German term
Ob das noch etwas wird?
Sehr motiviert sieht er nicht gerade aus. Ob das noch etwas wird?
To British English, please...
Nov 17, 2005 17:48: Marcus Malabad changed "Field" from "Other" to "Art/Literary" , "Field (specific)" from "Other" to "Idioms / Maxims / Sayings"
Non-PRO (1): Steven Sidore
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Proposed translations
France
When quality counts
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English, English
Who knows whether anything will come of it?
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Note added at 1 hr 53 mins (2005-11-17 18:26:23 GMT)
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Or "The question is: will anything come of it?"
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Note added at 1 hr 58 mins (2005-11-17 18:30:49 GMT)
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Or "Whether anything comes of it [Whether it comes to anything] remains to be seen."
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Derek Gill Franßen
: I like the "remains to be seen"-bit. ;-)
2 hrs
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Thanks.
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Kim Metzger
: Better to avoid the "you" without further context. What is the term in linguistics for my use of "you"? Indefinite 'you' - to address no one in particular. "Some American writers find 'one' sniffishly British." - M.W. Dict. of English Usage
2 hrs
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Can't remember the technical term. But you encounter it a lot, don't you?//Yes, that's it! I love the quotation, too!
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Hilary Davies Shelby
: i like your second and third suggestions - both sound very natural BE
2 hrs
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Thanks.
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Meturgan
: With Hilary Davies
4 hrs
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E Perret
15 hrs
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Cilian O'Tuama
17 hrs
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Mexico
Committed to Quality and Service
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
do you think it will come to something?
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Richard Benham
: Another possibility, depending on context. I'd prefer "He doesn't exactly seem [come across as] highly motivated." But that's not what the question's about....
1 hr
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Derek Gill Franßen
2 hrs
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is this/he going to be any good?
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Hilary Davies Shelby
: I think this is the most natural-sounding - for BE at least.
1 hr
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Richard Benham
: Problem with this is that, unlike the German, it does not leave open the possibility that the whole project (whatever) will fizzle out.
1 hr
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12 years in finance & accounting
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to German, and 1 more.
Is anything still going to come of that?
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Richard Benham
: Sorry, but this screams "non-native translation". Mainly the "still" and the "that".
1 hr
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Richard, but I do think the "noch" should definitely be translated here. It's very important because without it (in the German sentence) the meaning is different.
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seems to be going nowhere
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Richard Benham
: This is more US than UK English, and you are putting a big gloss on it.
1 hr
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United States
20 years of experience, certified, ATA
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, English
I wonder if it will work out!
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Note added at 45 mins (2005-11-17 17:17:54 GMT)
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Your second example I would also translate differently, even though the German is the same. Something like: "I wonder if he will like it"
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Note added at 47 mins (2005-11-17 17:19:36 GMT)
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I wonder if she will like it, not he, of course
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Steven Sidore
: This works for me. The 1st person perspective is more or less implied by the tone of the text.
3 hrs
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Germany
German Attorney & University Lecturer
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English, English to German, and 1 more.
Ya think he's gonna pull it off?
OR: Anyone taking bets?
OR: Hmmm... We'll see (about this (one)).
OR: Let's see (what happens).
OR: What do you think( - ya think he's gonna pull it off)?
There are few ideas just off the bat (but American ones, mind you). ;-)
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Richard Benham
: So it's a baseball bat rather than a cricket bat, then?
11 mins
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Hi Richard. :-) Well, by gads and by jingo with dumplings, steak and kidneys, and a good solid helping of sprouts! I can't believe it - I think you've got it! (Sorry, I just found that one, and had to try it out.) ;-)
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Discussion