Ahmad Hamdy Jul 14, 2011:

Lucinda, please thank yourself for this amazing approach. This is for some reason one of the best attitudes I experienced in years.

Lucinda Wills Jul 14, 2011:

Of course, everyone has a right to defend their opinion and I did realize that you were not offended by my comment, nor was your translation totally wrong. There are no cut-and-dry formulas for translations, just guidelines and a lot of individual decision-making. Let's hope this translation community remains cooperative and respectful of each other, as you are.

Lucinda Wills Jul 14, 2011:

Of course, everyone has a right to defend their opinion and I did realize that you were not offended by my comment, nor was your translation totally wrong. There are no cut-and-dry formulas for translations, just guidelines and a lot of individual decision-making. Let's hope this translation community remains cooperative and respectful of each other, as you are.

Ahmad Hamdy Jul 14, 2011:

Lucinda, you comment didn't offend me at all.. I was glad to see you showing your opinion and I appreciate it so much. As for the explanation you pointed out to, I agree 100% with you that it might sound like it is referring to a person to a native English reader as you said since he most probably didn't hear about Al-Bared camp before but I have the right to defend my answer too since I believe that this phrase is taken from a context(an article maybe?) and the reader is most probably aware of what he is reading about so he(the reader) understands at most that "his" refers to Al-Bared camp which I considered to be a homeland for "its" people. I am not saying that your answer is wrong at all... It is 100% right but I was just defending my negligible point of view with all due respect to you.

Lucinda Wills Jul 14, 2011:

Dear All,
It was quite a surprise to me that my comment may have offended someone. As a translator I merely wanted to provide advice to my fellow translators that using "his" in this particular context would not be understood to a native English reader because it sounds like it is referring to a person. Maybe I should have provided more of an explanation? Best wishes to all.

Ahmad Hamdy Jul 14, 2011:

أميل شكرا على المشاركه والإدلاء بالرأي...أقدر لك ذلك تماما...أظن أن العبرة في استخدام ضمير ملكية عاقل أو غير عاقل تعتمد على تقديرك لهذا الشيء..أنا لم أٌشِر إلى مخيم البارد على أنه مكان بل أشرت إليه على أنه وطن(وهذا مايتضح من هذا السياق) فاستخدمت الأسلوب الأدبي في التعبير وبالتأكيد لو كنت أشرت إليه على أنه مكان كنت استخدمت
its

شكرا أميل مرة أخرى لمشاركة الرأي وأقدر لك ذلك تماما

Arabic & More Jul 14, 2011:

It is true that we often use "she" and "her" for countries and other things (like ships) in English.

But "his" does not work in the given example. If anyone has doubts about this, I suggest posting in the English>English section to gain the perspective of more native English speakers.

Ahmad Hamdy Jul 14, 2011:

btw Mr Abdali:

I wouldn't waste my breath when I see ignorance is coupled with arrogance = I wouldn't waste my breath when I see ignorance coupled with arrogance (no is)

when I see an inflated ego leads to further ignorance = when I see an inflated ego leading to further ignorance

just 2 grammatical mistakes in your post. I didn't even notice them at first and I am not a big fan of fixing the grammatical mistakes and I don't know why I actually did that, maybe coz I was offended by what you said about me.

My advice: Try to know better English for your sake, my sake and God's sake.

I wouldn't say that you are ignorant and wouldn't argue that with you actually since I don't like this type of behavior and since I suffer an inflated superego actually not just an inflated ego(my problem is somehow worse).

No hating but no regards too

Ahmad Hamdy Jul 14, 2011:

نسرين ولوسيندا شكرا على وجهة النظر أحترمها تماما....بالنسبه للأخ محسن العبدلي الذي أخذ الموضوع بشكل شخصي جدا وقال أني جاهل ومجادل....وبالنسبه لمن يرى أني قد ارتكبت جريمة كبرى لأني وضعت his بدلا من its
ولأنني أصررت على أن أجعل المخيم الوطن عاقلا لن أرد ولن أنظر للقصه من المنظور الضيق للأخ محسن..إحترمت كلام لوسيندا ونسرين وتفهمته تماما ووضعت ردي للوسيندا....عموما أخ محسن الإنجليز نفسهم تحدثوا عن إنجلترا كما لو كانت عاقلا وتحدثوا عن أبناءها بصفتها
her sons
بل إن هناك قصيده لشاعر إنجليزي شهير هو ويليام نويل هودجسون عنوانها
England to her sons
بالتأكيد لن أحضر لك رابطا لها بل ابحث عنها إن شئت في أي مكان وهي قصيده مشهوره....لماذا لم يحاسبه المجتمع الانجليزي والشعب الانجليزي على خطأه اللغوي الفظيع الشنيع كما علقت لي المشانق ياعلاّمة؟ ياريت لما نعبر عن رأينا نعبر بأدب من غير مانتهم الناس واحنا مش فاهمين حاجه....ثم مع احترامي للجميع أنا حر في وجهة نظري وبالطبع أنتم أفذاذ وأنا لازلت تلميذا....في حاجه اسمها الحس اللغوي واللغات تستوعب أكثر بكثير مما تتخيلون.....وشكرا لكل من وافقني وشكرا لكل من عارضني باحترام ومن تطاول لاشكر له عندي ولن أتطاول عليه حتى لو كان معي حق ودمتم

Mohsin Alabdali Jul 14, 2011:

I wouldn't waste my breath when I see ignorance is coupled with arrogance, when I see arrogance enhanced by an inflated ego, when I see an inflated ego leads to further ignorance (in the true sense of the word) and on we go on the viscious circle. Urdu speakers have a phrase I love: "waqt zaye, muttkaro" which means "time wasted, never". I guess I'm addressing both Lucinda and Nesrin. واللي على راسه بطحاء يحسس عليها، كما يقول السعوديون