Monday, June 2, 2014

Translation Problem - Jhumpa Lahiri "Venezia"



 Translation Problem - Jhumpa Lahiri "Venezia"

A Venezia non posso muovermi senza attraversare innumerevoli ponti pedonali.
At Venice I don’t/I can’t to move without to cross/to go across/to pass through innumerable pedestrian bridges.

All’inizio dover attraversare un ponte quasi ogni due minuti mi affatica.
At the beginning [I must/I have to] to cross/to go across a bridge almost/nearly every minute tires me.

Mi sembra un percorso atipico, leggermente difficile.
It seems to me a run/distance/way atypical, lightly/slightly difficult/hard

In poco tempo, però, mi abituo.
In little time, but/yet, I get used to it.

Pian piano questo percorso diventa abituale, seducente.
Little by little this/these way to become habitual, seducting/tempting/fascinating/charming

This seems to be the best literal translation:
“In Venice, I can’t move without crossing innumerable pedestrian bridges. In the beginning, having to cross a bridge almost every minute tires me. It seems to me an atypical way, slightly difficult. In a little time, however, I get used to it. Little by little, this way becomes habitual, charming.”

If I were going to render this into my own voice, I would say:
“In Venice, I can’t move without crossing innumerable pedestrian bridges. In the beginning, crossing a bridge every other minute makes me tired. It seems an odd and difficult way to do things. With a little time, however, I get used to it. Little by little, it becomes habitual, charming.”

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