Oliver Simões (asker) Apr 27, 2022:

Indeed The choice we make as translators is subjective to a large extent. However, when confronted with terms that have a one-to-one equivalency in L2, we can certainly rule those out (if they don't make sense to us) and keep what does. In other words:

break: quebrar ("O mar quando quebra na praia, é bonito.")
furrow: sulcar ("A água sulcou a terra e Lady, naquele equilíbrio precário, assemelha-se a um trapezista em cima de uma corda sem rede.")

We are talking about three very different terms in PT: "quebrar" (break), "sulcar" (furrow), and "cavar" (lit. dig). Capiche? I'm longing for the day when the Asker's choice will be respected (especially when he/she has presented credible evidence). Enough said.

Mark Robertson Apr 27, 2022:

Traduttore, traditore The Italian saying "Traduttore, traditore" expresses the objective and subjective shortcomings of all translation. These shortcomings are nowhere more evident than in the translation of poetry, for, however much the translator studies and imbibes the poet and his/her internal and external worlds, entirely faithful and accurate translation is impossible, not only because of the preconceptions and baggage that the translator brings to the source text, but also because of the inherent non-identicality of languages and cultures. Every choice the translator makes closes off the potential event horizons that would be opened by alternative choices.

However "good" the translation is. It will always be a failure.

However, and Sisyphus-like, we continue to translate and traduce.

Oliver Simões (asker) Apr 27, 2022:

Thank you all I decided to go ahead with "trough" as the translation for "cava", it seems the most promising so far (see comments below). I found several examples with "wave troughed": https://www.google.com/search?q="wave troughed"

Mark Robertson Apr 26, 2022:

cavar cavar: diz-se também do mar, que é cavado pelos remos, pelos ventos etc., e por tudo que nela pode produzir a desigualdade da sua superfície.

Grande Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, Jose Pedro Machado, Tomo III, página 60

Oliver Simões (asker) Apr 26, 2022:

cava I wonder if "cava" (as a verb) has anything to do with "cava" (noun). There is no such verb deriving from "cava" (noun). Might this be Fernando Pessoa's creation? In any event, the relationship is striking:

"Basicamente, [a onda] é dividida em duas partes que são: a crista e a cava. Neste sentido, a crista que é o ponto mais elevado e a cava é a depressão entre duas cristas. (...)

... para medir a altura de uma onda se mede entre o topo de uma crista e o fundo de uma cava vizinha." https://conhecimentocientifico.com/como-as-ondas-se-formam/

cava (subst.): trough
"The highest part of the wave is called the crest. The lowest part is called the trough." https://lisbdnet.com/what-is-the-lowest-point-of-a-wave/

trough: a hollow between two wave crests in the sea (Lexico.com)

"Entre onda e onda, a onda não se cava" - Wave after wave, the wave does not trough (?) I found "May the wave never trough": https://www.google.com/search?q="may the wave never trough"

I've seen "trough" (as a verb) being used in financial contexts to mean "reach the lowest point". In a more literal sense, "cavar" conjures up depth. cavar > cavity > hollow/hole > depth. The verse sounds like a truism!