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  3. Poetry & Literature

rascar

English translation: scratch

20:23 May 12, 2015
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Portuguese term or phrase: rascar
I am currently translating the short story "Zap", by Moacyr Scliar. In this story, there is a sentence that uses "rascal" and I want to be sure that I am translating this to the best of my ability.

The sentence is, "
Ele se mexe na cadeira; o microfone, preso à desbotada camisa, roça-lhe o peito, produzindo um desagradável e bem audível rascar".

I thought that I might translate "rascar" to mean "screech". I also debated using "scratch" or "scrape". Other words that came up when I looked for this word in dictionaries were "rasp" or "grate".

Is "screech" the best option?
reth0031
United States
English translation:scratch
Explanation:
In a simple choice, I would go with scratch.

But there is another verb in English that may match, but I can't realize now, that is when you polish a wall with that special paper? Is that sanding right? Maybe poetically will fit even better.
Selected response from:

Lázaro Borges
Brazil
Local time: 07:51
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2scratch
Lázaro Borges
4 +1rasp
Beatriz Baker Méio
3 +1scuffling sound
T o b i a s
4scratching noise
Marian Vieyra
2scratch / grating
Luiza Kipper


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
scratch


Explanation:
In a simple choice, I would go with scratch.

But there is another verb in English that may match, but I can't realize now, that is when you polish a wall with that special paper? Is that sanding right? Maybe poetically will fit even better.

Lázaro Borges
Brazil
Local time: 07:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Portuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Luiza Kipper
6 mins
agree  Paulinho Fonseca
3 hrs
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
scratch / grating


Explanation:
http://www.infopedia.pt/dicionarios/lingua-portuguesa/rascar

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/scratch

Luiza Kipper
Brazil
Local time: 07:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Portuguese
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
rasp


Explanation:
I like rasp better. Scratch makes me think of a vinyl record

Beatriz Baker Méio
United States
Local time: 06:51
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gilmar Fernandes
1 hr
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22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
scuffling sound


Explanation:
e.g.,

DAE get irrationally annoyed at the constant scuffling sound that GoPro's make?
I know it's because the mic is encased in plastic and has withstand a ton of abuse, but the constant hollow scufflleflufflecracklesclufufffle gets me so pissed I have to mute the video.
http://www.reddit.com/r/DoesAnybodyElse/comments/2mwyq0/dae_...

Holding the Mic. If you move your hand around on the microphone you are likely to get “handling noise.” Itʼs a sort of scuffling sound that may overpower whatever you are recording.
https://alternativestopolicing.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/c...

The Director goes back to his seat with great enthusiasm and the voice over guy returns to the sound booth much less enthused.
Director: "And...Action!"
There is a short *** scuffling sound *** coming over the mic, then a muffled yelp, and a thud before the voice over starts back up. This time, however, the voice sounds noticeably different.
http://www.geocities.ws/phobiabio/rp/rp3.html



T o b i a s
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Beatriz Baker Méio
20 hrs
  -> Thank you
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1 day 13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
scratching noise


Explanation:
...producing an unpleasant and clearly audible scratching noise.

The microphone is making a noise, not a scratch. A scratch is something you see, not something you hear, you can't really use the word in this context like they do in Portuguese.

Marian Vieyra
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
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