Mar 16, 2009 00:49
15 yrs ago
Spanish term
Hemos pasado de ser a tener y de tener a deber
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Hola,
This is a comment from an interview on a documentary about being in debt. It seems like a simple sentence, but it really isn't...unless I'm reading too much into it.
Here is a partial paragraph: “En el documental se dice que **hemos pasado de ser a tener y de tener a deber.** A mí me parece una definición sensacional de cómo hemos vivido estos últimos años. La decisión de hipotecarse es una de las grandes decisiones que uno puede tomar en la vida. En estos últimos años de euforia económica mucha gente ha tomado esta decisión porque el clima social lo favorecía.
My initial translation was: We have gone from being to having, and from having to owing.
However, I'm not sure that's the best way to express it in English.
Comments/suggestions? TIA!
This is a comment from an interview on a documentary about being in debt. It seems like a simple sentence, but it really isn't...unless I'm reading too much into it.
Here is a partial paragraph: “En el documental se dice que **hemos pasado de ser a tener y de tener a deber.** A mí me parece una definición sensacional de cómo hemos vivido estos últimos años. La decisión de hipotecarse es una de las grandes decisiones que uno puede tomar en la vida. En estos últimos años de euforia económica mucha gente ha tomado esta decisión porque el clima social lo favorecía.
My initial translation was: We have gone from being to having, and from having to owing.
However, I'm not sure that's the best way to express it in English.
Comments/suggestions? TIA!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
26 mins
Jennifer Levey
Chile
Chile
Native in English
Chile
Human-scale Globalization
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
36
Selected
we've gone from being to having, and from having to owing
A literal translation is the best option here, I think...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "After mentally going 'round and 'round (and probably spending too much time on it), I've finally decided to go with this one. Thank you so much for your contributions, everyone, I enjoyed and appreciated each one of your answers."
3 mins
Melissa Mann
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
Brazil
*elegant spoken & written communication*
Native in: English 
Works in: Portuguese to English, Spanish to English, English to Portuguese, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
We have gone from being it to having it, then from having it to owing it.
I like your initial translation. Perhaps you are looking for something a bit more dramatic or concrete (hence, the added 'it,' etc.).
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Jennifer Levey
: If 'it' is your house, car, children's education etc., I don't see how you can 'be it'.
24 mins
|
|
In today's consumer society, if you are what you eat, I can imagineyou are what you have as well. :) But I think Beta's answer is great.
|
8 mins
Beta Cummins
United States
United States
United States
Spreading the Word in Three Languages
Native in: Portuguese
Works in: English to Portuguese, Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, and 3 more.
We've gone from "to be or not to be" to "have or not have" . Then from having it to owing it all.
Another suggestion.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2009-03-16 01:00:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The well known "to be or not to be" by Shakespeare gave way to rather having it all, in a materialistic culture. That's it, sad but true.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2009-03-16 01:00:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The well known "to be or not to be" by Shakespeare gave way to rather having it all, in a materialistic culture. That's it, sad but true.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Melissa Mann
: Very poetic. Well reasoned answer.
27 mins
|
|
Thank you, Melissa!
|
|
| disagree |
Jennifer Levey
: May be acceptable if you are paid by the target word ...//If the ST author wanted Shakespeare (s)he would no doubt have quoted him... He didn't.
36 mins
|
|
Media, that's irrelevant. We're trying to convey a message the best we can backed by a cultural background. I believe in walking the extra mile, context allowing, to get a message across. That's all. You are entitled your opinion, and I mine.
|
5 hrs
we've put a millstone around our neck without really realizing it
a colloquial way of saying it: the fact that the mortagage debt has "sneaked up on us"; it seemed easy to bear when we took it out, but now we're feeling it with a vengeance
Note from asker:
| I love your ability to "ir al grano"! |
9 hrs
We've gone from existing to owning and from owning to owing
,,
10 hrs
Edward Tully
Native in English
Because your words matter
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US)
Works in: Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
90
We have gone from living to own to having to owe
another option!
Something went wrong...