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İl Özel İdaresi Fonu
Nov 3, 2009 17:49
14 yrs ago
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Turkish term

yer sofrası

Turkish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Autobiography: Şu dağın ardı İran – Meltem Vural
Greetings,

Here's the sentence in full:
Modern yemek masalarına rağmen kurulan yer sofralarında ekmek yerine pilav tüketiliyor, her sofrada en az üç çeşit bulunan ‘khoreşt’ dedikleri sulu yemekler pilava karıştırılarak yeniyordu. (p. 26)

The writer is discussing a typical Iranian mealtime (she married an Iranian and went to live in post-revolutionary Iran with him).

I always thought that “sofra” meant “table”, but is that really the case here?

All the best, and many thanks,

Simon
Proposed translations (English)
5 +3 ground table
5 tablecloth spread on floor
5 sit-on-the-floor meal
1 +2 low table
3 meal spread out on the floor or ground
3 ground-level dining table
Change log

Nov 3, 2009 17:49: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"

Discussion

Balaban Cerit Nov 4, 2009:
notes on using a literal translation here Regarding Tim's note below, in the answers section, there may be no cultural equivalent in English-speaking countries, but they have been aware of this concept for centuries (since this "table" is being used in many countries and regions) - so if this term has an established English name, using a literal translation may be confusing. And I think "low table" is the established name, please see below:

http://alturl.com/oigm

http://alturl.com/6cpp

http://alturl.com/3dew

http://alturl.com/gy4m

http://alturl.com/8dpz

http://alturl.com/3p5h
Gulay Baran Nov 4, 2009:
surely not a furniture only! People share speeches and have fun while eating on this pretty short table so surely, there is something more than table as a furniture in meaning! Being more than a table, it has a sense of unity besides eating meals only. But in terms of both its physical appearance and emotional meaning for Turkish culture I think the best answer is still ground table. If we use something like ground meal instead of ground table, then it will lacking in meaning in terms of shared speeches, beliefs and fun around the table. This side of the eaten meal should be pointed out for the exact equivalent in Turkish culture...
Özden Arıkan Nov 4, 2009:
Sofra doesn't mean table as a furniture It is table in the sense of the gathering, habit, food, culture, etc. That's why the phrase is "yer sofrası" and not "yer masası" (that would be strange, as you suggested). You can see it here: http://wowturkey.com/tr240/begumay_wwwwbgm.jpg - the Iranian version should be more or less the same.
mustafaer Nov 4, 2009:
earth table It seems ground table carries also other meanings. I have found this in a dictionary with community created content:
ground table. (arch.) see earth table, under earth...
see ground
earth table
(arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table...
see earth
Erkan Dogan Nov 4, 2009:
I agree, "in some cases", people just don't or cannot bother to use sini (circle tray) to put their food on, but simply eat on a cloth. Yet, as you referred, it is often <U>not</U> the case, but sometimes happen that way. I agree that a little confusion is possible given that small particular case. The majority of the culture are still eating on a sini with a frame (drum) to elevate though, which in turn would be considered a ground table. I still think that the meal is called as table (sofra) in that regard rather than the physical table itself. Lets see...
Emin Arı Nov 4, 2009:
yer sofrası In some part of Anatolia, people uses sini (circle tray) as a table but in some cases, there is no table or similar thing onto which meals are spreaded but just a blanket. For this reason, using word of "table" may be misleading for western reader.
Balaban Cerit Nov 3, 2009:
yes I agree with Erkan regarding "sofra" really means "table" here, but the expression "ground meal" should only be used for the other meaning he refers to (example usage: "The standard error of prediction for unground meal protein is approximately twice that of ground meal").
Erkan Dogan Nov 3, 2009:
[... is that really the case here?] I think "sofra" really means "table", because table is used to refer to a meal, eaten on the floor or not. If we said for instance "ground meal (öğün)" instead, then it would be possible to understand a specific meal that is eaten on the ground aside from "ground meal" implying another meaning and thus becoming more confusing. No "yer sofrası" is specific, but traditional and therefore is a part of culture. For the same reason, any "sofra" should be called as it is called in Western societies. In this case, it is only on the ground.

Proposed translations

+3
1 hr
Selected

ground table

As you have said sofra means the table on which meals are eaten and ground table is a kind of table that is too close to the ground (this table's legs are shorter than normal tables) and usually common in villages in Turkey. People sit down around the table crossing their legs and eat their meals.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2009-11-04 15:11:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If we use something like ground meal instead of ground table, then it will lacking in meaning in terms of shared speeches, beliefs and fun around the table. This side of the eaten meal should be pointed out for the exact equivalent in Turkish culture.
Reference:

http://www.kenthaber.com/Resimler/2007/07/25/00219936.jpg

Peer comment(s):
agree Erkan Dogan : Whether on an elevated tray or completely on the ground even without a tray, "ground table" as a literal translation is the most fitting.
8 mins
Teşekkür ederim
agree Salih YILDIRIM
7 hrs
Teşekkür ederim
agree Tim Drayton : There is no cultural equivalent in English-speaking countries so the only options are to use a literal translation, a gloss or else to put the original term in italics.
14 hrs
Teşekkür ederim
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "many thanks excellent "
+2
7 mins

low table

-
Peer comment(s):
agree Balaban Cerit : After some research, I have seen that this expression is used widely. Example: "...serve the meal around a low table" http://www.ehow.com/how_2315399_host-middle-eastern-dinner-p... Other examples are listed above.
2 hrs
teşekkür ederim, bağlantı için de teşekkürler
agree Ali Tuna
9 hrs
teşekkür ederim
Something went wrong...
9 mins

meal spread out on the floor or ground

imho
Something went wrong...
11 mins

tablecloth spread on floor


Despite the fact that there are modern tables, the meal is eaten on a cloth spread on the floor. Pilaf is eaten instead of bread and each meal consists of at least three varieties of `khorest`/ stews mixed with the pilaf.

I lived in Iran for two years and I remember this very well. I also remember flat bread being spread on the cloth and the food piled directly on that and we would scoop up sandwiches from under the bread. I miss delicious Iranian food!
Something went wrong...
8 hrs

sit-on-the-floor meal


"sit on the floor meal" or "sit-on-the-floor meal", depending on hyphenation preferences.

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS350US350&source...

Something went wrong...
2788 days

ground-level dining table

It is very late now, I know, but I have just had to translate this, and decided to use the above.
Something went wrong...
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