Ciao
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18 hrs
Paola...


Explanation:
Sorry, I wasn't referring to you answer at all, but to the general trend as well.

Giovanni

Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:21
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in pair: 634
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