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Ya Estan Los Votos

May 25, 2008  By Phil Hughes

On NicaLiving.com I brought up language translation issues. (It has to do with Spanish/English, but for you geeks, just pretend it is about C++ or Perl or something.) My wife asked me what "The votes are in!" on the cover of the current LJ meant (in Spanish).

Well, I took a stab at it and, since then, others have talked about it. The main point is that word-for-word translations suck (in any language including Perl).

So, what is "Ya, estan los votos", literally. "Already, they are the votes."

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Phil Hughes

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Mechanism beyond the slogans

AlexBen's picture
Submitted by AlexBen (not verified) on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 16:34.

Must be found, then, the emotional mechanism celeb beyond the slogans and themes of campaign-making click! Mobilize the fifa 2010 indifferent, those who fear, the disillusioned, the fatigued, those who have no hope.

hekimboard

merhaba's picture
Submitted by merhaba (not verified) on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 07:56.

thanks.İt is very nice word.

Translate the Idea?

FredR's picture
Submitted by FredR on Sun, 05/25/2008 - 09:09.

Perhaps a better approach would have been to translate the idea ... like "Finally, the votes have arrived!" or "Everyone has voted, here's the results!". I understand the English version was used for brevity and it would fit nicely on the front cover.

I've taken Spanish in school for years, and I always thought it odd, that in English we ask literally "What is your name" to which a response is "My name is XYZ".

Spanish speakers will say "What are you called" and "I am called XYZ". I thought it strange when I first learned the verb for calling someone on the phone was the same verb for asking someone their name.

-- FLR or flrichar is a superfan of Linux Journal, and goofs around in the LJ IRC Channel

Interesting analysis on the

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 08:16.

Interesting analysis on the naming issue. It reminds me of the difference between English and Spanish regarding decisions. In English you "make" a decision or make a choice. In Spanish you "take" a decision. I guess the idea is that you choose from different alternatives, hence you "pick" or "take" an option.

I would literally translate "Ya estás los votos" to "The votes are ready".

Cheers.

Well, your name may be

toxicafunk's picture
Submitted by toxicafunk (not verified) on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 09:28.

Well, your name may be 'Javier' but you call yourself (or rather present yourself) as Javi, so I guess this way is more flexible.

Minor details

Gabriel Menini's picture
Submitted by Gabriel Menini (not verified) on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 20:09.

Actually, in Spanish it's "¡Ya están los votos!" with the á emphasized and the thwo exlamation marks --yep, Spanish the only language in the world using a starting exclamation and question marks :-)