Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
el fondo complejo pero siempre luminoso de la vida
English translation:
life's complex but ever luminous depths
Added to glossary by
Lisa McCarthy
May 8, 2009 21:29
15 yrs ago
Spanish term
New Zealand
Professional and reliable
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
el fondo de la vida
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
I am translating a love letter that was published in a magazine by a writer/poet who's been separated from his lover for cultural reasons. There is one sentence that reads:
"Aquella fuente de revelaciones que nos permite ver el fondo complejo pero siempre luminoso de la vida."
I'm having problems translating "fondo de la vida" - not sure if "fondo" is bottom, background, or... I'm reluctant to use the word "bottom" due to its other meanings.
So far I've got:
"That source of revelations that allows us to see the complex but always bright ??? of life"
"Aquella fuente de revelaciones que nos permite ver el fondo complejo pero siempre luminoso de la vida."
I'm having problems translating "fondo de la vida" - not sure if "fondo" is bottom, background, or... I'm reluctant to use the word "bottom" due to its other meanings.
So far I've got:
"That source of revelations that allows us to see the complex but always bright ??? of life"
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
May 10, 2009 10:33: Lisa McCarthy Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+6
1 hr
Lisa McCarthy
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
Especialista de marketing
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Catalan to English
Related KudoZ points
:
104
Selected
life's complex but ever luminous depths
Explicación:
On January 14, she was handed a rare opportunity: to dance the difficult dual role of Odette/Odile in Peter Martins’s version of Swan Lake. Mearns’s elegant rendition radiated composure and a **luminous depth**, but her casting didn’t come as a surprise to those who had witnessed her in Chopiniana and as the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty at the 2003 School of American Ballet Workshop Performances. http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/dance/252/a-swan-is-born
In stark contrast, the 1990 Diadema recording, by the ensemble, Vox, targets its market with little subtlety, through its fantasy-like illustration of a red-cloaked woman, gazing at mountains and a night sky, and a text on the cover which reads, “Medieval strings, woodwinds and percussion blend with atmospheric synthesizers, wrapping the virtuoso trio of female voices in a shroud of mystery to create a timeless listening experience of **luminous depth**.”
http://www.echo.ucla.edu/volume6-issue1/bain/bain4.html
The songs he writes represent a startling voyage. They form a rich tapestry that vividly records the ****complex depth and texture of his fascinating life. ***
http://www.holmfirthfestivaloffolk.co.uk/artists_contents.ht...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
6 mins
the depth of the meaning of life
My take on it.
8 mins
Muriel FINETIN
France
France
Specializes in field
France
Literature/Arts, Humanities, Food/Health
Native in: French (Variants: Canadian, Standard-France)
Works in: English to French, Spanish to French, Russian to French, and 18 more.
the cornerstone of life
An idea...
12 mins
Omar Lima Quintana
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, French to Spanish, French to English, and 2 more.
the complex shinning deep down of life.
For sure,you can use bottom either. For instance "from the bottom of my heart"
+1
19 mins
Greg Dickie
Canada
Canada
Native in Spanish
&
English
Canada
For the Global Business Community
Native in: English , Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
The profound, yet bright side of life!
Here is another good option for!
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Note added at 21 mins (2009-05-08 21:51:09 GMT)
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Another option: "the profound, yet always bright side of life".
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Note added at 21 mins (2009-05-08 21:51:09 GMT)
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Another option: "the profound, yet always bright side of life".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jairo Payan
: I like your second option!
44 mins
|
|
Thanks Jairo, the second option is best.
|
|
| neutral |
neilmac
: Too Monty Python for me (and several colleagues) I'm afraid
14 hrs
|
|
Thanks neilmac!
|
38 mins
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
315
the meaning/essence of life; what is fundamental/most important/essential in life
the meaning of life
with apologies to bcsantos, but this is what occorred to me as soon as I saw the question, and I feel that this is not the same as "the depth of the meaning of life"
with apologies to bcsantos, but this is what occorred to me as soon as I saw the question, and I feel that this is not the same as "the depth of the meaning of life"
+3
56 mins
essence of life
Después de leer la definición completa para 'fondo' en MMoliner donde fondo aparece como esencia.... se me ocurre esta posibilidad. The, that, A source... sería bueno tener la oración que precede también pues falta el referente.... Suerte!
**No idea why the site previews life's as lide/'s Obviously an error.
**No idea why the site previews life's as lide/'s Obviously an error.
Example sentence:
A source of revelations allowing us to see life's complex, yet luminous essence...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
: De acuerdo.
1 hr
|
| agree |
Richard McDorman
: Concise and eloquent.
1 hr
|
| agree |
franglish
11 hrs
|
1 hr
(allows us to see) into the intricate but glowing depths of life
Another option
2 hrs
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
103
the complex nature (of life)
HTH
2 hrs
James A. Walsh
Spain
Spain
Native in Spanish
&
English
Works in field
Spain
A cut above the rest in translation...
Native in: English (Variants: US, UK, Irish) , Spanish (Variants: Standard-Spain, Latin American)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
48
the bigger picture
This is what struck me as soon as I read it:
That source of revelations that allows us to see the bigger picture, and that always reveals the brighter side of life.
Hope this helps.
That source of revelations that allows us to see the bigger picture, and that always reveals the brighter side of life.
Hope this helps.
18 hrs
the complexity of life which, though often sad, always has its silver lining
what I understand from this is that life is a complex mixture of both happy and sad events, but even the sad ones are "bright" because, as we say, "every cloud has a silver lining".
An alternative translation would be "the complex tapestry of life..." because I understand "fondo" as like a "tapestry" hanging on the wall, that you are looking at.
An alternative translation would be "the complex tapestry of life..." because I understand "fondo" as like a "tapestry" hanging on the wall, that you are looking at.
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