Oct 14, 2003 13:37
21 yrs ago
Russian term
Clients you need for the work you love
Native in: English 
, Russian
Works in: English, Hebrew, Russian
Looking for a literary translation
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Folklore
Kак в сказке: пойдешь направо - встретишь смерть, на лево свернешь - в болоте утонешь, а прямо… что там ждет - никто не знает.
I can't think of an English fairytale with a similar dilema. Any ideas?
(My attempt: I felt like a fairytale character: death to the right, swamps to the left, and who know what lies ahead.)
I can't think of an English fairytale with a similar dilema. Any ideas?
(My attempt: I felt like a fairytale character: death to the right, swamps to the left, and who know what lies ahead.)
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +12 | см. |
Kirill Semenov
|
| 3 +5 | Scylla and Charybdis |
Jack Doughty
|
| 3 +1 | см ниже |
Mariya Almeida
|
| 3 | some legendary hero |
Berni Armstrong
|
Proposed translations
+12
1 hr
Kirill Semenov
Ukraine
Ukraine
Native in Russian
Works in field
Ukraine
60+ books translated and published
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Selected
см.
Вот пример перевода русской сказки.
Ivan rode on and on until he reached a pillar standing in the middle of an open field. On the pillar were the following words: "He who goes straight will be hungry and cold. He who passes to the right will be safe, but his horse shall die. He who passes to the left will be killed, but his horse will be safe." Choosing the lesser of three evils, Ivan decided to go to the right and rode for three days.
Получается, "This is as in a Russian fairy tale: `He who passes to the right will meet death. He who passes to the left will be sucked in the bog. And he who goes straight...' Who knows what awaits him ahead?
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Note added at 4 hrs 3 mins (2003-10-14 17:41:12 GMT)
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Вариант Джека очень хороший. Одна беда -- смещение акцентов. Попереводемши немало текстов по мифологии, я могу указать четко на различие: Сцилла и Харибда не предполагают выбора, нужно просто уловить момент и проскочить, но направление задано жестко -- только вперед. В сказке герой имеет ПРАВО ВЫБОРА. Ему решать, куда идти, причем он заранее предупрежден про опасности. Вот в этой возможности выбора и кроется та разница, из-за которой я бы не менял исходный вариант.
Не говоря о том, что античная символика задает возвышенность стиля, а в данном случае стилистика простая, понятная, без затей, как и положено народной сказке.
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Note added at 15 hrs 22 mins (2003-10-15 04:59:57 GMT)
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Возможно, в данном случае и кажется, что выбора нет -- там и там смерть, а впереди неизвестность, но обычная формула в сказке все же мягче: \"налево пойдешь -- голову сложишь, направо пойдешь -- коня потеряешь, прямо пойдешь...\" ну, там, невесту найдешь, и еще неизвестно, что хуже ;)
Ivan rode on and on until he reached a pillar standing in the middle of an open field. On the pillar were the following words: "He who goes straight will be hungry and cold. He who passes to the right will be safe, but his horse shall die. He who passes to the left will be killed, but his horse will be safe." Choosing the lesser of three evils, Ivan decided to go to the right and rode for three days.
Получается, "This is as in a Russian fairy tale: `He who passes to the right will meet death. He who passes to the left will be sucked in the bog. And he who goes straight...' Who knows what awaits him ahead?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs 3 mins (2003-10-14 17:41:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Вариант Джека очень хороший. Одна беда -- смещение акцентов. Попереводемши немало текстов по мифологии, я могу указать четко на различие: Сцилла и Харибда не предполагают выбора, нужно просто уловить момент и проскочить, но направление задано жестко -- только вперед. В сказке герой имеет ПРАВО ВЫБОРА. Ему решать, куда идти, причем он заранее предупрежден про опасности. Вот в этой возможности выбора и кроется та разница, из-за которой я бы не менял исходный вариант.
Не говоря о том, что античная символика задает возвышенность стиля, а в данном случае стилистика простая, понятная, без затей, как и положено народной сказке.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 hrs 22 mins (2003-10-15 04:59:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Возможно, в данном случае и кажется, что выбора нет -- там и там смерть, а впереди неизвестность, но обычная формула в сказке все же мягче: \"налево пойдешь -- голову сложишь, направо пойдешь -- коня потеряешь, прямо пойдешь...\" ну, там, невесту найдешь, и еще неизвестно, что хуже ;)
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alexander Alexandrov
4 mins
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cпасибо :)
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| agree |
Martinique
: Привет мне передали. Я рада, что вы тут
41 mins
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сердечно благодарю! :)
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| agree |
Yxz (X)
1 hr
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cпасибо :)
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| agree |
Nik-On/Off
: Didn't you mean to beat a native speaker on agrees? :)))
3 hrs
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Heh, sure :) After I manage it I would think I'm -- wow -- just great! ;-)
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| agree |
Jack Doughty
: If one side is death, and the other is drowning in a bog, I don't see that that is any more choice than Scylla and Charybdis. Nevertheless it is just as good, and maybe better because of the Russian element. Depends what the asker wants.
4 hrs
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Ulysses had to pass _between_ Scylla & Charybdis, as if through a narrow door which may close at any moment. And in Russian tales we have three ways, and every hero is free to choose his way.
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| agree |
Anna Levchuk (X)
4 hrs
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спасибо :)
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| agree |
Yuri Geifman
6 hrs
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спасибо :)
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| agree |
Larissa Dinsley
: Like a Russian fairytale character... Or Matrix Reloaded hero (just joking!)
11 hrs
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:) спасибо :)
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| agree |
danya
15 hrs
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спасибо :)
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| agree |
Elena Ivaniushina
: yes, the possibility of a choice (and possible escape and non-lethal outcome) is a good point
20 hrs
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cпасибо :)
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| agree |
DGK T-I
: Cогласно, если в вопросе 'ссылка' на русского сказочного героя, то лучше передать как в оригинале, то есть просто, красиво, по-сказочному, которая всегда подразумевает надежду.
21 hrs
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спасибо :) рад видеть :)
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| agree |
Ganna
: Киралл абсолютно прав, но я понимаю, почему Джек не видит разницы: в русской сказке обычно только один выбор предполагает верную смерть, остальные (в лесу заплутаешь, в болоте завязнешь) могут привести к смерти, а могут и нет (русское "авось").
23 hrs
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да, в этом особенность данного случая, но она на совести автора текста.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you Kirill"
+5
12 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Scylla and Charybdis
Ican't think of an English fairytale either, so how about a Greek legend?
As in the Odyssey: Scylla on one hand, Charybdis on the other, and who knows what straight ahead?
Or some variant on that.
You probably know the reference from the travels of Odysseus (or Ulysses), but in case you or anyone else reading this does not,
I found this on Google:
Scylla and Charybdis
Ulysses had been warned by Circe of the two monsters Scylla and Charybdis. We have already met with Scylla in the myth of Glaucus. She dwelt in a cave high up on the cliff, from whence she was accustomed to thrust forth her long necks (for she had six heads), and in each of her mouths to seize one of the crew of every vessel passing within reach. The other terror, Charybdis, was a gulf nearly on a level with the water. Thrice each day the water rushed into a frightful chasm, and thrice was disgorged. Any vessel coming near the whirlpool when the tide was rushing in must inevitably be engulfed; not Neptune himself could save it. On approaching the haunt of the dread monsters, Ulysses kept strict watch to discover them. The roar of the waters as Charybdis engulfed them gave warning at a distance, but Scylla could nowhere be discerned. While Ulysses and his men watched with anxious eyes the dreadful whirlpool, they were not equally on their guard from the attack of Scylla, (Incidit in Scyllam, cupicns vitare Charybdim.) and the monster, darting forth her snaky heads, caught six of his men and bore them away shrieking to her den. Ulysses was unable to afford any assistance.
As in the Odyssey: Scylla on one hand, Charybdis on the other, and who knows what straight ahead?
Or some variant on that.
You probably know the reference from the travels of Odysseus (or Ulysses), but in case you or anyone else reading this does not,
I found this on Google:
Scylla and Charybdis
Ulysses had been warned by Circe of the two monsters Scylla and Charybdis. We have already met with Scylla in the myth of Glaucus. She dwelt in a cave high up on the cliff, from whence she was accustomed to thrust forth her long necks (for she had six heads), and in each of her mouths to seize one of the crew of every vessel passing within reach. The other terror, Charybdis, was a gulf nearly on a level with the water. Thrice each day the water rushed into a frightful chasm, and thrice was disgorged. Any vessel coming near the whirlpool when the tide was rushing in must inevitably be engulfed; not Neptune himself could save it. On approaching the haunt of the dread monsters, Ulysses kept strict watch to discover them. The roar of the waters as Charybdis engulfed them gave warning at a distance, but Scylla could nowhere be discerned. While Ulysses and his men watched with anxious eyes the dreadful whirlpool, they were not equally on their guard from the attack of Scylla, (Incidit in Scyllam, cupicns vitare Charybdim.) and the monster, darting forth her snaky heads, caught six of his men and bore them away shrieking to her den. Ulysses was unable to afford any assistance.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Elena Ivaniushina
: an excellent option
6 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Anton Agafonov (X)
7 mins
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| agree |
GaryG
2 hrs
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| agree |
Kirill Semenov
: true, in this case we have death to the left and to the right, but in fact it's not really typical for Russian fairy tales. When on a crossroad, each of three ways does mean a challenge, but not always the death
16 hrs
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Suddenly thought of Lord tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade": "Cannon to left of them, cannon to right of them, cannon in front of them, volleyed and thundered..."
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| agree |
DGK T-I
: In the orig. Odyssey Circe gives the hero 3 choices-1.the clashing rocks,2.Scylla,3.Charybdis-and says she cannot guide him which to take:-) Despite that,though,like Kirill I would use the Russian version to preserve the flavour (but v.good suggestions) ~
21 hrs
|
+1
26 mins
см ниже
Мне кажется что ваш собственный вариант самый подходящий, действительно, нет в английском фольклоре таких сказок, поэтому, в зависимости от того на какого читателя рассчитан материал, либо остановитесь на вашем варианте - либо используйте как основу любое упоминание о моральных дилемах в литературе мира. Одну я прилагаю, но уверена что их придостаточно на нете.
Желаю удачи!
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Note added at 2003-10-14 14:07:48 (GMT)
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Да, есть еще дилемы трех дверей - в играх например. Знаете, есть такая игра - Takeshi\'s Castle? Японская игра, но очень популярна в Англии - прыгнешь в одну дверь - в грязь упадешь, в другую - на монстра нарвешься и т.д. Незнаю на сколько это relevant :)
Желаю удачи!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-10-14 14:07:48 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Да, есть еще дилемы трех дверей - в играх например. Знаете, есть такая игра - Takeshi\'s Castle? Японская игра, но очень популярна в Англии - прыгнешь в одну дверь - в грязь упадешь, в другую - на монстра нарвешься и т.д. Незнаю на сколько это relevant :)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Alexander Alexandrov
: дилеММа
1 hr
|
| agree |
Marina Aleyeva
: I like Leah's translation very much...
6 hrs
|
9 hrs
Berni Armstrong
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Specializes in field
Spain
Never Missed a Deadline in 32 Years
Native in: English
Works in: English, Spanish to English, Catalan to English
some legendary hero
I don't read Russian, but I like the sound of your "fudge" - if in doubt keep it vague, say I :-)
However, I suggest a slight variation: "I felt like some legendary hero: death to the right, swamps to the left, and who knows what straight ahead"
Good luck with it,
Berni
PS Jack's choice is a good sideways glance, but if you cannot come up with a direct equivalent tale, then I would always advise keeping it vague :-)
However, I suggest a slight variation: "I felt like some legendary hero: death to the right, swamps to the left, and who knows what straight ahead"
Good luck with it,
Berni
PS Jack's choice is a good sideways glance, but if you cannot come up with a direct equivalent tale, then I would always advise keeping it vague :-)
Discussion