see sentence

English translation: to have perhaps not yet a single telephone but at least a single switchboard

09:13 May 18, 2003

Italian to English translations [PRO]
/ European politics

Italian term or phrase: see sentence

A politician talking about the future of Europe and Fischer's candidacy for the post of European Foreign Minister...... (I'm interested in the part starting from "non ancora")

"una persona che può veramente rappresentare...... the voluntà comune di commissione e Consiglio e comincare ad avere, non ancora il telefono unico ma al meno un centralino unico"

I understand that this is figurative and the meaning is clear but I can't seem to get it to sound natural in English, and as this is an interview to be broadcast, I want to keep it as close to the original as possible and not to use an english idiom in its place. Although i may have to do this. Any ideas???

manducci KudoZ activity Questions: 313 (2 open) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 1460
Local time: 17:31

English translation:to have perhaps not yet a single telephone but at least a single switchboard

Explanation:
if you are keeping to the telephone metaphor (could be a single line rather than a single telephone

Selected response from:

Lanna Castellano
Local time: 16:31

Grading comment

Thanks, this is pretty close to what I had come up with - I kept with the phone idea.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +6

to have perhaps not yet a single telephone but at least a single switchboard

Lanna Castellano

providing/having if not yet a single line, then at least a single operator

invguy

Answers

25 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

to have perhaps not yet a single telephone but at least a single switchboard

Explanation:
if you are keeping to the telephone metaphor (could be a single line rather than a single telephone

Lanna Castellano
Local time: 16:31
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 1083

Grading comment

Thanks, this is pretty close to what I had come up with - I kept with the phone idea.

1 hr confidence:

providing/having if not yet a single line, then at least a single operator

Explanation:
I think 'telephone' should be omitted, in order to preserve/enhance the figurative meaning. The double meaning of 'operator' might be a good thing in this case. Also, you might find 'individual' to be more adequate than 'single'... not sure, though.

invguy
Bulgaria
Local time: 18:31
Native speaker of:

Bulgarian
PRO pts in pair: 13

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