Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
sopravvitto
English translation:
(prison) commissary/canteen account/bill
Added to glossary by
Daniela Zambrini
Nov 22, 2013 13:59
10 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Italian term
sopravitto
Italian to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
screenplay
I gather it is something prisoners have to pay for food? Does anyone know how we would say this in English?
From a screenplay in which a prisoner asks his wife:
GENNARO
Hai versato i soldi per il
sopravitto?
MOGLIA
Sì, e ti ho messo tutto quello che mi
avevi chiesto nel pacco.
From a screenplay in which a prisoner asks his wife:
GENNARO
Hai versato i soldi per il
sopravitto?
MOGLIA
Sì, e ti ho messo tutto quello che mi
avevi chiesto nel pacco.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | (prison) commissary account |
Daniela Zambrini
|
| 4 | Canteen (bill) |
Andrew Bramhall
|
| 4 | additional prison food |
Giovanni Pizzati (X)
|
Change log
Nov 22, 2013 19:14: Lara Barnett changed "Field (specific)" from "Cinema, Film, TV, Drama" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"
Nov 25, 2013 14:58: Daniela Zambrini Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
4 mins
Daniela Zambrini
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
&
English
Italy
Handling words with care since 1998
Native in: English 
, Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
34
Selected
(prison) commissary account
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_commissary
A prison commissary or canteen is a store within a correctional facility, from which inmates may purchase products such as hygiene items, snacks, writing instruments, etc. Spices, including those packaged with instant ramen noodles, are a popular item due to the often bland nature of prison food. Typically inmates are not allowed to possess cash;[1] instead, they make purchases through an account with funds from money contributed by friends, family members, etc. or earned as wages.
sopravvitto (spaccio gestito direttamente dall’amministrazione carceraria) alimenti ed altri generi (detersivi, cartoleria, sigarette, etc.).
http://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_2_3_6_7.wp
A prison commissary or canteen is a store within a correctional facility, from which inmates may purchase products such as hygiene items, snacks, writing instruments, etc. Spices, including those packaged with instant ramen noodles, are a popular item due to the often bland nature of prison food. Typically inmates are not allowed to possess cash;[1] instead, they make purchases through an account with funds from money contributed by friends, family members, etc. or earned as wages.
sopravvitto (spaccio gestito direttamente dall’amministrazione carceraria) alimenti ed altri generi (detersivi, cartoleria, sigarette, etc.).
http://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_2_3_6_7.wp
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
2 mins
|
| agree |
Mark Pisoni
: agree :)
9 mins
|
| neutral |
Andrew Bramhall
: Too formal; would a prisoner's wife ask an old lag about his "prison commissary account"? Don't think so, personally;// Makes no odds which way round; the term simply isn't in common usage; in Oz they call it "Buy-up", here ' canteen'
28 mins
|
|
Is sopravitto not a formal expression? in any case, it's the husband who is asking the wife and not viceversa
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you. In the end I went for "commissary bill"."
32 mins
Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Flair and accuracy tailored to your text
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
26
Canteen (bill)
"Have you paid the canteen bill?"
"Yes, and I put everything you asked me to in the parcel" (presumably files, etc.!)
Buying goods in Prison - First Time in Prison
www.firsttimeinprison.co.uk/buying-goods-in-prison/
In prison their is a system called canteen that allows you to buy toiletries, food, and phone credit. You have a budget of up to £15 per week at first plus your ...
"Yes, and I put everything you asked me to in the parcel" (presumably files, etc.!)
Buying goods in Prison - First Time in Prison
www.firsttimeinprison.co.uk/buying-goods-in-prison/
In prison their is a system called canteen that allows you to buy toiletries, food, and phone credit. You have a budget of up to £15 per week at first plus your ...
Note from asker:
| I agreed that bill sounded less formal than account. But also agreed with philgoddard that "canteen" could be misleading. Thank you. |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
philgoddard
: I can see that this is a term used in the UK, but I think viewers who aren't well versed in prison terminology might be confused by it, as it implies you have to pay for your meals. This sells things like chocolate, tobacco and stamps.
1 hr
|
|
Prisoners in UK jails don't eat in "canteens", rather their own cells, hence no possibility of ambiguity.
|
2 hrs
additional prison food
Sopravvitto con 2 V
Reference comments
5 mins
Beatrice T
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Works in field
Italy
Technical translator and software tester
Native in: Italian 
Works in: German to Italian, English to Italian
Reference:
http://www.giustizia.it/resources/cms/documents/Carta_dei_diritti_inglese.pdf
Page 6
They are also permitted to buy, at their expenses, food supplies and refreshments (so called “sopravitto”) and they are guaranteed the right to receive food supplies in parcels from outside, within established limits of weight.
They are also permitted to buy, at their expenses, food supplies and refreshments (so called “sopravitto”) and they are guaranteed the right to receive food supplies in parcels from outside, within established limits of weight.
Discussion