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Jul. 18th, 2004 03:38 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
lurid-me.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
learn_russianHi :) I have just begun to teach myself Russian (I'm too impatient to wait until the semester after this to begin taking a Russian Language course).
If it's not inappropriate to ask, I was curious if you all could help me translate an English phrase into Russian?
The phrase is:
'It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything.'
This could be translated with or without the contractions (it's, you've, you're), I don't mind either way.
If this is not appropriate, I'll be happy to delete. :)
Thank you!
If it's not inappropriate to ask, I was curious if you all could help me translate an English phrase into Russian?
The phrase is:
'It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything.'
This could be translated with or without the contractions (it's, you've, you're), I don't mind either way.
If this is not appropriate, I'll be happy to delete. :)
Thank you!
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Date: 2004-07-18 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-18 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-18 02:24 pm (UTC)This is a pretty much verbatim translation, but it's not ideal. In particular, всё is repeated twice. A better way to say it would be
Ты только тогда будешь полностью свободен, когда потеряешь всё.
Countless variations are possible, of course.
BTW, this reminds me of the lines from Goethe's Faust in Russian translation which are oddly appropriate in this context:
Лишь тот достоин жизни и свободы,
Кто каждый день за них идет на бой!
(Of freedom and of life he only is deserving
Who every day must conquer them anew!)
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Date: 2004-07-18 02:27 pm (UTC)May I ask though, if you're able to explain, what makes the second way better than the first? I mean, i guess I'm asking what does the second one translate to in verbatim? I wish I could speak russian!
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Date: 2004-07-18 02:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-18 02:41 pm (UTC)The differences are slight and subjective. It feels to me that the main clause should come first, as the secondary clause in the beginning would be distracting (in this case!). Also, "you are free to do anything" has a long-winded verbatim translation, and I'd rather use "completely free" - I think the meaning is not changed.
I expect that someone else could come up with something even better, though.
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Date: 2004-07-18 02:44 pm (UTC)I notice that the beginning of that sentance is somewhat like the first translation that simonff posted. Could you explain to me the subtle differences? :)
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Date: 2004-07-18 02:45 pm (UTC)Thank you for all your help, i really appreciate it :)
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Date: 2004-07-18 02:55 pm (UTC)Also, "по-настоящему свободным" means "truly free".
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Date: 2004-07-18 11:33 pm (UTC)Almost like a weight has been lifted!
;) hehe j/k
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Date: 2004-07-19 12:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-19 09:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-20 04:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-20 09:48 am (UTC)I just started learning Russian
I don't know how it works, if it has contractions, etc etc
So i just put that down just in case
*shrug*
beats me
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Date: 2004-07-20 09:52 am (UTC)Russian doesn't have any contractions.
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Date: 2004-07-20 09:54 am (UTC)hehe
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Date: 2004-07-20 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-21 12:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 08:33 pm (UTC)Нам нечего терять, кроме наших цепей.
Well, it's somehow different from your phrase and can be translated as "We don't have anything to lose but our chains". If you're sure this could be helpful - use as you please.
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Date: 2004-07-28 10:42 pm (UTC)I really like that, thank you!
I may just use that one instead ;)