本族

16:47 Oct 30, 2011
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / 文学
Chinese term or phrase: 本族
萧萧(短篇小说)
沈从文(全文链接:http://gz.eywedu.com/Article_357/200842920500399-1.html

家中追究 这逃走的根源 ,才明白这个十年后预备给小丈夫生儿子继香火 的萧萧肚子,已被另外一个人抢先 下了种。这真是了不得 的大事。一家人的平静生活为这一件事全弄乱 了。生气的生气,流泪的流泪。悬梁 ,投水 ,吃 毒药 ,诸事 萧萧全想到了,年纪太小,舍不得死,却不曾做。于是祖父想出了个聪明主意,把萧萧关在房里,派 两人好好看守 着,请萧萧**本族**的人来说话,看是沉潭 还是发卖 ?萧萧家中人要面子,就沉潭淹死 ,舍不得死就发卖。萧萧既 只有 一个伯父 ,在近处庄子里为人种田,去请他时先还以为是吃酒,到了才知道是这样丢脸 事情,弄得这家长手足无措 。
大肚子作证 ,什么也没有可说。伯父不忍把萧萧沉潭,萧萧当然应当嫁人 作二路亲了。
这处罚 好像也极其自然 ,照习惯受损失 的是丈夫家里,然而却可以在改嫁上收回一笔钱,当作赔偿损失的数目 。那伯父把这事告给了萧萧,就要走路。萧萧拉着伯父衣角 不放 ,只是幽幽 的哭,伯父摇 了一会头,一句话不说,仍然走了。

本族是指直系亲人中的长辈?这样理解确切吗?

我要做的工作不是纯粹翻译,而是给“本族”做注释(我不需要翻译文章)。读者是学习汉语的英语学生(英文为母语)。如:
伯父:father's elder brother; uncle
手足无措:(成语) have no (无) idea what to do (措) with one's hands (手) and feet (足); at a loss what to do; bewildered; confused; perplexed

谢谢。
Ivan Niu
China
Local time: 18:50


Summary of answers provided
4elderly family member
Heju Huang
3one's own clan
Wei Poulin (X)


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


1 day 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
elderly family member


Explanation:
According to the paragraph( it said she only has one uncle), it should mean ***the elderly family member***.

Example sentence(s):
  • This factsheet explains how to help elderly family members live more happily, safely and comfortably.

    Reference: http://extensionenespanol.net/pubinfo.cfm?pubid=172
Heju Huang
United States
Local time: 06:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese, Native in EnglishEnglish
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5 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
one's own clan


Explanation:
Her uncle is a member of her clan. Nothing mistaken.

Wei Poulin (X)
United States
Local time: 06:50
Native speaker of: Chinese
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