Russian phrase

[Audrey Wood]

On 9/26/05, Edward M Dumanis <dumanis at buffalo.edu> wrote:
>
> I am puzzled what difference between the meanings of
> 'equivalent' and 'translation' can be drawn.



Mr. Mitrevski is recognizing that many idiomatic phrases (like "Kiss my
ass") do not have the same force of meaning when translated word-for-word
into another language.

If one said to a Russian speaker "Поцелуй мой ____ (insert term of choice
here), I'm sure the perceived meaning would be quite different than the
intended one. Likewise, a direct translation of the equivalent Russian
phrase "Пощёл на/в ___" into English comes closer to a much more offensive
phrase.

An equivalent expression has the same level of impact on an audience, while
a direct translation may carry a different meaning or not make any sense.

Sincerely,

Audrey Wood