Jun 28, 2013 02:55
10 yrs ago
Spanish term
calles de Dios
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Mexican expression
Here's a fun one for you. I'm translating a humorous, very tongue-in-cheek, personal essay by a Mexican writer about the traumas of growing up in Mexico with a foreign (Arab) name. In this particular section, he is emphasizing the contrast between how people with English names are treated vs. those with Arab names:
"Asi, Paul y Brandon, sin problemas e interrogatorios, diariamente conocen nueva gente, realizan tramites, pasan lista y, en fin, van por estas **calles de Dios** como si fueran Pedro y Juan. En cambio, si uno se llama Anuar las cosas son muy diferentes."
I'm not quite sure of how to render "calles de Dios" in English with a similar tone. Here's my draft English version so far: "That is, every day Paul and Brandon go out and about, meeting new people, conducting business, and responding to roll call without problems or interrogations—essentially, they walk around **these streets** as if they were Pedro and Juan. On the other hand, if you’re named Anuar, things are very different."
I'm not quite sure about the tone--should I be going in the direction of "doggone" or "godforsaken," or something more mild/innocuous? Or just omit the "de Dios" entirely and leave it as "these streets"?
"Asi, Paul y Brandon, sin problemas e interrogatorios, diariamente conocen nueva gente, realizan tramites, pasan lista y, en fin, van por estas **calles de Dios** como si fueran Pedro y Juan. En cambio, si uno se llama Anuar las cosas son muy diferentes."
I'm not quite sure of how to render "calles de Dios" in English with a similar tone. Here's my draft English version so far: "That is, every day Paul and Brandon go out and about, meeting new people, conducting business, and responding to roll call without problems or interrogations—essentially, they walk around **these streets** as if they were Pedro and Juan. On the other hand, if you’re named Anuar, things are very different."
I'm not quite sure about the tone--should I be going in the direction of "doggone" or "godforsaken," or something more mild/innocuous? Or just omit the "de Dios" entirely and leave it as "these streets"?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+6
11 hrs
Selected
they walk around like your average Joe
If this were my translation, I would simply write "they walk around like your average Joe." I would not be overly concerned with rendering "calles de Dios." You already found the solution:
"Or just omit the "de Dios" entirely and leave it as "these streets"?"
Anything else I can think of would sound forced and unnatural.
"Calles de Dios" has absolutely no religious connotation, so why tangle ourselves with names of saints, blessed streets and all that? And that's all I have to say abou that.
"Or just omit the "de Dios" entirely and leave it as "these streets"?"
Anything else I can think of would sound forced and unnatural.
"Calles de Dios" has absolutely no religious connotation, so why tangle ourselves with names of saints, blessed streets and all that? And that's all I have to say abou that.
Note from asker:
Great option. Thanks so much for your very helpful explanation as well! |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Ronaldo Bassini
: I think you nailed it...
2 hrs
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many thanks
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agree |
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
4 hrs
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muchas gracias
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agree |
Translator Rose
11 hrs
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Muchas gracias
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agree |
Luis Rey Ballesteros (Luiroi)
: Right on the head!
11 hrs
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Muchas gracias, Luiroi
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agree |
Ion Zubizarreta
19 hrs
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Muchas gracias
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agree |
Jennifer Lopez
21 hrs
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Muchas gracias, JLo
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agree |
638556 (X)
22 hrs
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Muchas gracias
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disagree |
peter palladius
: I dont think the author means this...then why did he mention about Peter and John when he was actually talking about Paul and Brandon?
10 days
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Well, I am almost 100% sure he is not referring to the biblical figures, but to regular people with common names, like Jack and Jill, Bill and Ted, etc. Just because he used "calles the Dios" does not mean everything else has to be biblical. See context
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
1 hr
God's own street / God's street
The writer speaks about Pedro and Juan disciples of Jesus.
so he/she could have just meant "God's street".
or to be more elegant "God's own street" can be used
so he/she could have just meant "God's street".
or to be more elegant "God's own street" can be used
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Onidia (X)
22 mins
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Thanks
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agree |
crina_petrican
58 mins
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Thanks
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agree |
kassidi
: God's street is the correct word.
1 hr
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Thanks
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agree |
Cecilia Rey
5 hrs
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Thanks
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disagree |
Cecilia Gowar
: No way.... the meaning in Spanish has nothing to do with what you imply.
6 hrs
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disagree |
Translator Rose
: The expression "calles de Dios" has no religious connotation.
21 hrs
|
-1
2 hrs
godly life/path
godly life or godly path
I think that the meaning is more like:
they go through this godly life/path as if they were Peter and John....
I think that the meaning is more like:
they go through this godly life/path as if they were Peter and John....
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Cecilia Gowar
: No religious connotations here....
5 hrs
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I think you're right, misinterpreted this one....
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-1
5 hrs
walk these streets as if they were saints (Peter and John)
I think this is the meaning here. They are treated like saints. So really not sure if I'd include Peter and John.
Or more simply,
"walk these streets as if they own them "
Asi, Paul y Brandon, sin problemas e interrogatorios, diariamente conocen nueva gente, realizan tramites, pasan lista y, en fin, van por estas **calles de Dios** como si fueran Pedro y Juan. En cambio, si uno se llama Anuar las cosas son muy diferentes."
So, every day Paul and Brandon go out and about, meeting new people, conducting business, and responding to roll call without problems or questionings—essentially, they walk these streets as if they were saints (OR St. Peter or St. John). On the other hand, if you have an Arab name like Anuar, things are very different."
Or more simply,
"walk these streets as if they own them "
Asi, Paul y Brandon, sin problemas e interrogatorios, diariamente conocen nueva gente, realizan tramites, pasan lista y, en fin, van por estas **calles de Dios** como si fueran Pedro y Juan. En cambio, si uno se llama Anuar las cosas son muy diferentes."
So, every day Paul and Brandon go out and about, meeting new people, conducting business, and responding to roll call without problems or questionings—essentially, they walk these streets as if they were saints (OR St. Peter or St. John). On the other hand, if you have an Arab name like Anuar, things are very different."
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Cecilia Gowar
: This has nothing to do with sainthood. Pedro and Juan are common names in Spanish. Like saying "Tom, Dick or Harry". Not even that... they just blend in.... xx
2 hrs
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yep, got it wrong, was misled by previous answers. Second suggestion better: "walk these streets as if they owned them"
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8 hrs
blessed streets
...walked these blessed streets like any Tom, Dick of Harry.
That is the meaning.... they can act as if they belonged to the place. "De Dios" in this case has NOTHING to do with religion. It is just an expresion. It could also be "benditas calles" without any "sacred" meaning.
That is the meaning.... they can act as if they belonged to the place. "De Dios" in this case has NOTHING to do with religion. It is just an expresion. It could also be "benditas calles" without any "sacred" meaning.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much for your very helpful comments, here and above. |
13 hrs
(walk down) the paths of the Lord
At the risk of tipping the scales another way between "godforsaken" (which the expression is not exactly) and the vanishing-point perspective suggested by the original expression. Don't take my word for it, but if I come up with better, you'll be sure to know. Of course, it's not a set phrase, but it's flexible enough for different contexts.
Discussion
"como Pedro por su casa (RAE).
1. loc. adv. coloq. Con entera libertad o llaneza, sin miramiento alguno. Se usa cuando alguien entra o se mete de este modo en alguna parte, sin título ni razón para ello."
La expresión “de Dios” en este contexto tampoco es “godforsaken”. No tiene connotaciones negativas. En realidad, implica cualquier calle, no un tipo en particular. En ese sentido podría también traducirse como “they walk up any street”.
The simple meaning of the sentence is "they walk easily and freely".
comparison:
The "Mexican" expression "andar por las calles de Dios como si fueran Pedro y Juan" is the same used in Spain as "andar como Pedro por su casa".
So the election of "God´s Streets" or "the path of the Lord" are chosen because Peter and John are cited in the text, and sure "they walk easily and freely" in the path of the Lord!
But if you want to translate the meaning, then use the English expression “they were acting like if they own the place” which is the right context.
a la buena de Dios.
1. loc. adv. Sin preparación, al azar.
2. loc. adv. coloq. Sin artificio ni malicia.L
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