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  3. Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting

ponto de interrogação

English translation: an enigma, a charade

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:ponto de interrogação
English translation:an enigma, a charade
Entered by: Marlene Curtis

10:00 May 28, 2010
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
Portuguese term or phrase: ponto de interrogação
"logo por capricho um dos arquitectos evadiu-se da linha pura, para se embrenhar todo inteiro nas suas visões frenéticas e no labirinto escaldante da sua irresistível paixão pela pintura. Já se sabe que me refiro a X; o **ponto de interrogação** mais perturbante que surgiu lá pelo Porto” .

A quote discussing a highly independent and pioneering artist, the speaker is talking about the early part of his artistic development, when he was already demonstrating his independence and experimental nature.

I wonder if 'enigma' is possible? A literal translation seems very clumsy to me.
Lucy Phillips
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:29
an enigma, a charade
Explanation:

I think it fits...
Selected response from:

Marlene Curtis
United States
Local time: 14:29
Grading comment
I went with 'enigma' as per my original idea. I don't think 'charade' is appropriate, though. Thanks, Marlene
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2an enigma, a charade
Marlene Curtis
4 +1intriguing person
Sonia Maria Parise
4 +1wild card (no contexto dado)
Caravelle
4 +1question mark
T o b i a s
4point of concern
telefpro
4a puzzle
Katarina Peters
3Query
Gad Kohenov
3as you know, I'm referring to Camoes, the one who continues to baffle us . . .
David Drysdale (X)


  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Query


Explanation:
Suggestion.

Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 21:29
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 4
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28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
point of concern


Explanation:
I would put it this way

telefpro
Local time: 23:59
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in EnglishEnglish
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29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
intriguing person


Explanation:
é uma sugestão

Sonia Maria Parise
Italy
Local time: 20:29
Native speaker of: Portuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Clauwolf
8 hrs
  -> Obrigada!
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
an enigma, a charade


Explanation:

I think it fits...

Marlene Curtis
United States
Local time: 14:29
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 135
Grading comment
I went with 'enigma' as per my original idea. I don't think 'charade' is appropriate, though. Thanks, Marlene

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Silvia Aquino
2 hrs
  -> Grata!
agree  Flavia Martins dos Santos
5 hrs
  -> Grata!
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
as you know, I'm referring to Camoes, the one who continues to baffle us . . .


Explanation:
Suggestion:

as you know, I'm referring to Camoes, the one who continues to baffle us . . .

David Drysdale (X)
United States
Local time: 12:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
wild card (no contexto dado)


Explanation:
Será que question mark ficaria completamente fora do contexto? Acho que não, mas compreendo a sua hesitação.


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_card
    Reference: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/wild+card
Caravelle
Portugal
Local time: 19:29
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof
2 hrs
  -> Obrigado Vergínia.
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
question mark


Explanation:
I'd go with clumsy, although I don't find it so.

"The most serious question mark in relation to the entire Charter, in my opinion, concerns the loopholes regarding the application of ..."
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1831747

"Although there is of course influence and input from parents and elders, the entire cultural scene as it stands today in a ‘democratic’ Iraq is for the most part a big question mark to our Assyrian youth in the Diaspora."
http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/2006/10.16.06/ind...

Other than the outstanding goaltending of Tomas Vokoun, the surprising scoring of Tomas Plekanec, and the offensive presence of blueliner Tomas Kaberle, the rest of the bunch are question marks–in one way or another–for what some consider the 5th best squad…with former Hart trophy winner Jaromir Jagr the most interesting question mark.
http://icehockeymetrics.com/

T o b i a s
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Notes to answerer
Asker: perhaps you're right - I don't know, I also thought someone or something being a 'question mark' in English tended to have a negative connotation, which I certainly don't think was the case here. Thanks for the references and food for thought, though!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof
2 hrs
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a puzzle


Explanation:
another sugg.

Katarina Peters
Canada
Local time: 14:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: another nice suggestion

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