Jan 4, 2011 21:27
13 yrs ago
English term
hostels are the perfect place in Valencia for backpackers
English
Other
Linguistics
ORDER OF COMPLEMENTS
Hi everyone,
I have to translate a leaflet about hostels from Spanish into English.
The original sentence is: Los hostales son el sitio perfecto en Valencia para mochileros de verdad.
Which is the best translation?
1) Hostels are the perfect place in Valencia for real backpackers.
or
2) Hostels are the perfect place for real backpackers in Valencia.
Please, can you explain me why?
I have to translate a leaflet about hostels from Spanish into English.
The original sentence is: Los hostales son el sitio perfecto en Valencia para mochileros de verdad.
Which is the best translation?
1) Hostels are the perfect place in Valencia for real backpackers.
or
2) Hostels are the perfect place for real backpackers in Valencia.
Please, can you explain me why?
Responses
Change log
Jan 4, 2011 21:52: Travelin Ann changed "Language pair" from "Spanish to English" to "English"
Responses
+6
9 mins
Robert Forstag
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
68
English term (edited):
Los hostales son el sitio perfecto en Valencia para mochileros de verdad.
Selected
Hardcore backpackers travelling in Valencia will feel most at home in the city's hostels.
Neither of your own choices sound particularly natural in English.
Suerte.
Suerte.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
10 mins
Phoebe Anne
Native in English
&
English
Linguistic services
Native in: English 
, Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, Spanish to Hebrew, and 3 more.
Hostels in Valencia are the perfect place for backpackers
Explanation.
the best choice from your translation #1
I also give you another possible way to translate it.
Why? because it's best to place the location first.
the best choice from your translation #1
I also give you another possible way to translate it.
Why? because it's best to place the location first.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Jennifer Levey
: Your general idea is OK, but the '(tourist) location' is 'Valencia', not 'hostels'. So, "In valencia, the preferred place.... is hostels."
6 mins
|
| neutral |
Robert Forstag
: Agree with MM. The way your sentence reads, you are in effect saying that the Valencian hostels are the perfect place *on earth* for backpackers, while the idea of the original is that, "for real backpackers who are in V.," hostels are the perfect choice.
17 mins
|
| neutral |
Sharon Toh, MITI MCIL
: I agree with Robert regarding what the proposed answer implies.
41 mins
|
|
xie xie for your answer Sharon!
|
+3
1 hr
English term (edited):
hostels are the perfect place in service alencia for backpackers
in Valencia, hostels are the perfect place for real back-packers
I agree with the others about more natural ways of expressing it in idomatic EN, but just taking your original words and re-arranging the order, this would be my suggestion.
I think it's very important to keep the ideas of 'backpackers' and 'hostels' as closely associated as possible, and the answer to "where?" is "in Valencia"
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Note added at 1 hr (2011-01-04 23:21:03 GMT)
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In your first suggestion, 'hostels' and 'backpackers' are separated by the idea 'Valencia', whereas in your second suggestion, the close association of 'Valencia' and 'backpackers' suggests that there might be only 'unreal' backpackers in other cities! Admittedly, this is not an idea that would remain long in any reader's mionds, but the unwitting association of ideas is there nonetheless.
I think it's very important to keep the ideas of 'backpackers' and 'hostels' as closely associated as possible, and the answer to "where?" is "in Valencia"
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Note added at 1 hr (2011-01-04 23:21:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In your first suggestion, 'hostels' and 'backpackers' are separated by the idea 'Valencia', whereas in your second suggestion, the close association of 'Valencia' and 'backpackers' suggests that there might be only 'unreal' backpackers in other cities! Admittedly, this is not an idea that would remain long in any reader's mionds, but the unwitting association of ideas is there nonetheless.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Bernhard Sulzer
: HNY!
7 hrs
|
|
Danke, Bernhard! And HNY to you, too!
|
|
| agree |
Alison Sabedoria (X)
: and Happy New Year! The distinction between real and unreal backpackers might be evident on the edge of a black hole, which I'm sure Valencia is not. =)
13 hrs
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Thanks, W/E! And a very Happy New Year to you too!
|
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| agree |
Rachel Fell
1 day 19 hrs
|
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Thanks, Rachel!
|
2 hrs
Juan Ripoll
Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay
Engineer with proficiency in english.
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
hostels are the perfect place in Valencia for real backpackers
Otra manera.
Saludos
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Note added at 2 horas (2011-01-04 23:31:51 GMT)
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O sea, la opción 1, me apresuré a responder.
Saludos
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Note added at 2 horas (2011-01-04 23:31:51 GMT)
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O sea, la opción 1, me apresuré a responder.
+1
5 hrs
English term (edited):
Los hostales son el sitio perfecto en Valencia para mochileros de verdad.
A true backpacker? The Hostels in Valencia are the ideal place to stay.
Los hostales son el sitio perfecto en Valencia para mochileros de verdad.
This phrase in Spanish is a catch phrase. One reads it and straight away it makes sense. ''Es usted un mochillero de verdad? Valencia es el lugar perfecto para ustedes... This is how it translates and/or sounds to the English.
There are other ways to do this translation; here is another example below:
Going to Valencia? are you a backpacker aficionado? Our Hostels are the perfect place to stay.
In other words for this phrase to make sense in English it needs to be rethought and reworded so that it becomes a catchphrase.
The leaflet that you are translating must sell the idea(s). Translating it it is not enough therefore. By changing the order of the phrase any English backpacker (aficionado), will read the leaflet and be attracted to go Valencia and this what the leaflet is supposed to be doing.
This phrase in Spanish is a catch phrase. One reads it and straight away it makes sense. ''Es usted un mochillero de verdad? Valencia es el lugar perfecto para ustedes... This is how it translates and/or sounds to the English.
There are other ways to do this translation; here is another example below:
Going to Valencia? are you a backpacker aficionado? Our Hostels are the perfect place to stay.
In other words for this phrase to make sense in English it needs to be rethought and reworded so that it becomes a catchphrase.
The leaflet that you are translating must sell the idea(s). Translating it it is not enough therefore. By changing the order of the phrase any English backpacker (aficionado), will read the leaflet and be attracted to go Valencia and this what the leaflet is supposed to be doing.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Joshua Wolfe
: If the original text is a well-known phrase, something catchy in EN is needed, not an overly faithful translation.
15 hrs
|
|
Thank you, Joshua. Well said.
|
10 hrs
Donna Stevens
Norway
Norway
Native in English
&
English
Norway
Experienced translator and editor
Native in: English (Variants: US, UK)
Works in: Norwegian to English, English, Norwegian (Bokmal) to English, and 1 more.
For real backpakers, hostels are the perfect place to stay in Valencia.
By placing the backpackers in front, you emphasize their importance and capture their interest. The addition of "to stay" shows the function of the hostel.
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