This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Portuguese to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

O que não falta é assunto.

English translation: The one thing that they didn’t have trouble with was finding things to talk about ; there was certainly no shortage of things to talk about

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:O que não falta é assunto.
English translation:The one thing that they didn’t have trouble with was finding things to talk about ; there was certainly no shortage of things to talk about
Entered by: Teresa Cristina Felix de Sousa

19:47 May 19, 2019
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Poetry & Literature
Portuguese term or phrase: O que não falta é assunto.
Estou fazendo uma versão para o inglês, e apareceu essa frase no meio do segmento.
===================
Elas conversavam sobre tudo, desde a pobreza em que viviam, até política, novas tecnologias, ciências e, principalmente, sobre uma força sobrenatural que contribuía para fortalecer os dias sem alimentos e com um profundo desamor entre os colegas daquele lugar. Com o olhar pregado no horizonte, o que não falta é assunto.
====================

Recebi uma orientação do editor para não mudar a tônica e a construção sintática e interpretativa.
Ou seja, não posso mudar a frase, mesmo que signifique a mesma coisa.
Alguma sugestão dos meus mestres? Tks in advance for yr kind assistance on this.

O QUE NÃO FALTA É ASSUNTO
Teresa Cristina Felix de Sousa
Brazil
Local time: 17:18
The one thing that they didn’t have trouble with was finding things to talk about.
Explanation:
Or:
....was finding plenty to talk about.


If you want to preserve the negative grammatical construction of the Portuguese (i.e., “o que não falta”) this is one way of doing so in a way that sounds entirely natural in English. Katarina’s original suggestion preserves this structure, but “What is not lacking is a subject” is awkward English.


If you were not obliged by the strictures you have described, Gilmar’s suggestion would work just fine.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-05-19 21:45:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I also like the the use of the word “trouble” here, since it not only works semantically, but highlights the fact that one ray of sunshine in the difficult lives of the two persons in question was their ability to connect with one another about their trying circumstances.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2019-05-19 22:16:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You are most welcome.

Here is another (somewhat more economical) variant that preserves the double negative of the original:

In the end, there was certainly no shortage of things to talk about.
Selected response from:

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 16:18
Grading comment
Danke schön you all
Abração
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2there is always something to talk about.
Mark Robertson
4 +2There was always plenty to talk about.
Gilmar Fernandes
4 +1what is not lacking is a subject.
Katarina Peters
3 +2The one thing that they didn’t have trouble with was finding things to talk about.
Robert Forstag
4they would talk like this for hours on end
Lucas Felix dos Santos


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
they would talk like this for hours on end


Explanation:
Sugestão possível.

Lucas Felix dos Santos
Brazil
Local time: 17:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
there is always something to talk about.


Explanation:
Fits.

Mark Robertson
Local time: 21:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mario Freitas:
2 hrs
agree  Adrian Minckley
19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
There was always plenty to talk about.


Explanation:
One way of saying it.

Gilmar Fernandes
United States
Local time: 16:18
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 84

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sara Marques
14 hrs
  -> Thank you Sara :)
agree  Maria da Glória Teixeira
1 day 1 hr
  -> Obrigado, Glória :)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
what is not lacking is a subject.


Explanation:
literally - If you cannot change the tone and the syntax.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-05-19 21:04:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

simply:
"fixed on the horizon, they had lots to talk about."


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-05-19 21:45:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You are welcome, Teresa :)

Katarina Peters
Canada
Local time: 16:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 76
Notes to answerer
Asker: Tks a ton, dear Katarina. What would you suggest as colloquially used? Tks again

Asker: Thank you very much, dear. Teresa


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof: what is not lacking are subjects/subject matter
2 hrs
  -> Yes, thank you, Verginia.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
The one thing that they didn’t have trouble with was finding things to talk about.


Explanation:
Or:
....was finding plenty to talk about.


If you want to preserve the negative grammatical construction of the Portuguese (i.e., “o que não falta”) this is one way of doing so in a way that sounds entirely natural in English. Katarina’s original suggestion preserves this structure, but “What is not lacking is a subject” is awkward English.


If you were not obliged by the strictures you have described, Gilmar’s suggestion would work just fine.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-05-19 21:45:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I also like the the use of the word “trouble” here, since it not only works semantically, but highlights the fact that one ray of sunshine in the difficult lives of the two persons in question was their ability to connect with one another about their trying circumstances.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2019-05-19 22:16:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You are most welcome.

Here is another (somewhat more economical) variant that preserves the double negative of the original:

In the end, there was certainly no shortage of things to talk about.

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 16:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Danke schön you all
Abração
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much for yr kind and precise answer, Robert. Good night.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Adrian MM.
36 mins
  -> Thank you, Adrian.
agree  Maria da Glória Teixeira
4 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Gloria.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search