5 hrs confidence:   Cross your fingers Or All the best
Explanation:
I would like to add two other possibilities. The expression cold mean according to context
I wish you all the best of luck for me
OR
I wish you all the best of luck for you / best of luck
The idea behind my suggestion is that religeous expressions is frequently used in Arabic context as a social communication more than English context. The connatation of the translation should be similar to that of the source text. I think that if we systematically translate all religeous expressions like "Allah", "Al hamdu li Allah", "Inchaa Allah", "maa chaa Allah", etc, we will have a weird translation that will probably have a negatif impact on the end user who will not be able to interpreted the connation of the expression. I think that It will be more accurate to interprete the expression rather than translating It.
But I agree with Fouad Yahya, you should evaluate the context to choose the appropriate strategy.
All the Best, MrNuga :)))
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 heures (2010-04-05 04:24:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
oups!!
- The expression could mean according to context
- connotation
Sorry for the spelling errors :(((
| Dina El Kassas
Egypt
Local time: 07:34
Works in field
Native speaker of: Arabic
PRO pts in category: 4
|
| | | Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
6 hrs confidence: peer agreement (net): +2 It depends on the context and how you read it there.
Explanation:
You did not provide context. This expression, like countless others, is highly context-specific.
You suggested "God bless." Why not? If that is how you read it in you context, that is as good a translation as any.
Of course, taken literally, it means "God is the grantor of success." Is that how it is used in the context? I doubt it, but if it is used to mean exactly that, then that is how you should translate it.
This expression is often used prayerfully, requesting God to grant success, more along the lines of "May God grant us (or you, depending on the context) success in this endeavor." Again, if this is how you read it, then that is the proper translation.
More often than not, however, it is used merely as a closing expression. This is a holdover from old times before the widespread adoption of punctuation marks. People had to resort to certain expressions to indicate beginnings, logical connections, transitions, and closures. Some of these expressions were quite direct in what they were used for. For example, the expression انتهى كلامه was used in the sense of "unquote." That is quite direct.
Other expressions were not so direct. For example, the expression
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
was, and still is, used simply to indicate a formal beginning in a somewhat pious way. People, especially religiously minded people, are beginning to question this usage for obvious theological reasons.
Likewise, the expression أما بعد was used to indicate a transition to the main topic of discussion after some preliminary remarks. Today, with the use of a period and a new paragraph, this expression has become pretty useless. When you confront this expression in a translation, the proper action is simply to place a period and begin a new paragraph. No words are necessary.
Similarly, the expression والله الموفق is often used simply in the sense of "and this is the end of my letter," with a pious flavor added. That is why "God bless" is just fine, but you can also drop it altogether. The period at the end of the final paragraph before the signature will indicate exactly what is meant. "God bless" can add the pious flavor for the sake of fidelity to the intent of the source material.
| Fuad Yahya
Works in field
Native speaker of:  Arabic, English
PRO pts in category: 231
|
| | Grading comment | Selected automatically based on peer agreement. |
|
Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.
See also: Search millions of term translations
You can request verification for native languages by completing a simple application that takes only a couple of minutes.
Review native language verification applications submitted by your peers. Reviewing applications can be fun and only takes a few minutes.
View applications
|
|
