I'm trying to write a ltr. to inquire about my grandfather. I used a computer program to translate my English to Italian but I've read several of your comments about them not being very good. So.... If any of you Italian reading people out there would assure me that I'm not sending something I wish I hadn't I'd appreciate it. The Italian version of my ltr. follows:
Caro
Sto indagando la mia famiglia tree. Sto meravigliandomi se Lei potrebbe essere riferito possibilmente a me o potrebbe essere avuto informazioni su mio nonno.
Il nome di mio nonno era: Antonio di Francisco Cunti
Nato: il 13 Febbraio 1869 Caserta.
Venuto a Stati Uniti nel 1901
Il suo nome fu cambiato a Conty a del punto dopo il suo arrivo agli stati uniti.
Il name was di mio bisnonno: Palo Cunti
Nato circa il 1813 in Caserta
Morto il 12 Febbraio 1920 in Caserta.
Il was: del nome di mia bisononna Marie Nardi
Morto il 11 Ottobre 1906 in Caserta
E la mia comprensione che Francisco fu sposato e sinistro una moglie e figlia giovanne chiamo Assunta in Italia.
Si disse che Francisco aveva un fratello gemello che mori Francisco che va via molto giovane un unico child. Credo che la sua famiglia possedette vigneti.
Se Lei ha qualsiasi informazioni apprezzerei profondamente il Suo Aiuto.
Sinceramente,
Kasza di Conty di Katherine
Translation Help Please!
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Maurizio
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Hi Kek.
You're right: artificial intelligence isn't yet a technology reliable enough to perform a good automatic translation and results are often not satisfying.
Here is a version of your letter: I put into brackets some suggestions or doubts of mine, and all what I wasn't able to understand since I didn't have the original version of your letter.
Hope this helps.
Ciao, Maurizio
Dear ....,
(I would put here some info about yourself: your name, where you live, your descending from an Italian Ancestor)
Sto cercando di ricostruire il mio albero genealogico e mi chiedo se lei possa essere in qualche modo mio parente o se abbia qualche informazione su mio nonno.
Il nome di mio nonno era Antonio (di ?) Francesco Cunti, nato il 13 febbraio 1869 a Caserta ed emigrato nel 1901 negli Stati Uniti, dove il suo cognome fu cambiato in Conty.
Si dice in famiglia che Francesco avesse un fratello gemelllo .... (Sorry but the following sentence has no sense in Italian and I can't pick the meaning of what you're saying). Inoltre, credo che la famiglia Cunti possedesse dei vigneti.
Il mio bisnonno si chiamava Paolo Cunti, nato intorno al 1813 a Caserta e morto il 12 Febbraio 1920 a Caserta (did he really died at the age of 107???)
La mia bisnonna di chiamava Maria Nardi, e di lei so che morì l'11 ottobre 1906 a Caserta.
Se lei avesse qualsiasi informazione o notizia a riguardo, apprezzerei profondamente il suo aiuto.
Sinceramente,
Kasza di Conty di Katherine (it's a very strange signature; is it your name?)
You're right: artificial intelligence isn't yet a technology reliable enough to perform a good automatic translation and results are often not satisfying.
Here is a version of your letter: I put into brackets some suggestions or doubts of mine, and all what I wasn't able to understand since I didn't have the original version of your letter.
Hope this helps.
Ciao, Maurizio
Dear ....,
(I would put here some info about yourself: your name, where you live, your descending from an Italian Ancestor)
Sto cercando di ricostruire il mio albero genealogico e mi chiedo se lei possa essere in qualche modo mio parente o se abbia qualche informazione su mio nonno.
Il nome di mio nonno era Antonio (di ?) Francesco Cunti, nato il 13 febbraio 1869 a Caserta ed emigrato nel 1901 negli Stati Uniti, dove il suo cognome fu cambiato in Conty.
Si dice in famiglia che Francesco avesse un fratello gemelllo .... (Sorry but the following sentence has no sense in Italian and I can't pick the meaning of what you're saying). Inoltre, credo che la famiglia Cunti possedesse dei vigneti.
Il mio bisnonno si chiamava Paolo Cunti, nato intorno al 1813 a Caserta e morto il 12 Febbraio 1920 a Caserta (did he really died at the age of 107???)
La mia bisnonna di chiamava Maria Nardi, e di lei so che morì l'11 ottobre 1906 a Caserta.
Se lei avesse qualsiasi informazione o notizia a riguardo, apprezzerei profondamente il suo aiuto.
Sinceramente,
Kasza di Conty di Katherine (it's a very strange signature; is it your name?)
My Originatl Ltr. In English
Hi! Maurizio!
Yes, my great-grandfather really was 107. Isn't that amazing!!
How about this as an opening:
My name is Katherine Conty Kasza, my grandparents were both born in Italy. My father and I were born in La Junta, Colorado. I am researching my family tree and wondering if you could possibly be releated to me or have information on my grandfather.
Could use your help in translating it!
What follows is my original letter.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!
Dear
I am researching my family tree. I am wondering if you could possibly be releated to me or have information on my grandfather.
My grandfather's name was: Francisco Antonio Cunti
Born: February 13, 1869 in Caserta
Came to the United States in 1901
His name was changed to Conty at some point after his arrival to the United States.
My great-grandfather's name was: Palo Cunti
Born around 1813 in Caserta
Died on February 12, 1920 in Caserta
My great-grandmother's name was: Marie Nardi
Died on October 11, 1906 in Caserta
It is my understanding that Francisco was married and left a wife and young daughter named Assunta in Italy.
I was told that Francisco had a twin brother that died very young leaving Francisco an only child. I believe his family owned vineyards.
If you hae any information I would deeply appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
Katherine Conty Kasza
Yes, my great-grandfather really was 107. Isn't that amazing!!
How about this as an opening:
My name is Katherine Conty Kasza, my grandparents were both born in Italy. My father and I were born in La Junta, Colorado. I am researching my family tree and wondering if you could possibly be releated to me or have information on my grandfather.
Could use your help in translating it!
What follows is my original letter.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!
Dear
I am researching my family tree. I am wondering if you could possibly be releated to me or have information on my grandfather.
My grandfather's name was: Francisco Antonio Cunti
Born: February 13, 1869 in Caserta
Came to the United States in 1901
His name was changed to Conty at some point after his arrival to the United States.
My great-grandfather's name was: Palo Cunti
Born around 1813 in Caserta
Died on February 12, 1920 in Caserta
My great-grandmother's name was: Marie Nardi
Died on October 11, 1906 in Caserta
It is my understanding that Francisco was married and left a wife and young daughter named Assunta in Italy.
I was told that Francisco had a twin brother that died very young leaving Francisco an only child. I believe his family owned vineyards.
If you hae any information I would deeply appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
Katherine Conty Kasza
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Maurizio
- Veteran
- Posts: 163
- Joined: 29 Aug 2002, 00:00
- Location: Canavese, Piemonte, Italia
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Hi KEK.
Here it is.
Best luck in your search.
Ciao, Maurizio
---------------------------------
Gentile sig. ....,
mi chiamo Katherine Conty Kasza, e - come mio padre - sono nata in Colorado (Stati Uniti), ma entrambi i miei nonni nacquero in Italia.
Sto cercando di ricostruire il mio albero genealogico e mi chiedo se lei possa essere in qualche modo mio parente o se abbia qualche informazione su mio nonno.
Il nome di mio nonno era Francesco Antonio Cunti, nato il 13 febbraio 1869 a Caserta ed emigrato nel 1901 negli Stati Uniti, dove il suo cognome fu cambiato in Conty.
Si dice in famiglia che Francesco avesse avuto un fratello gemelllo, che morì in tenera età lasciandolo figlio unico. Per il resto, so che la famiglia Cunti possedeva dei vigneti; ritengo inoltre che Francesco fosse sposato e che quando emigrò in America lasciò in Italia una moglie e una giovane figlia di nome Assunta.
Il mio bisnonno si chiamava Paolo Cunti, nato intorno al 1813 a Caserta e morto il 12 Febbraio 1920 a Caserta all'età di 107 anni.
La mia bisnonna di chiamava Maria Nardi, e di lei so soltanto che morì l'11 ottobre 1906 a Caserta.
Se lei riconosce qualche particolare di questa mia storia familiare, o se avesse qualsiasi informazione o notizia a riguardo, apprezzerei profondamente il suo aiuto.
(I would add here your mail and e-mail address, in case the recipents would like to answer you. You may use this sentence)
Le sarei molto grata se volesse rispondermi con una lettera al mio indirizzo postale:
Katherine Conty Kasza
........(street, town, zip code, etc)
Oppure, se lei dispone di un collegamento a Interbet, può scrivere al mio indirizzo e-mail: .......(youraccount@yourprovider.com)
Sinceramente,
Katherine Conty Kasza
Here it is.
Best luck in your search.
Ciao, Maurizio
---------------------------------
Gentile sig. ....,
mi chiamo Katherine Conty Kasza, e - come mio padre - sono nata in Colorado (Stati Uniti), ma entrambi i miei nonni nacquero in Italia.
Sto cercando di ricostruire il mio albero genealogico e mi chiedo se lei possa essere in qualche modo mio parente o se abbia qualche informazione su mio nonno.
Il nome di mio nonno era Francesco Antonio Cunti, nato il 13 febbraio 1869 a Caserta ed emigrato nel 1901 negli Stati Uniti, dove il suo cognome fu cambiato in Conty.
Si dice in famiglia che Francesco avesse avuto un fratello gemelllo, che morì in tenera età lasciandolo figlio unico. Per il resto, so che la famiglia Cunti possedeva dei vigneti; ritengo inoltre che Francesco fosse sposato e che quando emigrò in America lasciò in Italia una moglie e una giovane figlia di nome Assunta.
Il mio bisnonno si chiamava Paolo Cunti, nato intorno al 1813 a Caserta e morto il 12 Febbraio 1920 a Caserta all'età di 107 anni.
La mia bisnonna di chiamava Maria Nardi, e di lei so soltanto che morì l'11 ottobre 1906 a Caserta.
Se lei riconosce qualche particolare di questa mia storia familiare, o se avesse qualsiasi informazione o notizia a riguardo, apprezzerei profondamente il suo aiuto.
(I would add here your mail and e-mail address, in case the recipents would like to answer you. You may use this sentence)
Le sarei molto grata se volesse rispondermi con una lettera al mio indirizzo postale:
Katherine Conty Kasza
........(street, town, zip code, etc)
Oppure, se lei dispone di un collegamento a Interbet, può scrivere al mio indirizzo e-mail: .......(youraccount@yourprovider.com)
Sinceramente,
Katherine Conty Kasza
Thank You!!!!!
Maurizio,
I am deeply grateful for your time and kindness in helping me.
I will let you know as soon as I hear something.
YOU TOO, PETER!!
KEK
I am deeply grateful for your time and kindness in helping me.
I will let you know as soon as I hear something.
YOU TOO, PETER!!
KEK
Dear Kek tu sei nelle mani d'oro con Maurizio. Lui e molto capace e puo aiutarle in Italiano 100% mentre io sono molto di meno capace. Buona fortuna. Peter
Dear Kek your are in golden hands with Maurizio. He is quite capable and can assist youy in IUtalian 100%. My Italian is less perfect than his. Good luck to you. Peter
Dear Kek your are in golden hands with Maurizio. He is quite capable and can assist youy in IUtalian 100%. My Italian is less perfect than his. Good luck to you. Peter
Received my first email.
Am excited about receiving my first email. I Translated it mechanically...ugh...Anyway
Hopefully he is telling me that he can communicate in English.
Or am I wrong????
con grande gioia ho accolto la tua lettera (diamoci del tu alla maniera anglossassone, se vuoi) e mi sono subito attivato nella ricerca di quanto mi chiedevi.
Thanks for your time.
KEK
Katherine
Hopefully he is telling me that he can communicate in English.
Or am I wrong????
con grande gioia ho accolto la tua lettera (diamoci del tu alla maniera anglossassone, se vuoi) e mi sono subito attivato nella ricerca di quanto mi chiedevi.
Thanks for your time.
KEK
Katherine
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Maurizio
- Veteran
- Posts: 163
- Joined: 29 Aug 2002, 00:00
- Location: Canavese, Piemonte, Italia
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Unfortunately you're partially wrong
Here is what he literally wrote.
"I received your (let's use the second person, as in the anglosaxon way)letter with a great joy and I immediately started researching what you asked me".
The sentence into brackets needs a little preamble to be understood. Unlike English, Italian language has two different forms to approach a person with a direct speech: if the person we're talkin to is familiar to us (we are relatives, friends, co-worker, or we share the same age or condition, or any kind of intimacy), we use the second singular person (for example: "You are my brother" : "Tu sei mio fratello"); If speaking to someone we never meet before or to anyone we deserve respect, we use the third person singular feminine ("You have been very kind" "Lei è stato molto gentile).
That's why, in the letter I translated for you, I used the third person in the sentences where you were directly addressing the recipient
Now, the recipient of your message propose you to "darsi del tu" (untranslatable), i.e. to use the second person in your dialogue: it's a sign of courtesy and symphaty, a way to show you he/she acknowledged the existance of a sort of "proximity" between the two of you.
The fact he knows this difference between the two languages, let me believe he/she probably can understand English. But maybe, since you write him/her in Italian, he guessed you can understand Italian: if so, I suggest you to clear this misunderstanding in your next correspondence, or you will always need someone to translate his/her message when it's possible he may write you directly in English.
Hope this helps.
Ciao, Maurizio
Here is what he literally wrote.
"I received your (let's use the second person, as in the anglosaxon way)letter with a great joy and I immediately started researching what you asked me".
The sentence into brackets needs a little preamble to be understood. Unlike English, Italian language has two different forms to approach a person with a direct speech: if the person we're talkin to is familiar to us (we are relatives, friends, co-worker, or we share the same age or condition, or any kind of intimacy), we use the second singular person (for example: "You are my brother" : "Tu sei mio fratello"); If speaking to someone we never meet before or to anyone we deserve respect, we use the third person singular feminine ("You have been very kind" "Lei è stato molto gentile).
That's why, in the letter I translated for you, I used the third person in the sentences where you were directly addressing the recipient
Now, the recipient of your message propose you to "darsi del tu" (untranslatable), i.e. to use the second person in your dialogue: it's a sign of courtesy and symphaty, a way to show you he/she acknowledged the existance of a sort of "proximity" between the two of you.
The fact he knows this difference between the two languages, let me believe he/she probably can understand English. But maybe, since you write him/her in Italian, he guessed you can understand Italian: if so, I suggest you to clear this misunderstanding in your next correspondence, or you will always need someone to translate his/her message when it's possible he may write you directly in English.
Hope this helps.
Ciao, Maurizio
Thanks!!! Maurizio
Thank you!
I did respond to him in English. So I hope to hear something back soon.
From the mechanical translation I was able to get a feel of what he was saying. He wasn't familiar with my great grandparents but he said something to the effect that he was stubborn and he didn't lose heart. Or maybe he was saying I was stubborn and not to lose heart
I will let you know if I get a response in English. I'm so sad my Dad and his family never taught their children Italian.
You have been so helpful and it is deeply appreciated.
Katherine
I did respond to him in English. So I hope to hear something back soon.
From the mechanical translation I was able to get a feel of what he was saying. He wasn't familiar with my great grandparents but he said something to the effect that he was stubborn and he didn't lose heart. Or maybe he was saying I was stubborn and not to lose heart
I will let you know if I get a response in English. I'm so sad my Dad and his family never taught their children Italian.
You have been so helpful and it is deeply appreciated.
Katherine
Help !! Received a Letter today
I think Luigi Cunti gave his letter to Professor Simeone Veccia.
Il Signor Luigi Cunti di Baia e Latina, a cui Lei si e rivolta per avere notizie sulla Sua famiglia mi ha pregato di sodisfare, nei limiti del possibile, la Sua richiesta.
There is a paragraph that my grandfather's name is listed and I'm not sure what he is telling me. I think he is interested in my grandfather's story and is writting a book.....am I anywhere near right??
the paragraph follows:
Dalle prime indagini condotte, le Persone cui Lei fa riferimento, risultano nate qui in paese. Le faro avere un quardro preciso della ricerca appena saro in possesso di elementi sicuri. Fin da ora posso dirLe che sia suo nonno Francesco Antonio Cunti che il di lui padre Paolo risultano nati nel Commune di Baia e Latina, nella frazione Latina, in via Robert; puo quindi a ragione ritenersi una nostra concittadina! ed io sono, da parte mia, lieto di poterglielo communicare.
Se lo desidera Le faro pervenire in seguito notizie piu approfondite sul nostro paese, le foto dei luoghi piu caratteristici, le opere e gli articoli che ho pubblicato relativi alla storia del paese e quelli di prossima pubbliczione.
La saluto cordialmente
Prof. Simeone Veccia
Thanks for any help you can give me!
KEK
Il Signor Luigi Cunti di Baia e Latina, a cui Lei si e rivolta per avere notizie sulla Sua famiglia mi ha pregato di sodisfare, nei limiti del possibile, la Sua richiesta.
There is a paragraph that my grandfather's name is listed and I'm not sure what he is telling me. I think he is interested in my grandfather's story and is writting a book.....am I anywhere near right??
the paragraph follows:
Dalle prime indagini condotte, le Persone cui Lei fa riferimento, risultano nate qui in paese. Le faro avere un quardro preciso della ricerca appena saro in possesso di elementi sicuri. Fin da ora posso dirLe che sia suo nonno Francesco Antonio Cunti che il di lui padre Paolo risultano nati nel Commune di Baia e Latina, nella frazione Latina, in via Robert; puo quindi a ragione ritenersi una nostra concittadina! ed io sono, da parte mia, lieto di poterglielo communicare.
Se lo desidera Le faro pervenire in seguito notizie piu approfondite sul nostro paese, le foto dei luoghi piu caratteristici, le opere e gli articoli che ho pubblicato relativi alla storia del paese e quelli di prossima pubbliczione.
La saluto cordialmente
Prof. Simeone Veccia
Thanks for any help you can give me!
KEK
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Maurizio
- Veteran
- Posts: 163
- Joined: 29 Aug 2002, 00:00
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Hi Kek.
You almost got it. You correctly understood the first sentence. About the rest, this professor Veccia is a local historian or something, and I has written some books on the town of Baia e Latina". Here is the rest of his answer.
“From a preliminary inquiry, the people you metioned in your letter result to have been born in our village. I will give you more info about this when I will have more details, but I’m already able to tell you that both your grandfather Francesco Antonio Cunti and his father Paolo were born in the municipality of Baia and Latina, more exactly in Robert street in the section of Latina . So, you may definitely consider yourself a country-fellow of ours! And, as for me, I’m happy to communicate you this.
If you desire, later on I will send you more detailed info about our village, some pictures of the most typical places, the books and articles I published and/or I’m gonna publish about the town’s history.â€
You almost got it. You correctly understood the first sentence. About the rest, this professor Veccia is a local historian or something, and I has written some books on the town of Baia e Latina". Here is the rest of his answer.
“From a preliminary inquiry, the people you metioned in your letter result to have been born in our village. I will give you more info about this when I will have more details, but I’m already able to tell you that both your grandfather Francesco Antonio Cunti and his father Paolo were born in the municipality of Baia and Latina, more exactly in Robert street in the section of Latina . So, you may definitely consider yourself a country-fellow of ours! And, as for me, I’m happy to communicate you this.
If you desire, later on I will send you more detailed info about our village, some pictures of the most typical places, the books and articles I published and/or I’m gonna publish about the town’s history.â€
Yea Maurizio!!!
Thank You soooooooooo much!!!!!
I will write back to this professor and tell him I am interested.
Do you think it would be OK if I wrote to him in English? Sure would love to give it a try. Or do you think that would not be a good idea??
Maurizio, you can't imagine how excited I am. My Dad is 86 years old and to be able to share this with him warms my heart.
You are the greatest!!
KEK
I will write back to this professor and tell him I am interested.
Do you think it would be OK if I wrote to him in English? Sure would love to give it a try. Or do you think that would not be a good idea??
Maurizio, you can't imagine how excited I am. My Dad is 86 years old and to be able to share this with him warms my heart.
You are the greatest!!
KEK
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Maurizio
- Veteran
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- Joined: 29 Aug 2002, 00:00
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Hi Kek.
Yes, if I was in your shoes I would definitely send him a message in English, just to see if he can eventually speak your language: in that case, you won’t need anymore a third person like me to translate your conversation. In case he can’t speak English, it would be fair for him to be aware that you don’t speak Italian, so he may avoid to send you books or articles you won’t understand.
You could send him a message thanking him for his answer and saying you are so happy you found your ancestor’s hometown, and then asking him if he would be able to write you in English next time.
If you want to be sure he can understand what you are telling him, you may want to add a resume in Italian. Here is what I would write:
“Gentile professor Veccia,
la ringrazio moltissimo per la sua sollecita risposta e per le notizie che mi ha dato riguardo ai miei antenati. E’ davvero una grande gioia per me e la mia famiglia avere riscoperto il luogo da cui proveniamo. Attendo con curiosità l’esito delle sue ricerche, e di avere notizie e immagini sulla città . Quanto ai libri, purtroppo nè io ne i miei familiari conosciamo l’Italiano: sia questo che i miei precedenti messaggi sono stati tradotti in Italiano da una terza persona gentilmente prestatasi.
A questo proposito, mi chiedevo se lei conosca l’Inglese: in questo caso potremmo condurre le nostre future conversazioni senza bisogno di intermediari.
In attesa di sue notizie (in qualunque lingua),
la saluto cordialmente e la ringrazio ancora di tutto cuore
(your name)â€
Yes, if I was in your shoes I would definitely send him a message in English, just to see if he can eventually speak your language: in that case, you won’t need anymore a third person like me to translate your conversation. In case he can’t speak English, it would be fair for him to be aware that you don’t speak Italian, so he may avoid to send you books or articles you won’t understand.
You could send him a message thanking him for his answer and saying you are so happy you found your ancestor’s hometown, and then asking him if he would be able to write you in English next time.
If you want to be sure he can understand what you are telling him, you may want to add a resume in Italian. Here is what I would write:
“Gentile professor Veccia,
la ringrazio moltissimo per la sua sollecita risposta e per le notizie che mi ha dato riguardo ai miei antenati. E’ davvero una grande gioia per me e la mia famiglia avere riscoperto il luogo da cui proveniamo. Attendo con curiosità l’esito delle sue ricerche, e di avere notizie e immagini sulla città . Quanto ai libri, purtroppo nè io ne i miei familiari conosciamo l’Italiano: sia questo che i miei precedenti messaggi sono stati tradotti in Italiano da una terza persona gentilmente prestatasi.
A questo proposito, mi chiedevo se lei conosca l’Inglese: in questo caso potremmo condurre le nostre future conversazioni senza bisogno di intermediari.
In attesa di sue notizie (in qualunque lingua),
la saluto cordialmente e la ringrazio ancora di tutto cuore
(your name)â€
