dijous, 5 de novembre del 2009

Just for laughs (I)

I remember when I was learning English (many many years ago now) that I enjoyed lessons about idioms a lot. Not only because remembering them was a challenge that I like to take but also because at first and if taken literally they made no sense to me.

Later on, as I was developing my passion for translation, I discovered the playfulness of language and I began to find making literal translations of idioms (from Catalan into English and Spanish, or from Spanish into English)
extremely hilarious.

As today I had a very busy day and worked a lot, I want to have a good laugh, so I would like to do some literal translation here. I hope you have a good laugh to!

Ser un somiatruites > To be an omelette dreamer
(To be a daydreamer)

N'hi ha per llogar-hi cadires!
> You could even rent chairs with this!
(I can't believe it / this is incredible -in a negative context)

No sabeu el pa que s'hi dóna > You do not know the bread that is given
(You do not really know what is this about)

El més calent és a l'aigüera > The hottest things are still on the sink
(The most important things haven't been done yet)

Cada dos per tres > Every two per three
(Very often)

Fugir cames ajudeu-me > To run away legs help me
(To run away very fast from something -implies fear)

Ser més llarg que un dia sense pa > To be longer than a day without bread
(Something which is really long)

Estar tocat del bolet > To be touched by the mushroom
(To be nuts)

Ser un tap de bassa > To be a pool's lid
(To be very short)

Allà on Jesús va perdre l'espardenya > Where Jesus lost his shoe -or "espadrille" following the online terminolgoy centre Termcat
(In a place which is difficult to reach)

A la quinta forca > In the fifth gallows/hayfork
(Far far away)

Remenar les cireres / Tallar el bacallà > To mix the cherries / To cut the cod
(To be in a position of power)

These are just a few examples. If you find this funny, let me know and from time to time I might be posting funny or curious language things like this!

PS: By the way, in Catalan, the word idiomes, which is very similar to idioms in English means...languages! Idioms is translated as frases fetes ("done sentences").

5 comentaris:

Isabel ha dit...

I love idioms! They're sometimes hard to understand or explain to someone else but when you get it, you realise how witty it usually is.

I've actually just written your examples down and I hope once I'm a bit more advanced in my studies I'll get to use them. :)

Tallar el bacallà... That's like cortar el bacalao, no?

Tu, jo i l'Otis ha dit...

There are a couple of books in Spanish called "Speaking in silver" (Hablando en plata) and "From lost to the river" (De perdidos al río) that deal exactly with the same subject... but in Spanish. If you want to have a good laugh, I strongly recommend them!!!

Anna ha dit...

Hi Isabel!

"Tallar el bacallà" is indeed the same as "Cortar el bacalao".

In Catalan some idioms are the same as the Spanish one, but many others differs.

There is one song by and old band called "La Trinca" called "Coses de l'idioma" which does literal translations from Catalan idioms into Spanish (do you know this song, Maria?).

Or also we could have a good laugh with the books Maria suggested!

Jordi ha dit...

There's also a book in Catalan called "To dream omelettes"! I've got it and it's really funny. The author even tells to play games with the book.

Isabel ha dit...

@ Anna

I just saw "Coses de l'idioma" on Youtube and they speak a bit too fast for me to get it but I'm going to try searching for the lyrics. :)

As for the books, I'll put them on my list on Bookmooch. I might get lucky and find them!