Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

volverán los víveres

English translation:

help is at hand/on the way

Added to glossary by Edward Tully
Apr 17, 2011 19:52
13 yrs ago
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Spanish term

volverán los víveres

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Colloquialism
Efraín Bartolomé being a poet and all, this phrase seems typically deceptive in its simplicity. The average reader skimming this short book quickly won't notice the alliteration. And, being an English speaker, I'm not sure if it has a deeply colloquial to boot. At any rate, I'm trying to translate this book line by line as if it were a prose poem where every word counts. So, I get that: «La radio de San Cristóbal informa que el Ejército ha abierto el camino de San Cristóbal a Comitán, de San Cristóbal a Tuxtla, de San Cristóbal a Ocosingo: volverán los víveres.» I get that the effect of the Army has opening up the roads is that the [vittles/provisions/rations/supplies] [will be replenished/provisions are on their way]. Still in the middle of drafting and haven't got to the proofreading stage, so a vividly simple English rendering escapes me at the moment.
Proposed translations (English)
3 help is at hand
4 supply routes will open (up) again soon
3 food will get through
Change log

Apr 22, 2011 06:21: Edward Tully Created KOG entry

Discussion

Altogringo Apr 18, 2011:
Full agree w/DLyons re vittles. Your help is on the way sounds fine, depending on tone of rest of text.
offset (asker) Apr 17, 2011:
«Help is on the way» might work!
offset (asker) Apr 17, 2011:
OK, OK. So, «replenishments are on their way». Conveys the idea but decidedly lacks punch. Remember this is a VERY short book. Cumulative effect is essential:-)
DLyons Apr 17, 2011:
Not vittles! They say any word may be used in poetry, but I draw the line at vittles myself.

Proposed translations

36 mins
Selected

help is at hand

Although not specific to provisions etc., this may be sufficient as the reader will know what kind of help...
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I'll go with the generic "help is on the way". Am thinking it would cover medical supplies and toilet paper as well as food."
10 hrs

food will get through

meaning, the populations of these towns will be able to eat again
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

supply routes will open (up) again soon

Another option. Example: There is a lot of infrastructure damage and we will be working to ... to start with the dirty work of the immediate clean-up, then we will need ... those circumstances is to try and get supply routes open again as soon ...
www.pm.gov.au/press-office/transcript-press-conference-22 - En caché;
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