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  3. Advertising / Public Relations

"provoca sonrisas"

English translation: Smile makes you smile

18:45 May 2, 2013
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Advertising / Public Relations / Ad puff for a product
Spanish term or phrase: "provoca sonrisas"
SPAIN. This is more of a "how to render it without it sounding naff" brainstormer-type query rather than translation per se. It's from an advertising spiel. Unfortunately, the product in question is a door intercom called "Smile"... and the byline is:

"Smile provoca sonrisas"
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 11:31
English translation:Smile makes you smile
Explanation:
Smile from door to door
Selected response from:

George Rabel
Local time: 05:31
Grading comment
Client went for this. After seeing it several times it doesn't grate so much as it did intially - (I have a thing about repetition). Thanks to everyone for the suggestions :-)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +10Open your door with a Smile
Paul Lambert
4 +3Smile puts a smile on your face
Yvonne Gallagher
4 +1Smile makes you smile
George Rabel
4"makes smiles"
Cesar Serrano
4Smile induced smile
Julie Thurston
4The power of a Smile
Charles Davis
4Smile prompts your smile
Esmeralda Gómez
4Smile: because smiles are contagious
James A. Walsh
4Smile - you're on camera / Smile for the camera
Lisa McCarthy
3"Smile draws smiles"
Patricia González Schütz
3A Smile is worth a smile
franglish


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Smile makes you smile


Explanation:
Smile from door to door

George Rabel
Local time: 05:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Client went for this. After seeing it several times it doesn't grate so much as it did intially - (I have a thing about repetition). Thanks to everyone for the suggestions :-)
Notes to answerer
Asker: In the end, is the one the client likes best. My friend Katy, who I also consulted this morning, agrees.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Linda Grabner: I particularly like your "explanation" option; it's perfect for the context!
12 mins
  -> Thank you, Linda. Yep, it's a take on "smile from ear to ear."
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
"makes smiles"


Explanation:
... another option...

Cesar Serrano
United States
Local time: 02:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
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36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Smile induced smile


Explanation:
Not sure if I'm totally serious about this answer, but it could work:)

Julie Thurston
Local time: 03:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
"Smile draws smiles"


Explanation:
.........

Patricia González Schütz
Italy
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
A Smile is worth a smile


Explanation:
My two bits' worth...

franglish
Switzerland
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +10
Open your door with a Smile


Explanation:
I think this is one of those transcreation vs. translation moments, where I'd be tempted to move away from the original syntax and create a new byline that retains the same kind of play on words...

"Open your door with a Smile" (or something similar) is something you could suggest to the client and see what they think. Otherwise, I think it's tough to get round this one!

Paul Lambert
United States
Local time: 02:31
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: I like this suggestion and may use it later ;) These are indeed some of the toughest things to render in English, I must have spent about an hour in real time on just this one soundbite.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: I like this!
0 min
  -> Thanks Charles, a sudden rare moment of creative inspiration!
agree  Andy Watkinson: Very nice.
19 mins
  -> Thanks Andy!
agree  patinba: I like this too! Or "answer your door" depending on what the system actually does.
20 mins
  -> Indeed, this can be tailored slightly depending on the actual function of the intercom system.
agree  Julie Thurston
28 mins
agree  Lisa McCarthy: Gets my vote too :)
43 mins
  -> Thanks Lisa! Sometimes it's these short, snappy marketing bylines that are the toughest to render in English, I'm not normally so inspired!
agree  Carol Gullidge: or 'Greet your guests with a Smile"
2 hrs
agree  Robert Forstag
3 hrs
agree  Christine Walsh: Just great!
4 hrs
agree  George Rabel: very nice!
6 hrs
agree  Gil Michel
17 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
The power of a Smile


Explanation:
It's a fairly established expression, which is what we want to get that element of wordplay slogans need. I've been trying to think of something that includes the product name (got to be mentioned, really) but doesn't involve repeating the word "smile".

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 11:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 40
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Smile prompts your smile


Explanation:
Dictionary: instigate; suggest to the mind, inspire...

Esmeralda Gómez
Spain
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Smile provoca sonrisas
Smile: because smiles are contagious


Explanation:
I just tested this before posting, and it works! :)



    Reference: http://tinyurl.com/caxftys
James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 11:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 20
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Smile - you're on camera / Smile for the camera


Explanation:
This is what first came to my mind but wasn't sure if it was a video intercom or not.

This expression is used a lot, but may be you want something 'fresher'?



Lisa McCarthy
Spain
Local time: 11:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 100
Notes to answerer
Asker: Nice take, may come in handy later, although the client eventually opted for George's suggestion.

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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Smile puts a smile on your face


Explanation:
another option

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2013-05-02 19:21:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or

Smile raises smiles

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2013-05-03 12:34:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

yes, good to be born smiling I guess:-) Sounds a bit like it could work as a Eurovision song??

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 10:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: For some reason, this tune sprang into my head when I saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2QqrL6uZ7k


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Emily Marcuccilli (X): The first option sounds best to me.
9 mins
  -> thanks Emily!
agree  Marie-Helene Dubois: I like your first option too best of all.
12 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Alexandra Bourne: A mi me gusta esta opción.
1 day 2 hrs
  -> gracías Alexandra:-)
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