Dec 1, 2012 03:07
11 yrs ago
Russian term
обличив блуд
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Short story set in biblical era
The context is this man's wife is about to be stoned because he is testifying to her adulterous behavior in front of the community. He is torn, obviously, but feels he must do this although he will be a laughing-stock from then on. Here is the full sentence:
И принародно обличив блуд, стал навечно посмешищем.
I want to say something like "And before all the people he exposed his shame, and in doing so he became forever a standing joke."
But it's not really his "shame", after all, it's hers. Any suggestions are welcome!
И принародно обличив блуд, стал навечно посмешищем.
I want to say something like "And before all the people he exposed his shame, and in doing so he became forever a standing joke."
But it's not really his "shame", after all, it's hers. Any suggestions are welcome!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
1 hr
sleyzerzon
United States
United States
Native in Russian
Specializes in field
United States
I live therefore I translate
Native in: Russian 
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Selected
their shame
.
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-12-01 04:20:33 GMT)
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Besides being simple, as you noted, it'll also reflect their closeness and struggle
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-12-01 04:20:33 GMT)
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Besides being simple, as you noted, it'll also reflect their closeness and struggle
Note from asker:
| Sweet and simple! I like it:-> |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "So many great responses were given. This fits the author's style, though, which is more lucid and direct. "
+4
2 hrs
Rachel Douglas
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Excellent English from Russian originals
Native in: English (Variants: Australian, US, British)
Works in: Russian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
384
unmasked her as a harlot
I think that блуд is more pungent than shame (стыд) - it's the licentious bad behavior in the first place. What word to use somewhat depends on if you're trying to echo biblical language in a story set in biblical times. If so, then you might write it like this:
"Because he unmasked her in public as a harlot, he made himself a laughingstock forever." (Or "became" rather than "made himself", but I like the way "made himself" scans.)
If not, then other possibilities would include "exposed her whoring".
"Because he unmasked her in public as a harlot, he made himself a laughingstock forever." (Or "became" rather than "made himself", but I like the way "made himself" scans.)
If not, then other possibilities would include "exposed her whoring".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
sleyzerzon
: да, насчёт блуда это звучит разительнее, конечно. Хотя в самом тексте нет местоимения, указывающего ни на него, ни на неё. Приходится гадать, что имеется в виду.
9 mins
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Thank you. The asker did tell us that it's talking about her behavior.
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| agree |
Natalia Volkova
4 hrs
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Thanks, Natalia.
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| neutral |
Alexander Kayumov
: I am not sure about "unmasked". This has the connotation that nobody knew before he came forward. But it sounds like he had to testify to the adultery that was uncovered by other means.
8 hrs
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Thanks for commenting. Somebody can be "unmasked in public", "unmasked before the people", even if somebody else has already discovered their sins. I see it as a nice, old-fashioned way of saying "outed".
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| agree |
The Misha
: Outed, outed! But of course we have to mind our manners here, and old-fashioned fits right in.
9 hrs
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Thanks, Misha!
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| agree |
Natalia Kasparova (X)
4 days
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Thank you, Natalia! The asker already selected a proposal which, in my opinion, has nothing to do with the meaning of the original. But, thank you anyway!
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4 hrs
Evgenia Windstein
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Native in Russian
Russian Federation
Reliable, Reasonable, Realistic!
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
By publically accusing his wife of adultery, he...
or ...by denouncing her reputation of a virtuous (chaste) wife
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
The Misha
: Your first option is a solid, perfectly natural English construct, yet it's a little off key here stylistically. Otherwise it's perfectly good.
7 hrs
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Thank you for peer review, Misha :-).
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+2
9 hrs
Alexander Kayumov
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Native in Russian
Russian Federation
ph: +7 (950) 1980-769
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
by publicly exposing / denouncing her fornication
И принародно обличив блуд, стал навечно посмешищем. = And by publicly exposing / denouncing her fornication, he became a laughing-stock forever.
From the context it's clear that the fornication is "her", not "his". "Fornication" has a Biblical meaning of "sexual immorality in general, esp. adultery" - which corresponds very well with that of "блуд", which can mean both things.
From the context it's clear that the fornication is "her", not "his". "Fornication" has a Biblical meaning of "sexual immorality in general, esp. adultery" - which corresponds very well with that of "блуд", which can mean both things.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Aleksandra Kleschina
1 hr
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Спасибо!
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| agree |
Rachel Douglas
: With "fornication" (which was my first thought, but got derailed last night because for some reason I looked up only "fornicator", which appears only twice in the KJV vs. 40 for "harlot"; but there are 36 instances of "fornication", actually).
1 hr
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Thanks!
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10 hrs
LilianNekipelov
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Legal and literary translator. Linguist.
Native in: English (Variants: US, British) , Polish (Variant: Standard-Poland)
Works in: Russian to English, Polish to English, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
By publicly revealing her wife's (adulterous) act, he became a joke (himself)
I think I would use this.
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