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Mini-contest 2012: "Yogi Berra Quotes"»  Source text notes: English

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A good source text note is one that clarifies something about the source text, and therefore would be helpful to a person translating that text into any language. The purpose of these notes will be to help those evaluating translations (in any pair) to make well-informed judgments.

Examples:
Source textPossible source text note
We're lost, but we're making good time.In US English, 'making good time' means 'making good progress' (not 'having fun').
If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be.Grammatically, a contradiction. This adds to the impact of the remark.
I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.'encyclopedia' sounds like something you could ride to school on. (That's the only reason this quote is notable.)

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Source text segment #2

- "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Notes about this source segment

Rank by:
+61 | -5
This has nothing to do with cutlery. The phrase is paradoxical because as a noun, a fork (in the road) is a singular entity, but it presents two options, right or left, one of which must be taken. The fork itself cannot be taken.
+27 | -4
There is actually a solid truth behind that puzzling piece of wisdom from
old Yogi. When we come to a fork in the road of life, we have to go one
way or the other. We can't just stand there scratching our heads forever,
turn back and pretend the choice
+21 | -3
Berra insists that this is part of some driving directions to his house. In his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, there is a fork in the road and either way you take, you will get to his house. Some people find this to be a very poignant quote, thinking
+14 | -5
One interpretation is that one should not hesitate (too much?) before making a decision.
+23 | -16
1) When you find a fork (for eating) in the road, take it (pick it up).
The second meaning has extra ambiguity because it's a non-sequitur:
A fork in the road is when you have two or more possible routes to take. "take it" is ambiguous - take which route?
+11 | -6
One interpretation is that one should not be afraid to meet challenges. A fork in the road is a challenge that one has to solve, and to "take it" means to deal with it without (too much) hesitation.
+10 | -6
Finding a "fork" in the road has double meaning - a fork for eating and splitting of the road into two or more different directions. You can take both - an ambiguity of the two meanings makes it funny.
+7 | -5
I agree it has nothing to do with cutlery. The point is though that as a standalone statement, it CAN i.e. it's one possible interpretation. Especially when the confusion of the non-sequitur forces you to question whether or not the unlikely interpretatio
+1
Finding a fork on the road is similar to coming to a cross road, you have to decide which turn to take.
+1
This quote could rate as some kind of a condensed Zen koan. It has nothing to do with choice, it's just about embracing the paradox itself. Come to a fork? Nevermind, just go on, wherever you may end up. I don't think the double meaning can be translated.
That the statement is about 'a fork' and not about 'a crossroad' has a meaning.
a metaphor (possibly) used based on the russian tale that reads: "ride to the left and you'll lose your horse, ride to the right, you'll lose your head". Meaning you are at the decisive point in your life, no way back. На распутье надо д�
+2 | -2
I think this is only about making the right decision.
+1 | -2
I prefer "síguela" because it expresses both the literal and the figurative senses. In Spanish you can use "seguir" in the sense of "take" a road, and at the same time you can "seguir" the course of events instead of fighting them and come out unharmed.
+1 | -3
WHEN YOU COME TO A FORK, YOU HAVE TO GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
ALL THE OTHER SUGGESTIONS DEPEND ON THE CONTEXT.
+9 | -11
Fork for holding the food you're eating or a division of one road into two? The play on words works well, because "take" is the verb to use in either case.
[Edited] +2 | -6
The idea is that once you are on the road, your goal is to get somewhere. So you should read the signs, if there are any. If there aren't, take your chances! ... but don't just stop right there, waiting for someone you can ask for directions.
[Edited] +1 | -6
If it's not a nonsense, it's humor.
If we've to make a sense: when you happen to face something divided in two pairs (a fork ), seize and hold it firmly = Do not esitate , you're in your life deciding moment, go ahead, a major choice is required.

Source text

Full source text (2)

#1 - "I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous." (29)

#2 - "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." (18)

#3 - "You can observe a lot just by watchin'." (15)

#4 - "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." (24)

#5 - "I can't concentrate when I'm thinking." (12)

#6 - "The future ain't what it used to be." (10)

#7 - "I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." (19)

#8 - "We're lost, but we're making good time." (12)

#9 - "Half the lies they tell about me aren't true." (8)

#10 - "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." (10)

#11 - "It's like deja-vu, all over again." (8)

#12 - "It ain't over till it's over." (11)

#13 - Mrs. Lindsay: "You certainly look cool." Yogi Berra: "Thanks, you don't look so hot yourself." (10)

#14 - "If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be." (22)