18:50 Jul 10, 2009
I agree with both, the points raised and the alternatives you have suggested.
Personally I think in actual translation one would translate it as used in normal parlance in the target language unless specifically asked to provide a literal translation. In this particular case, I think giving a literal translation is also valid because this site I understand is open to both, for use in translation or just to know or understand a term/phrase and the individual words that make up the phrase/sentence, and /or be able to use it to say to someone or understand what someone may have said to you.
The usage is also age related perhaps! Qislam gave the direct translation in words most spoken by young people - 'are you mad? 'are you crazy? and following from that I have thought of "have you gone mad / crazy?" Perhaps I am too old to have thought of them straightaway!!
There are of course lots of slang words /phrases in English, as in all languages. |