Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
sin distingos ni artificios, sin alquimia de laboratorio o gabinete
English translation:
with no hair-splitting sophistry or arcane trickery
Added to glossary by
Eliza Ariadni Kalfa
Jan 17, 2019 11:29
5 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
United Kingdom
Gobblefunking around with words.
Native in: English 
, Greek
Works in: Greek to English, Spanish to English, Romanian to English, and 1 more.
sin distingos ni artificios, sin alquimia de laboratorio o gabinete
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
"(El libro) no se pierde en especulaciones metafísicas. Hilvana las enseñanzas de una vida conocida y vivida de primera mano, sin distingos ni artificios, sin alquimia de laboratorio o gabinete. No atiende a la verdad quintaesenciada del filósofo. Prefiere la vital del hombre de la calle. Es una pedagogía práctica..."
The language of the book is overwrought in general (it is written by a priest and the topic is bringing the youth back into contact with God, so I guess the overwrought language befits the subject). I'm having trouble coming up with a translation that does this sentence justice, especially the alchemy part (sin alquimia de laboratorio o gabinete). Any ideas that keep the metaphorical tone but do NOT sound translated would be appreciated (please don't give me a literal "devoid of laboratory alchemy" or some such option). Thank you in advance for the suggestions!
The language of the book is overwrought in general (it is written by a priest and the topic is bringing the youth back into contact with God, so I guess the overwrought language befits the subject). I'm having trouble coming up with a translation that does this sentence justice, especially the alchemy part (sin alquimia de laboratorio o gabinete). Any ideas that keep the metaphorical tone but do NOT sound translated would be appreciated (please don't give me a literal "devoid of laboratory alchemy" or some such option). Thank you in advance for the suggestions!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +3 | with no hair-splitting sophistry or arcane trickery |
Charles Davis
|
| 3 | without artifice or pretense, nor any kind of esoteric wand-waving |
Clarkalo
|
Proposed translations
+3
26 mins
Selected
with no hair-splitting sophistry or arcane trickery
I'm sure there must be many ways of doing this, but I felt like having a go. This may be getting too far away from the literal meaning. but not arbitrarily so (I would claim): "distingo" is a subtle (or over-subtle) distinction (hair-splitting); "artificio" implies clever but perhaps false argument (sophistry), and alchemy is arcane (accessible only to the initiated) trickery (a kind of magic). I'd leave the laboratory out of it (I think "gabinete" means laboratory here, so it's saying the same thing twice anyway). The gist of it is that the author's argument is simple and true, not clever and false.
You could replace "arcane trickery" with "alchemical trickery" if you want to retain the following reference to quintessence.
Another way of putting it might be "avoiding hair-splitting sophistry and arcane trickery".
You could replace "arcane trickery" with "alchemical trickery" if you want to retain the following reference to quintessence.
Another way of putting it might be "avoiding hair-splitting sophistry and arcane trickery".
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Charles, this is beautifully phrased! |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
14 hrs
without artifice or pretense, nor any kind of esoteric wand-waving
The second part of the phrase is definitely not literal, but I think it captures the feeling, meaning and tone of the original.
Note from asker:
| I liked your contribution as well - thanks for giving me two good options. |
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