a chi l'avevo promesso

English translation: ...to whom I promised

19:38 Jun 23, 2012

Italian to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Poetry & Literature

Italian term or phrase: a chi l'avevo promesso

Dedico questo libro
Alla follia dei miei sogni
Al dolore di quelli infranti
Alla gioia di quelli che verranno
Lo dedico anche a chi l’avevo promesso

I'm trying to find an equally poetic and stirring way to render this in English.
Any ideas for "lo dedico anche a chi l'avevo promesso"?

Audra deFalco (X) KudoZ activity Questions: 221 (7 open) (1 without valid answers) (12 closed without grading) Answers: 166 United States
Local time: 13:25

English translation:...to whom I promised

Explanation:
I also dedicate it to whom I promised...it is also dedicated to whom I promised.

Selected response from:

Morghan Hallinan
Local time: 10:25

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

to those to whom I promised it

Fiorsam

4 +3

...to whom I promised

Morghan Hallinan

4 +2

to those whom I promised it to

simona dachille

3 +1

And for those to whom I gave my word / made a promise

Wolf Draeger

3 +1

to who recalls my promise

Tony Shargool

to those to whom I promised it to

Anna ZANNELLA

and to those I promised a dedication

Sofia Dervisi

to all who had my pledge (to write it)

Michael Korovkin

Discussion entries: 5

Answers

43 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

a chi l\'avevo promesso to those whom I promised it to

Explanation:
...

simona dachille
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

39 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

to those to whom I promised it

Explanation:
Maybe you wanted something not so literal, but I cannot find a better way to say it

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 42 mins (2012-06-23 20:21:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or
To those to whom it was so promised

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 45 mins (2012-06-23 20:23:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or
I dedicate it also to those to whom I so promised

Fiorsam
United States
Local time: 13:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 19

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Rachel Fell: prefer the 1st

2 hrs

-> Grazie Rachel!

agree

mlreid: or even quote I dedicate it also to the one whom I so promised unquote - if you think it could be a single person.

4 hrs

-> Grazie mireid!

neutral

Lara Barnett: To those to whom is not that common, we usually put the second "to" at the end, making it less clumsy.// This is true, though in different contexts rules are often not used. However, the second "to" can appear slightly clumsy - as I think it does here.

19 hrs

-> a hanging preposition is colloquial and not good English - this is a litterary text

agree

Yvonne Gallagher: absolutely agree that "to whom" is far preferable. Don't like the hanging "it" in 1st; perhaps "dedicated to whom it was promised". Is there really a need for the "I"?... I dedicate this to...

4 days

-> agree about the "it" - thanks!

46 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

...to whom I promised

Explanation:
I also dedicate it to whom I promised...it is also dedicated to whom I promised.

Morghan Hallinan
Local time: 10:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

And for those to whom I gave my word / made a promise

Explanation:
Not an easy one to put in EN; Italian can sometimes say so much in so few words :-)

Would suggest replacing "I also dedicate it" with simply "And" to keep the flow from the previous phrases.

Btw, I chose "for those" instead of "to those" in order to avoid repeating "to" in such a short interval (to those to whom is a bit awkward); it's grammatically correct, I think, but may jar with the use of "to" in the previous phrases; still, it's a poetic dedication, so there's room for some leeway, right ;-) ?

Wolf Draeger
South Africa
Local time: 19:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

12 hrs confidence:

to all who had my pledge (to write it)

Explanation:
as a poeticised version.
I woulòdn't add "to write it": it's cleaer as it is, and you'd avoid to-to

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 19:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Russian
PRO pts in category: 36

15 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

to who recalls my promise

Explanation:

my idea is that a promise has indeed been made but it is a semi-secret between author and someone special

Tony Shargool
Local time: 19:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Italian
PRO pts in category: 8

18 hrs confidence:

to those to whom I promised it to

Explanation:
*sigh*

Anna ZANNELLA
Italy
Local time: 19:25
Native speaker of:

English

1 day 21 hrs confidence:

and to those I promised a dedication

Explanation:
or
I also dedicate this book to those who expect me to fulfill my promise

Sofia Dervisi
Italy
Local time: 19:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Greek

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.

Return to KudoZ list

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:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

a chi l'avevo promesso

English translation: ...to whom I promised

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

a chi l'avevo promesso

English translation: ...to whom I promised

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language