tal vez -o sin tal vez

English translation: (those shared genes o lo que estés usando) might very well be the key

12:15 Feb 2, 2008

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music

Spanish term or phrase: tal vez -o sin tal vez

***Tal vez -o sin tal vez-*** la conjunción de genes fraternales de xxx y xxx sea la clave de tanta calidad artística.
I just can't quite get to how best to put this in English, despite understanding what they want to say.
Context: quote from a critic praising a Spanish ensemble who've been very successful in their field (Baroque music performance). European Spanish to British English. Thanks in advance for your input.

Kate Major Patience KudoZ activity Questions: 590 (2 open) (29 closed without grading) Answers: 346 Spain
Local time: 21:07

English translation:(those shared genes o lo que estés usando) might very well be the key

Explanation:
Creo que aquí convendría voltear la frase y recurrir a cierto juego, como lo hace el autor. Al recurrir a "might", dejas abierta la posibilidad del "tal vez" y al mismo tiempo rescatas esa contundencia del autor. Una sugerencia más.

Selected response from:

Margarita Gonzalez
Local time: 14:07

Grading comment

Ok thanks very much everyone for taking the time to help- and they're all great suggestions. I'm going with MargaEsther's option - it flows very nicely in my context, Thanks again everyone and have a nice weekend. :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

(those shared genes o lo que estés usando) might very well be the key

Margarita Gonzalez

probably or probably not

jude dabo

Perhaps - or probably - ...

Cinnamon Nolan

It might be - or without any doubt - that ...

Ximena Novoa

Maybe - or indeed there may be no maybe about it - the...

DonM

Answers

12 mins confidence:

Perhaps - or probably - ...

Explanation:
A possibility.

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Note added at 14 mins (2008-02-02 12:30:25 GMT)
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You could also change the punctuation to brackets:
Perhaps (or probably) ...

We have only' one suggestion to make t*9 iler -- that perhaps, or probably, slie confounds acquired, , therefore, , with those that are transmissible, ...
query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0D1FFC3D5412738DDDA00A94D8415B898CF1D3

... that is, they are models that may be applied to other musical works, although perhaps (or probably) [End Page 112] arriving at different conclusions. ...
muse.jhu.edu/journals/women_and_music/v010/10.1keathley.html

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Note added at 19 mins (2008-02-02 12:35:06 GMT)
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"Perhaps ... or not" would not be correct, because it would mean that "...no es que quiz´la conjunción sea la clave, es que NO sea la clave."
And the meaning of the sentence, as I understand it, is that there really is no "perhaps" about it being the key, it certainly IS the key.

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Note added at 26 mins (2008-02-02 12:42:43 GMT)
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Hi, Kate. Yes, having a pleasant weekend, in spite of working on a translation (like you). :-> Have a happy one, too.

Cinnamon Nolan
Spain
Local time: 21:07
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Notes to answerer

Asker: Sure, there's definitely no doubt as to their talent, and as you say, 'perhaps -or not-' is not an option because that would suggest that maybe the brothers are NOT key to 'such artistic quality', when they very much are. Hope you're having a pleasant weekend. :)

49 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

(those shared genes o lo que estés usando) might very well be the key

Margarita Gonzalez
Local time: 14:07
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Spanish,

English
PRO pts in category: 12

Grading comment

2 hrs confidence:

Maybe - or indeed there may be no maybe about it - the...

Explanation:
I think this is an accurate representation of what the author is saying. I interpret the Spanish as meaning either of the following may be true:
a) maybe
b) definitely

The translation I'm proposing also attempts to replicate the word-play of the original while remaining colloquial.

DonM
Ireland
Local time: 20:07
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

5 hrs confidence:

It might be - or without any doubt - that ...

Explanation:
Hope this helps

Ximena Novoa
Local time: 21:07
Native speaker of:

Spanish

11 hrs confidence:

probably or probably not

Explanation:
doubthful and uncertain situation.

jude dabo
Local time: 20:07
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

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