Dear colleagues,
I am at present engaged in translating into English Giovanni Finzi-Contini's
novel "Il piu' lungo viaggio di A. M." (Florence, Giuntina, 1990). Based
on the Minerbi family, it offers a view of a Ferrarese Jewish family very
different from Bassani's Finzi-Continis.
Inevitably, problems have arisen, on which I seek advice.
Dialect expressions sometimes have a vigour and earthiness which (having
led a sheltered life), I find difficulty in reproducing. For example,
"Mica come quegli altri, che son bel'in braghe-de-tela: che non hanno un
soldo da sbattere in quell'altro". What kind of trousers would
distinguishe cash-strapped gentlemen farmers?
Minerbi counts cattle by their rear ends: "trentacinque cul de vacch'".
English seems to prefer the head (as in "head of cattle"). Or is there a
vivid rustic phrase which I am unaware of?
And is there an English equivalent of Baracagna? As in "Questa e' la ca'
d' Baracagna: chi non lavora non magna". The author tells me that
Baracagna is a personaggio popolare che tira avanti la baracca lavorando
in silenzio ogni giorno.
Any help will be much appreciated.
Regards,
Brian Moloney
B. [log in to unmask]
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