help translating italian (just a sentence!)
help translating italian (just a sentence!)
hi everyone,
A probable relative in italy acutally emailed me, but I have no idea what this means. Every time I put it in a translator, it doesn't come out making any sense. Could anyone help me, please?
"Come mai non ti sei più fatta viva?"
Thanks!
A probable relative in italy acutally emailed me, but I have no idea what this means. Every time I put it in a translator, it doesn't come out making any sense. Could anyone help me, please?
"Come mai non ti sei più fatta viva?"
Thanks!
-
- Master
- Posts: 6817
- Joined: 16 Dec 2007, 18:57
- Location: Yonkers NY
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
Literal translation: How come you never contacted us before this? =Peter=
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
Peter, I would translate with just a slight difference as it could affect the tone intended by the writer.
It seems to me that the writer knew of the existence of our poster, but your tranaslation intimates that our poster knew of them and ignored them. Without knowing the full text only our poster can know which would be correct.
I would say:
"How come we didn't hear from you any more ?"
But literally it says: "How come you didn't appear to be alive any more?"
It seems to me that the writer knew of the existence of our poster, but your tranaslation intimates that our poster knew of them and ignored them. Without knowing the full text only our poster can know which would be correct.
I would say:
"How come we didn't hear from you any more ?"
But literally it says: "How come you didn't appear to be alive any more?"
If you think education is expensive - try ignorance!
"Gente di Mare Genealogy"
"Gente di Mare Genealogy"
- liviomoreno
- Master
- Posts: 7032
- Joined: 13 Feb 2004, 00:00
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Contact:
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
I would translate it as follows:
How come you didn't show up any more?
I found an interesting thread on the sentence "farsi vivo": http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=48231
How come you didn't show up any more?
I found an interesting thread on the sentence "farsi vivo": http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=48231
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
Neat site, Livio
-
- Master
- Posts: 6817
- Joined: 16 Dec 2007, 18:57
- Location: Yonkers NY
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
Dear Livio the translation is like my Italian ....sometimes it just doesn't sound quite right but you ghet the idea anyway.
Dear Elba as you know the expression is idiomatic which we all (you, Livio and I) know that it really means '"now you come and tell me your alive after all these years". I was being diplomatic and not sardonic as the phrase is intended to be. =Peter=
Dear Elba as you know the expression is idiomatic which we all (you, Livio and I) know that it really means '"now you come and tell me your alive after all these years". I was being diplomatic and not sardonic as the phrase is intended to be. =Peter=
- liviomoreno
- Master
- Posts: 7032
- Joined: 13 Feb 2004, 00:00
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Contact:
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
Peter, do you mean: "now you come and tell me you are alive after all these years" ?PeterTimber wrote:... "now you come and tell me your alive after all these years" ...
- liviomoreno
- Master
- Posts: 7032
- Joined: 13 Feb 2004, 00:00
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Contact:
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
The sentence "Come mai non ti sei più fatta vivo?" does not have any sardonic connotation, it is a simple question and is used very often in Italian. As I mentioned in a previous post it simply means:
"Why you did not show up anymore?"
"Why you did not show up anymore?"
-
- Master
- Posts: 6817
- Joined: 16 Dec 2007, 18:57
- Location: Yonkers NY
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
Dear Livio I know it should be you're but I took a short cut. =Peter=
-
- Master
- Posts: 6817
- Joined: 16 Dec 2007, 18:57
- Location: Yonkers NY
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
... It is an idiomatic expression meaning WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME. Is that OK Livio??? =Peter=
- liviomoreno
- Master
- Posts: 7032
- Joined: 13 Feb 2004, 00:00
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Contact:
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
No. If ask you "Come mai non ti sei più fatto vivo?", I'm not interested in knowing where you were, I want to know the reason why you did not call, or write, or pass by, or ...PeterTimber wrote:... It is an idiomatic expression meaning WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME. Is that OK Livio??? =Peter=
And the answer could be:
"I lost your e-mail"
"You never give me your telephone number"
"I was sick"
"I was angry at you"
"My PC was broken"
"I did write but the letter was lost"
-
- Master
- Posts: 6817
- Joined: 16 Dec 2007, 18:57
- Location: Yonkers NY
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
You left out the apt expression TANTE MOSSE! =Peter=
- liviomoreno
- Master
- Posts: 7032
- Joined: 13 Feb 2004, 00:00
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Contact:
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
PeterTimber wrote:You left out the apt expression TANTE MOSSE! =Peter=
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
I can only assume that you mean that there have been 'many moves' (without an outcome?) on this translation Peter...PeterTimber wrote:You left out the apt expression TANTE MOSSE! =Peter=
You said:
I will always try to follow what is written and NOT what was 'intended' by the writer. The 'intention' might be clearly marked as an 'aside' by me. If the intention is not clear then the person who sought the translation may provide further information or be aware of the context the sentence, phrase or maybe paragraph may have been written. (That did not happen in this case.) So, if not, then it is a brave translator who chooses to go down that route...and who may easily risk misleading their client!Dear Livio the translation is like my Italian ....sometimes it just doesn't sound quite right but you ghet the idea anyway.
Dear Elba as you know the expression is idiomatic which we all (you, Livio and I) know that it really means '"now you come and tell me your alive after all these years". I was being diplomatic and not sardonic as the phrase is intended to be. =Peter=
If you think education is expensive - try ignorance!
"Gente di Mare Genealogy"
"Gente di Mare Genealogy"
- liviomoreno
- Master
- Posts: 7032
- Joined: 13 Feb 2004, 00:00
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Contact:
Re: help translating italian (just a sentence!)
The expression is not idiomatic.PeterTimber wrote: Dear Elba as you know the expression is idiomatic which we all (you, Livio and I) know that it really means '"now you come and tell me your alive after all these years".
It is pure Italian.