Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
la grieta se vio ante los ojos del leñador,
English translation:
the crack caught the woodsman's eyes/attention
Added to glossary by
Barbara Cochran, MFA
Dec 13, 2021 07:40
2 yrs ago
22 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
24 years of experience in many countries
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, English to French, and 6 more.
la grieta se vio ante los ojos del leñador,
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Literature.
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.
Is okay to translate it as The crack was seen before his eyes? or the crack was seen before the eyes?
Here is the full paragraph for your review:
Dijo impaciente, una y otra vez hasta que la grieta se vio ante los ojos del leñador, que tenía el cesto de la leña en la mano y se imaginaba ya tocando el oro del interior con sus manos.
Una vez dentro, Alí Babá tanteó como pudo el interior de la cueva, pues a medida que se adentraba en el orificio, la luz del exterior disminuía y avanzar suponía un gran esfuerzo......
Is okay to translate it as The crack was seen before his eyes? or the crack was seen before the eyes?
Here is the full paragraph for your review:
Dijo impaciente, una y otra vez hasta que la grieta se vio ante los ojos del leñador, que tenía el cesto de la leña en la mano y se imaginaba ya tocando el oro del interior con sus manos.
Una vez dentro, Alí Babá tanteó como pudo el interior de la cueva, pues a medida que se adentraba en el orificio, la luz del exterior disminuía y avanzar suponía un gran esfuerzo......
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | the crack caught the woodsman's eyes/attention |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
|
| 4 +2 | the (a) crack (finally) opened up in front of the woodcutter |
Cecilia Gowar
|
Change log
Dec 18, 2021 13:49: Barbara Cochran, MFA Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
9 mins
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
103
Selected
the crack caught the woodsman's eyes/attention
A couple of non-literal interpretations.
Note from asker:
| Thanks Miss Cochran. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Andrew Bramhall
45 mins
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Thanks, Andrew.
|
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| agree |
Simone Taylor
58 mins
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Thank you, Simone.
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| agree |
Sergio Kot
: You may as well take care of the entire project for this "anonymous" asker, Barbara...
58 mins
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OK, but thanks, anyway, Sergio.
|
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| agree |
Marian Vieyra
: Agree with suggestion and also agree with Sergio Kot!
1 hr
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Thank you, Marian.
|
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| neutral |
Cecilia Gowar
: I do not think that is the meaning, although the original Sp is badly written
4 hrs
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Agree with your second comment.
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| disagree |
Toni Castano
: The source is faulty. Sorry, but this makes no sense.
9 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
5 hrs
Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
I read the Alethiometer
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
227
the (a) crack (finally) opened up in front of the woodcutter
Está pésimamente escrito en el original
No tiene sentido usar ¨se¨ en esta construcción, ni como pronombre ni como reflexivo. Tampoco se trata de una oración impersonal. Copio debajo el enlace de la RAE sobre ¨se¨.
Lo que quieren indicar es que la grieta se abrió ante los ojos del leñador, luego de varios intentos.
No lo puede haber sorprendido, dado que intentaba provocarlo.
Tampoco debería hablarse de ´la grieta¨cuando es la primera vez que se menciona en el texto.
En realidad, sería más lógico decir:
¨A crack finally opened up in front of the woodcutter/the woodcutter`s eyes¨...
https://www.rae.es/dpd/se
No tiene sentido usar ¨se¨ en esta construcción, ni como pronombre ni como reflexivo. Tampoco se trata de una oración impersonal. Copio debajo el enlace de la RAE sobre ¨se¨.
Lo que quieren indicar es que la grieta se abrió ante los ojos del leñador, luego de varios intentos.
No lo puede haber sorprendido, dado que intentaba provocarlo.
Tampoco debería hablarse de ´la grieta¨cuando es la primera vez que se menciona en el texto.
En realidad, sería más lógico decir:
¨A crack finally opened up in front of the woodcutter/the woodcutter`s eyes¨...
https://www.rae.es/dpd/se
Note from asker:
| Thanks Cecilia. I have just got your message. I was also thinking the same when I was reading the Spanish text. I'm sorry about the delay in responding. I lost my internet connection for around 30 hours. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Toni Castano
: Yes, madam, I can only agree. See my post above in the discussion box.
4 hrs
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Thanks Toni! I've just read it!
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| agree |
Andrew Bramhall
6 hrs
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Thanks Andrew!
|
Discussion
Yugoslavia
I have just got your message. I was also thinking the same when I was reading the Spanish text. I'm sorry about the delay responding. I lost my internet connection for around 30 hours.
I also searched for a correct version without finding it.
Try this source (if you wish):
(...) hasta que la grieta se abrió ante los ojos del leñador (...)
You will not find many sources on the Internet with this version, true, but it is the right one in my view.