угасающий костёр

English translation: a dying hope

20:03 Dec 19, 2020
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Government / Politics / разоружение
Russian term or phrase: угасающий костёр
Однако можно заранее сказать, что западные державы не пойдут на разоружение. Они боятся его. [...] Таким образом, переговоры о прекращении ядерных испытаний, видимо, будут продолжаться, но это уже угасающий костёр. (перевожу слова Хрущёва).

Спасибо заранее
Angela Greenfield
United States
Local time: 06:37
English translation:a dying hope
Explanation:
What an interesting question! Here are a few thoughts:
Already running into the sands
Already a dying hope
Already a flickering flame
Selected response from:

David Knowles
Local time: 10:37
Grading comment
Thank you David. I used the “flickering flame” version.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3dying fire
Lesia Kutsenko
3 +2a dying hope
David Knowles
3 +2dying embers
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
4dead end / no prospects
Turdimurod Rakhmanov
3it is a bonfire/endeavour being turned to ashes
Oleg Lozinskiy
2fighting for a lost cause
Vera Klink


Discussion entries: 11





  

Answers


15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
a dying hope


Explanation:
What an interesting question! Here are a few thoughts:
Already running into the sands
Already a dying hope
Already a flickering flame


David Knowles
Local time: 10:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 55
Grading comment
Thank you David. I used the “flickering flame” version.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Oleg Lozinskiy: IMHO, "running into the sands" is more frequently being translated as "утекает в песок/заходит в тупик", "dying hope" - as "угасающая/умирающая надежда" and "flickering flame" as "колеблющееся на ветру пламя/мерцающий огонек".
23 mins

agree  Dylan Edwards: 'dying / dwindling hope'
2 days 23 hrs

agree  GaryG: I would say "fading hope" but this is very good, too
7 days
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
it is a bonfire/endeavour being turned to ashes


Explanation:


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 мин (2020-12-19 20:31:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Хрущев ошибся: Договор о запрещении испытаний ядерного оружия в атмосфере, космическом пространстве и под водой (также известен как Московский договор) был подписан 5 августа 1963 года в Москве. Сторонами договора являлись СССР, США и Великобритания. Договор вступил в силу 10 октября 1963 года и был открыт для подписания другими странами с 8 августа 1963 года в Москве, Вашингтоне и Лондоне. Депозитариями Договора являются СССР (Российская Федерация), США и Великобритания. В настоящее время участниками Договора является 131 государство.
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Договор_о_запрещении_испытаний...




Oleg Lozinskiy
Russian Federation
Local time: 13:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 80

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Boris Shapiro: While you might be right (and Khruschev wrong), to my mind, rewriting the source to such an extent goes beyond a translator's purview. And 'being turned' vs 'dying' is as semantically dissimilar as "угасающий" vs "заливаемый кем-то".
22 hrs
  -> Thank you for your opinion, Boris, regarding what is 'beyond a translator's purview'. However, the PTBT not only was signed but still survives (unlike many other disarmament treaties).
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
dying fire


Explanation:
plain, simple

Lesia Kutsenko
Canada
Local time: 06:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Oleg Lozinskiy: IMHO, "dying fire" is more frequently being translated as "затухающий пожар" rather than "угасающий костёр".
17 mins
  -> no blaze or conflagration, just a "tiny piece of fire"

agree  Susan Welsh: I think the literal translation is fine in this case.
2 hrs
  -> Thank you so much, Susan!

agree  Elizabeth Adams: Yes, I think simple is fine here.
2 hrs
  -> Thank you so much, Elizabeth!

agree  DTSM
12 hrs
  -> Thank you very much!
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
dying embers


Explanation:
ember a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ember

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
United States
Local time: 06:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 47

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Knowles: Yes, I thought of this later, and it does give echoes of a camp fire
1 day 5 hrs
  -> Thank you, David. Season's Greetings.

agree  Turdimurod Rakhmanov: I also wouldn't express the "костёр" directly. It's better to render the metaphor using metaphor. Ember is a good fit here, IMHO.
3 days 4 hrs
  -> Thank you, Turdimurod, for you kind comment.
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1 day 14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
fighting for a lost cause


Explanation:
This isn't a great translation, but it seems to fit the tone and overall message. I'm not a fan of vague metaphors (e.g. "dying fire"). They would likely confuse the reader. Personally, I'd replace it with a common idiomatic expression:

Disarmament conferences will continue, but...
it's fighting for a lost cause/it's fighting a losing battle/ the battle has already been lost.

or a direct explanation:

Disarmament conferences will continue, but they have lost their purpose.

Vera Klink
Canada
Local time: 04:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
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5 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
dead end / no prospects


Explanation:
I believe that the English "dead end" is one of the possible choices here.

However, we may predict that the Western states worrying for their safety will not step towards (agree to) disarmament. [...] Thus, the talks on cessation of nuclear testing, apparently, will continue, but this means the dead end. or (there is no prospects)

Turdimurod Rakhmanov
Kyrgyzstan
Local time: 16:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in UzbekUzbek, Native in KirghizKirghiz
PRO pts in category: 14
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