Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
sarà distillato di ricerca.
English translation:
will be distilled/extracted by/through research
Added to glossary by
manducci
Jun 13, 2014 19:33
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Italian term
sarà distillato di ricerca.
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
theatre/poetry
Here we go again folks... I have yet another 'artspeak' text (read:pile of gobbledegook) to translate and am having difficulty with a couple of phrases, the first of which is this.
Context: description of a theatre workshop which will draw inspiration from the poetry of Jean Genet.
Sentence: "L’essenza dei panorami umani evocati dai suoi romanzi (Nostra Signora dei Fiori, Querelle, Diario del Ladro, Miracolo della Rosa, Pompe Funebri, etc.) sarà distillato di ricerca.
Following sentence: "L’Apocalisse di Jean l’Evangelista è la nostra, angeli caduti che provano oggi a rammendarsi alla meglio le ali spiumate nell’impatto con la Vita, una madre fin troppo matrigna"
Any ideas?
Context: description of a theatre workshop which will draw inspiration from the poetry of Jean Genet.
Sentence: "L’essenza dei panorami umani evocati dai suoi romanzi (Nostra Signora dei Fiori, Querelle, Diario del Ladro, Miracolo della Rosa, Pompe Funebri, etc.) sarà distillato di ricerca.
Following sentence: "L’Apocalisse di Jean l’Evangelista è la nostra, angeli caduti che provano oggi a rammendarsi alla meglio le ali spiumate nell’impatto con la Vita, una madre fin troppo matrigna"
Any ideas?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | will be distilled/extracted by/through research |
Giles Watson
|
| 2 +1 | it will be purely experimental |
VMeneghin
|
| 3 | extrapolated through research |
Lara Barnett
|
Proposed translations
11 hrs
Selected
will be distilled/extracted by/through research
The crux here is the preposition "di", which has multiple uses in Italian indirect complements. English has a far wider range of prepositions to choose from, and each tends to have a more specific range of meanings, hence the problems we sometimes have working out what Italian writers are trying to say!
In this case, "di" conflates the notions of "agente/mezzo" ("distilled by/through research") and "origine/provenienza/materia" ("distilled from research") in the single complement "di ricerca". You really have to choose in English.
Another point is that while "essences" can be distilled in English, they can also be "extracted" or even "sublimated". You can highlight the primary "agente/mezzo" meaning of this particular "di" by using "extracted" instead of "distilled".
Finally, "distillato (di ricerca)" is usually noun, of course. In your example, the writer is breathing a little life into a dead metaphor by using "distillato" quite legitimately as a past participle.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2014-06-14 06:55:45 GMT)
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There's an article missing in the second-last sentence: "Finally, "distillato (di ricerca)" is usually a noun, of course".
In this case, "di" conflates the notions of "agente/mezzo" ("distilled by/through research") and "origine/provenienza/materia" ("distilled from research") in the single complement "di ricerca". You really have to choose in English.
Another point is that while "essences" can be distilled in English, they can also be "extracted" or even "sublimated". You can highlight the primary "agente/mezzo" meaning of this particular "di" by using "extracted" instead of "distilled".
Finally, "distillato (di ricerca)" is usually noun, of course. In your example, the writer is breathing a little life into a dead metaphor by using "distillato" quite legitimately as a past participle.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2014-06-14 06:55:45 GMT)
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There's an article missing in the second-last sentence: "Finally, "distillato (di ricerca)" is usually a noun, of course".
Note from asker:
| Thanks, Giles. In fact, I was unsure of what the 'di' meant here. My take on it was: "will be captured through research" but extracted is a far better option as it fits nicely with the 'essence' - I don't know why I didn't think of it. Thanks. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Giles. Your detailed explanation of the use of 'di' here articulated and clarified the origin of my doubt, as did your confirmation that 'distillato' is usually a noun. Puzzle solved."
+1
45 mins
it will be purely experimental
In the first sentence the word ESSENZA is linked to DISTILLATO in their reference to perfumery, and I wonder if DISTILLATO here means a condense of research, pure research, experimentation. If the ispiration is the poetry of Jean Genet, it has got to be something highly experimental. But this is only my interpretation.
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Note added at 50 mins (2014-06-13 20:23:35 GMT)
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http://www.list.co.uk/article/48328-the-maids/
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Note added at 50 mins (2014-06-13 20:23:35 GMT)
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http://www.list.co.uk/article/48328-the-maids/
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Michael Korovkin
: or even "pure experiment". It will NOT be distilled through research but will be a distillate OF research. So, the essence of something will be the essence of something else. The usual arty nonsence... pazienza...
1 day 10 hrs
|
|
Yes, that's what I thought...a distillate OF research. They have turned something very simple into a highly elaborate sentence...mah...
|
3 days 16 hrs
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
www.lingocraft.co.uk
Native in: English (Variants: British, Scottish, Irish, Singaporean, UK, South African) 
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, Romanian to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
36
extrapolated through research
A suggestion if this is the nuance that you want.
Example sentence:
"This is extrapolated through research from other countries."
Reference:
Discussion
The second sentence is more clear: the Apocalypse does not just refer to Jean but to us, because we are the fallen angels who are trying to mend, as best as they can, the wings which have lost their feathers in the fight against Life, (Life is ungenerous, not like a Mother)