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
Spanish term
New Zealand
Professional and reliable
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
el fondo de la vida
"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"
May 10, 2009 10:33: Lisa McCarthy Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
Spain
Especialista de marketing
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Catalan to English
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...
the depth of the meaning of life
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
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, French to Spanish, French to English, and 2 more.
the complex shinning deep down of life.
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!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2009-05-08 21:51:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Another option: "the profound, yet always bright side of life".
| 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!
|
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
the meaning/essence of life; what is fundamental/most important/essential in 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"
essence of life
**No idea why the site previews life's as lide/'s Obviously an error.
A source of revelations allowing us to see life's complex, yet luminous essence...
| agree |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
: De acuerdo.
1 hr
|
| agree |
Richard McDorman
: Concise and eloquent.
1 hr
|
| agree |
franglish
11 hrs
|
(allows us to see) into the intricate but glowing depths of life
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
the complex nature (of life)
Spain
A cut above the rest in translation...
Native in: English (Variants: UK, Irish, US) , Spanish (Variants: Standard-Spain, Latin American)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
the bigger picture
That source of revelations that allows us to see the bigger picture, and that always reveals the brighter side of life.
Hope this helps.
the complexity of life which, though often sad, always has its 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.
Something went wrong...