Jun 20, 2006 00:53
18 yrs ago
English term
Panama
Synesthete with a flair for tasty words!
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Colombian, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Nicaraguan, Mexican, Peruvian, Venezuelan, Cuban, Honduran, Argentine, US, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, Latin American) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
(to) founder
English
Art/Literary
Linguistics
"During the course of my work on the translation part of my thesis, I encountered many pitfalls and common dangers that raised red flags, and *****before which any inexperienced translator may founder**** . I consider some of them specially important to mention."
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Hello. I'm proofreading a document and I'd like to know if this fragment is OK, and ways in which I could improve it.
Does it sound stilted? or is the verb "to founder" common?
Thanks!
====================================
Hello. I'm proofreading a document and I'd like to know if this fragment is OK, and ways in which I could improve it.
Does it sound stilted? or is the verb "to founder" common?
Thanks!
Responses
| 1 +1 | [below] |
Robert Forstag
|
| 5 | to founder = to come to grief/stumble/fall down (colloquial = make a real boo boo) |
David Hollywood
|
| 4 +1 | to sink |
David Moore (X)
|
| 3 | founder or fail |
NancyLynn
|
Responses
+1
24 mins
Robert Forstag
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
68
Selected
[below]
There are major problems with this guy's writing, which I would characterize as hideously stilted. I agree with Nancy's comments.
In addition:
"Encountered" is poor choice of verb.
"Pitfalls and common dangers" is redundant.
Because "problems" by definition are "impediments" that might cause "failure", the whole idea in the second part of the first sentence is largely tautologous.
The last sentence is clumsy.
Just for fun, here is a suggested rewrite:
"As neophyte translator, I encountered a number of common problems during the translation phase of my thesis. A few of these are especially noteworthy.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2006-06-20 01:19:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
ERRATUM:
As *A* neophyte....
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2006-06-20 03:59:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It would spice things up a bit to replace "encountered" with "came up against". Thus:
As a neophyte translator, I came up against a number of common problems during the translation phase of my thesis. A few of these are especially noteworthy.
In addition:
"Encountered" is poor choice of verb.
"Pitfalls and common dangers" is redundant.
Because "problems" by definition are "impediments" that might cause "failure", the whole idea in the second part of the first sentence is largely tautologous.
The last sentence is clumsy.
Just for fun, here is a suggested rewrite:
"As neophyte translator, I encountered a number of common problems during the translation phase of my thesis. A few of these are especially noteworthy.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2006-06-20 01:19:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
ERRATUM:
As *A* neophyte....
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2006-06-20 03:59:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It would spice things up a bit to replace "encountered" with "came up against". Thus:
As a neophyte translator, I came up against a number of common problems during the translation phase of my thesis. A few of these are especially noteworthy.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you for the rewrites, Robert! Thanks also to Nancy and the two Davids =) Your opinions are always enlightening."
5 mins
founder or fail
I would rewrite the fragment and drop the "before which", a rather archaic structure.
and which have caused many inexperience translators to founder (or fail).
and which have caused many inexperience translators to founder (or fail).
1 hr
David Hollywood
Native in English
&
English
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
51
to founder = to come to grief/stumble/fall down (colloquial = make a real boo boo)
just to add to the fray ....
+1
10 hrs
to sink
In its literal definition, hence by extension to cause to fail etc.
If I might offer an alternative wording, it would go like this:
"...and which might cause any inexperienced translator to founder. I consider some of them (are definitely) important enough to mention."
To an ENS reader, the fact that you HAVE mentioned them suggests that you feel they are "important enough"...
If I might offer an alternative wording, it would go like this:
"...and which might cause any inexperienced translator to founder. I consider some of them (are definitely) important enough to mention."
To an ENS reader, the fact that you HAVE mentioned them suggests that you feel they are "important enough"...
Something went wrong...