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Disposición de Derechos Testamentarios
con cargo al
Jun 10, 2010 21:44
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
español term

fantasmas (in this context).

español al inglés Ciencias sociales Educación / Pedagogía school
Mientras hubo actividad se decía que en la 4ª planta había fantasmas, los alumnos explicaban algunas historias que te hacían plantear el ir sola al baño... nunca vi ninguno...de espíritu quiero decir, ***fantasmas a diario, están en todas partes***!

This text is about a school that is moving to a new location. They are describing the old building here. I just wonder if it's possible to keep the pun on 'fantasma' in English - I just can't think of a way of doing so.

Any ideas???!!

Many thanks in advance!


Sheila
Proposed translations (inglés)
2 shallow shells of people
4 +5 ghosts

Discussion

Sheila Hardie (asker) Jun 15, 2010:
The client preferred the term 'jokers'. It fit the general context better as it happened. But I am not sure whether it was the best solution!
Nikki Graham Jun 15, 2010:
What was your solution in the end?
Sheila Hardie (asker) Jun 12, 2010:
Thanks, Fiona and Jenni. BTW, the client is not the author of the text. One thing - I think there is a little confusion here due to the fact that the word 'fantasma' has a slang meaning in Spain - probably not in other Spanish-speaking countries. The author definitely does not mean 'ghosts' the second time they use the term. That's for sure. The problem is trying to find a way of expressing this. Thanks for everyone's help :))
Fiona Hale Jun 11, 2010:
Hi. I'm wondering if there's a way you can use 'people who are full of themselves' for the second fantasmas, and do a loose translation of the clause about the 4th floor being 'full of' ghosts... I can't come up with a good sentence, but feel there might be a way to do it if you use 'full of' in both parts. Not much help really, but I'm posting just in case it sparks something else...
Jenni Lukac (X) Jun 11, 2010:
To keep the pun that your client insists on you could perhaps play with "spooks and people who only want to spook you". I doesn't sound very funny in English but it might be a way out to please the client.
Sheila Hardie (asker) Jun 11, 2010:
Thanks, Franglish and Gilla - I like hot air merchants (or people full of hot air?) and phoneys - I'm still undecided but the client definitely wants me to maintain the pun, so I've got to find a solution! Thanks again!
Evans (X) Jun 11, 2010:
Could you perhaps use "ghosts" and "phoneys" because although the words are different, the idea that the ghosts are phoney is suggested by the latter use?
franglish Jun 11, 2010:
just read your note to Jenni, so ghosts in the first instance and hot air merchants/hypes in the second.
franglish Jun 11, 2010:
spook as a noun might be an option here though more often used as a verb
Sheila Hardie (asker) Jun 11, 2010:
Thanks, Neil. I tend to agree - I'm going to ask the client what they want me to do. Maybe this slang use of the word is more common in Catalonia, I don't know but it's used all the time in Barcelona - to describe people who are in love with themselves (I think 'posers0 might be another translation) (and not the spirits covered in white sheets! :)
neilmac Jun 11, 2010:
I think the essence of the pun is well nigh impossible to maintain. It is a toughie... best of luck...

Proposed translations

12 horas
Selected

shallow shells of people

an idea for you (obviously for the second use of fantasma). Tenuous connection, but may work.
Note from asker:
Hi Nikki, I like it - certainly a possibility! The client wants me to try to maintain the pun, so I've got to find something. But it's definitely a possibility! Thanks very much!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for all the answers and comments - they were of great help. In the end, I found another solution - but Nikki's answer if the closest to what I was looking for, so the points must go to her. Thanks again! Sheila"
+5
4 minutos

ghosts

I think it's just a repition of ghosts here.
Note from asker:
Hi Jenni - thanks for your answer. I think they mean it in the slang sense - i.e. a show off, or words to that effect. However, I can't think of a translation that would link the two 'fantasmas' together in English. In other words, 'ghosts' and 'show offs'. Sorry if I didn't make this clear in my question :)
Peer comment(s):
agree Carolina Brito : definitely
15 minutos
Thanks britos. I understood it as more or less "every day ghosts everywhere".
agree Richard McDorman : I agree with Jenni. "Ghosts" is the way to go here. You can't always transfer word play.
26 minutos
Thanks Richard. it occurred to me that it might be a line from the "Ghostbusters" movie dubbed in Spanish but that's just a wild guess.
neutral neilmac : Its a play on words, fantasma in slang is what we call a "bampot" in Scotland, sort of like a mild form of "a/hole" in USA.
2 horas
The slang use for fantasma in Spain is charlatan but I'm quite sure that here it is just plain ghost.
agree argosys : It is definitely ghost. New sites and buildings are inhabited by them. Ghosts are everywhere everyday but they tend to manifest in some places. They have unresolved issues and need to communicate with us.
8 horas
Good morning and thanks, argosys.
agree Mirtha Grotewold
15 horas
Good afternoon and thanks, Mirtha.
agree JOHN PENNEY (X) : Definitely ghosts. If the client wanted something else he would have put in another word in spanish or catalan
19 horas
Thanks John. It appears that there is client problem but I don't know if the client is the author...
Something went wrong...
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