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嗎︱呀︱呢 (2/3)

English translation: Does A have any plans?

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:Ａ有甚麼計劃嗎？
English translation:Does A have any plans?
Entered by: Roddy Stegemann

12:20 Oct 17, 2006
Chinese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Education / Pedagogy / Grammatical Analysis
Chinese term or phrase: 嗎︱呀︱呢 (2/3)
Sentence: 春假快到了，我們計劃到城外旅行，看看春景，你們有什麼計劃嗎？

First Attempt: Spring vacation has come very fast, we are planning to go to the country and view the spring landscape. What will you do?

Question One (1/3): There appears to be a verb missing between the phrases 我們計劃 and 到城外旅行. After all, the phrase 到城外旅行 is not a description, rather a restatement of what 我們計劃 is. In effect, 到城外旅行 is a predicate noun without the verb "to be". What do you think? Is there a 是 missing?

Please try to convince me with examples, where this sort of pattern repeats itself, if I am wrong. If you agree that 是 is missing, and should be added, nothing more need be said.

Question Two (2/3): This does not appear to be the kind of question that seeks a Yes/No response. So, why has the post-sentence particle 嗎 been applied? Why was 呀 or 呢, for example, not written at the end?

Question Three (3/3): I have translated this sentence as belonging to the present. It appears, however, that it could just as easily be translated as belonging to the past. For example, "Spring vacation came quickly and we went to the country to see the spring landscape. What did you do?"

Reference: http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...

As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the translation.

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Roddy Stegemann
United States
Local time: 07:57
Do you have any plans?
Explanation:
As Pei Ling pointed out in the next entry, "你們有什麼計劃嗎?" is literally translated into "Do you have any plans? / Have you made any plans?"

Therefore technically it is a yes or no question, and hence the post-sentence particle 吗?

Of course the asker is most likely expecting a more elaborate response than yes or no.
Selected response from:

wherestip
United States
Local time: 09:57
Grading comment
Final Rendering: Spring vacation is fast approaching, and we are planning to go to the country and see the spring landscape. Do you have any plans?

Acknowledgment: If 你們有甚麼計劃嗎？means "Do you have any plans?", then what is the Chinese rendering of "What plans do you have?" Is it 你們計劃是甚麼的呀？ This is the question with which wherestip and Chinoise have left me.

Lao may have missed the point of the question, but he did help in another way. He provided, perhaps, a better rendering of 快 in the context.

In any case, thanks. It appears that everyone agrees about the meaning of the question except for me. Then again, language is often that way. You must simply take it as a given and keep looking until you can find an answer. Then again, you may never find an answer, and must simply surrender to custom.

Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part3/III-3-g.html#s5 for further discussion regarding the context of this question.

My very best from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4fyi-my take
Ralph Dunsdon
3 +1Do you have any plans?
wherestip


  

Answers


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
fyi-my take


Explanation:
Spring vacation will soon arrive (快=快要), we plan to travel in the country(是 is not needed, 计划 IS the verb) and enjoy the spring scenery, what are your plans? (吗 is correct, it is a question)

Ralph Dunsdon
Local time: 07:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Do you have any plans?


Explanation:
As Pei Ling pointed out in the next entry, "你們有什麼計劃嗎?" is literally translated into "Do you have any plans? / Have you made any plans?"

Therefore technically it is a yes or no question, and hence the post-sentence particle 吗?

Of course the asker is most likely expecting a more elaborate response than yes or no.

wherestip
United States
Local time: 09:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 60
Grading comment
Final Rendering: Spring vacation is fast approaching, and we are planning to go to the country and see the spring landscape. Do you have any plans?

Acknowledgment: If 你們有甚麼計劃嗎？means "Do you have any plans?", then what is the Chinese rendering of "What plans do you have?" Is it 你們計劃是甚麼的呀？ This is the question with which wherestip and Chinoise have left me.

Lao may have missed the point of the question, but he did help in another way. He provided, perhaps, a better rendering of 快 in the context.

In any case, thanks. It appears that everyone agrees about the meaning of the question except for me. Then again, language is often that way. You must simply take it as a given and keep looking until you can find an answer. Then again, you may never find an answer, and must simply surrender to custom.

Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part3/III-3-g.html#s5 for further discussion regarding the context of this question.

My very best from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chinoise
2 hrs
  -> Thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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