Jun 25, 2008 08:47
15 yrs ago
Hungarian term
Poland
Real American and Polish Life Experience
Native in: English 
, Polish
Works in: Polish to English, English
Igy fizet Lengyelország!
Hungarian to English
Art/Literary
History
World War II Polish-Hungarian History
In Polish this is:"Tak płaci Polska!"
It is what Henryk Sławik whispered to József Antall Sr., when they (two anti-Nazi "collaborators") were being driven by the Gestapo in a truck from their interrogation back to prison. Antall wanted to thank Sławik for saving his life. Sławik, who had been tortured but did not betray Antall, knew that he was going to die, but did not tell Antall. He only said: Igy fizet Lengyelország! Earlier, by working together, they had managed to save the lives of thousands of Polish refugees, including Jews, and to organize the passage of Polish soldiers to the armed forces in the West.
An exhaustive English translation of the Polish phrase would be something like, "This is Poland paying back her debts," or "This is how Poland pays back her debts," but I feel that's too long. The original phrase is only three words long. Would something like "This is Poland paying back!" sound appropriate in this context? Or, any other suggestions? How would any of you translate what this man said, being half-conscious and knowing what awaits him?
It is what Henryk Sławik whispered to József Antall Sr., when they (two anti-Nazi "collaborators") were being driven by the Gestapo in a truck from their interrogation back to prison. Antall wanted to thank Sławik for saving his life. Sławik, who had been tortured but did not betray Antall, knew that he was going to die, but did not tell Antall. He only said: Igy fizet Lengyelország! Earlier, by working together, they had managed to save the lives of thousands of Polish refugees, including Jews, and to organize the passage of Polish soldiers to the armed forces in the West.
An exhaustive English translation of the Polish phrase would be something like, "This is Poland paying back her debts," or "This is how Poland pays back her debts," but I feel that's too long. The original phrase is only three words long. Would something like "This is Poland paying back!" sound appropriate in this context? Or, any other suggestions? How would any of you translate what this man said, being half-conscious and knowing what awaits him?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Selected
It's the least Poland can do!/ Just Poland repaying you! / Just Poland expressing her gratitude!
Sorry about the three options. The first one is the most natural to my ear: any English speaker would understand this means that Poland is repaying a debt, and doing the proper thing in the circumstances.
The other two are more literal translations, perhaps too much so, but still usable. The last one might be a little longer than you want, but I think it works well in fact.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:00:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Zsuzsanna makes some excellent observations. In light of these, I would consider:
"Poland is grateful to you."
"This is how Poland discharges her debt to you."
"Poland is indebted to you."
And let the context do the rest.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:02:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"This is Poland's way of paying you back."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:14:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Zsuzsanna is also right about "repaying" being better than "paying back."
The other two are more literal translations, perhaps too much so, but still usable. The last one might be a little longer than you want, but I think it works well in fact.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:00:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Zsuzsanna makes some excellent observations. In light of these, I would consider:
"Poland is grateful to you."
"This is how Poland discharges her debt to you."
"Poland is indebted to you."
And let the context do the rest.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:02:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"This is Poland's way of paying you back."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:14:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Zsuzsanna is also right about "repaying" being better than "paying back."
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks! Overall, this answer was most helpful. I was looking for some insight into the meaning of the Hungarian version of the phrase, but, I guess -- same as in Polish -- there is no straightforward answer. So I have decided to go with: "Poland pays her debt to you," which, even if not literal, I think says it all."
18 mins
JANOS SAMU
United States
United States
United States
We know the language and the system too.
Works in: English to zzz Other zzz, English to Lao, English to Lithuanian, and 91 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
This is Poland's payback!
This is what covers both the meaning and the style of the Polish original. The Hungarian version is not very accurate in style. Henryk Sławik might have been speaking Hungarian, but the Polish suggests something more than just "fizet". It is meant to be for some favor, and that's why I am using payback in English.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Jim Tucker (X)
: Great expression, and tempting, though there are too many possible interpretations of this. "Payback" generally means "revenge" - and "this is Poland's payback" could easily mean "this is revenge exacted against Poland". In other words, "payback"=negative
2 hrs
|
| neutral |
Zsuzsanna Koos
: A remark about style: a verb (pay back, repay) would sound more dramatic than a noun.
7 hrs
|
2 hrs
This is the reward from Poland!
Could also be an option just to avoid any association with money or revenge. This has a much wider meaning in my opinion.
+1
3 hrs
Katarina Peters
Canada
Canada
Native in Hungarian
&
English
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian , English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
That's Poland's gratitude!
my suggestion
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Zsuzsanna Koos
: It sounds good but the noun phrase doesn't express the drama. / No, I didn't mean quotation marks, I meant to say that I'd prefer a more literal translation as far as the Hungarian verb "fizet" is concerned.
4 hrs
|
|
I should have put "gratitude" in quotation marks, but that would be irony, not drama. Do you have a "drama" alternative?//But even in Hungarian, "fizet" is not meant literally...so how about "retribution"? Unless you have an alternative...
|
|
| agree |
hollowman (X)
5 hrs
|
|
Thanks, hollowman
|
Something went wrong...