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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