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Yet another translation question

de richardhall, 2007-aprilo-23

Mesaĝoj: 16

Lingvo: English

richardhall (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-23 23:19:29

What is the correct Esperanto word for blade, as in "blade of grass"?

Thanks in anticipation!

mnlg (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-23 23:24:17

richardhall:What is the correct Esperanto word for blade, as in "blade of grass"?
According to my dictionary, "blade of grass" translates to "herbero".

In Italian we would say "thread of grass" (filo d'erba) to mean the same thing.

What did you need that word for? Maybe we could help finding a good approximation for it.

Hope I could help!

erinja (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-23 23:25:27

richardhall:What is the correct Esperanto word for blade, as in "blade of grass"?

Thanks in anticipation!
We don't speak of grass in terms of blades. Grass is normally called "herbo". For speaking of a single blade of grass, I would use the -er- ending, which indicates a part of a whole, a tiny component that helps make up a large group. Therefore, I would say "herbero" for "a blade of grass".

It's a pretty useful suffix. For example we have "neĝo" (snow) and "neĝero" (snowflake). "sablo" (sand) and "sablero" (grain of sand).

richardhall (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-24 08:14:46

Thanks for that - I'd completely forgotten the possibility of using an affix.
I wanted the word because I've taken to heart some advice I read on another thread and decided to translate some hymns. And I fell at the first hurdle! The line is "Now the green blade rises from the buried grain"

DesertNaiad (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-24 08:27:59

*cheers you on!* It's fun, isn't it? ridego.gif

mnlg (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-24 08:40:48

richardhall:"Now the green blade rises from the buried grain"
My first rough attempt:

Herbero nun leviĝas el sepultita semo.

I am not familiar with all the nuances and meanings of "to bury", whether it only relates to ceremonial rituals for the passed, or if it also has a more general meaning of placing something below ground level. "sepult/i" is mostly for the former meaning. Otherwise, "en-ter-ig/i", "sur-kovr/i", or even "kaŝ/i" could represent a milder approach (not that you need it that way, it depends on what the hymn is supposed to communicate).

I didn't use the articles because I think it flows more beautifully that way, but you might need them according to the rest of your hymn.

Bonan tradukadon ridulo.gif

richardhall (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-24 19:41:06

Leaving the hymn aside for a while, does this attempt at a translation of a well-known song come anywhere close? If I have to give the English, I've failed utterly!
Kiom da vortoj homo devas promeni
Antaû vi nomos lin hom'?
Kiom da maroj blanka kolombo devas veli
Antaû ŝi dormos je la sablo?
Kiom da fojoj kanonoj devas pafi
Antaû estos anatemoj eternaj?
Amiko, la respondo estas en la vento
La respondo estas en la vento.

mnlg (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-24 20:15:07

Looks great ridulo.gif

Shouldn't it be "Kiom da stratoj", though?

I would also suggest antaŭ ties porĉiama elpel' for the 6th line, but I accept better proposals.

Gratulojn!

awake (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-24 21:01:57

kiom da vortoj? shouldn't that be kiom da vojoj?

is veli the best word here? maybe transiri would be better?

also, sur la sablo may be better than je la sablo (if that's your intended meaning)

richardhall:Leaving the hymn aside for a while, does this attempt at a translation of a well-known song come anywhere close? If I have to give the English, I've failed utterly!
Kiom da vortoj homo devas promeni
Antaû vi nomos lin hom'?
Kiom da maroj blanka kolombo devas veli
Antaû ŝi dormos je la sablo?
Kiom da fojoj kanonoj devas pafi
Antaû estos anatemoj eternaj?
Amiko, la respondo estas en la vento
La respondo estas en la vento.

mnlg (Montri la profilon) 2007-aprilo-24 21:29:21

is veli the best word here? maybe transiri would be better?
veli indeed means "to be a sail". "velveturi" would be "to sail", but to be more concrete, "transiri", as you suggest, or "transflugi" could be good choices.

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