The Dangers of Translating

I don't think English speakers realize just how much of our language is made up of idioms, idiomatic expressions, phrases and proverbs.

The reason I mention this is because, if you spend some time listening to native English speakers talking together, you will notice how very little of their conversation is discernible to the second language learner. And oh boy, if you try to translate some of the stuff being tossed around, you will be more than just a little confused.

Here are some examples that are super common in English but sound absurd in Spanish if translated literally:

1. My all-time favorite - "It's raining cats and dogs"(to rain heavily)

If translated literally, this expression would be: llover peros y gatos. To actually rain cats and dogs is absolutely impossible. it's kind of like when us English speakers say, "When pigs fly," which doesn't literally mean when you see a pig flying, it simply mean that you would never do what it is that the other person mentioned.

The real translation for raining heavily is: llover a cántaros (raining in jugs or buckets)

2. "A friend in need is a friend indeed" (someone who helps you in your time of need is your true friend)
The literal translation: Un amigo que necesita algo es un amigo por cierto

This translation makes absolutely no sense and does not have the same meaning as it's English counterpart... at all! I mean the English saying says that a true friend is someone who helps you when you are in need, while the Spanish translation means that if you need something then you are a good friend. Um, no! That wouldn't make you a good friend in my books, that just makes you needy!

The real translation: En el peligro se conoce el amigo (which would translate to: In danger a friend is met)

3. The final saying for today is: "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." (you help me out, I'll help you out)
I guess if you translated this literally, it could kind of mean the same thing, but it would really be a stretch/long shot, or in laymen's terms, it just wouldn't work. "Tu rascas a mi espalda y yo te la rascas a tí."
This literal Spanish translation involves a physical back scratching and not the figurative "back scratching" that is connoted in English. So if you said, "tu rascas a mi espalda y yo te la rascas a tí" to someone in Spanish, they might literally start scratching your back... this of course, would be strange.

The real translation: Hoy por mí, mañana por tí. (today for me, tomorrow for you - kind of like that song from the Broadway musical Rent!)

The lesson to be learnt here: English isn't a face-value kind of language, it's tricky and ambiguous and although it wasn't created to trip people up, it definitely leaves people splat on the floor more often than not... What can you do to ensure proper use of English sayings? Instead of learning English relying on the translation method, try the communicative approach.

To learn more about the communicative approach, check out our website: www.palsofcanada.com

To learn more idiomatic expression, come study with us at PALS!