Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
tocar al hombre y al país en carne viva.
English translation:
touch the very essence of man and nature.
Spanish term
tocar al hombre y al país en carne viva
«En aquel clima de dolor y maravilla era posible tocar al hombre y al país en carne viva.»
Is he saying that it was still possible to «personally experience and be deeply affected by» both the human and natural landscape?
If the writer were talking only about a human, I'd have thought "in the flesh" or "to the quick". If he were only talking about nature, I'd have thought «in the raw». But this writer is very precise, and is yoking both man and nature together. A felicitous English equivalent doesn't come to mind at the moment.
Feb 6, 2011 09:25: James A. Walsh Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
touch the very essence of man and nature.
En aquel clima de dolor y maravilla era posible <u>tocar al hombre y al país en carne viva</u>.
In this cruel and wondrous climate you could <u>touch the very essence of man and nature</u>.
As challenging as translating poetry almost, isn't it? This writer's prose is so seemingly simple, yet resonates on different levels. The whole book is like that. Which is why I feel it's worth translating. Thanks to everyone for brainstorming this with me. Though James Walsh's rendering was impressive in its note for note fidelity, economy and English readability, allmost all the others had shades of meaning I'd like to work into a final version, if possible. Thanks, again, everyody! |
agree |
Lydia De Jorge
1 hr
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Thanks, Lydia! ;-)
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agree |
Catherine Gilsenan
22 hrs
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Thanks, Catherine.
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to touch man and country in the raw
which is of course the closest literal translation but I think "feel" works better in English.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2011-02-01 07:34:56 GMT)
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Sorry, ignore the last bit "which is of course the closest literal translation but I think 'feel' works better in English". As you can see, I changed my mind and decided "touch" works better in English!
reach man and country's core/soul
to reach into the very heart of man and country
Might work. Good luck.
To to get deep inside into people´s and country's life(Roots)
to touch man and the country in the living flesh
feel the rawness of man and country
to become/be intimately acquainted with man and country
I found this on http://www.katiepowderly.com/
'In addition to taking the time to become intimately acquainted with the places she sees, Powderly is also taking time to become intimately acquainted with the people she meets along the way in the form of "The Postcard Project."'
You have to spend a long time in a new place to be able to become intimately acquainted with man and country.
'In learning to know other things, and other minds, we become more intimately acquainted with ourselves, and are to ourselves better worth knowing.' Philip Gilbert Hamilton
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