ILIGAN City ― At times, translations of something spoken can be fatal. Literally, or philosophically or naturally, or whatever.''..ly'' there is. For example, in a meeting, a latecomer, Mr. Perez was spoken by the presiding officer as "the late Mr. Perez." And everybody laughed.
For it had a double meaning, a "fatal" meaning. Translations too change with time. Some lyrics of a song called "Jamaica Farewell" say, "Down the way where the nights are gay…" So, if we go by today's meaning of the last word, it could mean that nights now have "sexual" preferences''?As in "homo..''?
Speaking of: time too and the morphing of meanings, the word "milk" in Spanish now has meanings that include "cuss" words. Like the sentence, "My life now has a lot of milk-milk." Translate that into other languages, especially in Bisaya or Tagalog. Then you will see the meaning, not necessarily hidden.
There's something in, is it in the Holy Bible that says, "An eye for an eye." Which could be translated into ''revenge." Some would say that "revenge" is not the same as 'justice." Yet at times I should say, there's only a thin line of difference between the two!
And there's this seemingly contradictory quote in that book that says, something; like this: If someone throws stones at you, throw the thrower some bread in response.
And my friend Fely says, "But what if the bakery is far?" Hahaha. But this is no laughing matter. Here in this city, a case of ''lost translation" can be seen in this "tor" thing. In the construction of this still controversial "world-class" Palao market, the name of the escalator was written on its body as "elevator." This is according to Ritchel, a journalist here when he did some observations on said still unfinished project. But he said the contractor misunderstood it that all equipment or machinery that takes you up or down are called "elevators.' Never mind if it is an "escalator."
I remember then when I was boarding a vessel called "fast cat" their comfort rooms there had the labels, ": men", "women" and across such was another that said: "Disabled comfort room." I then wondered if that CR was "disabled" or cannot be used anymore, or that it was to be used by "pwds" or "persons with disability.'"
As to the water problem, Mayor Frederick Siao said that "PPP" or Public Private Partnership is not translatable to giving "ownership" of the waters here to the private sector. But some people are "translating" it that way. So, this might be a case of "true or false?" And which is the true one?
So, I remember this "story" of a kid who asked a friend where a baby comes out into the world. The friend answered that it comes out the same way as a man's bowel movement comes out. "That's not true!" Another friend exclaimed. Yet the friend exclaimed too: " But that's the nearest to the truth!" It is, literally. I wouldn't laugh this time.
Many times too, the truth "is stranger than fiction.'' For instance, in PBBM's SONA last Monday, he said that "95% of the people in this country are employed."
"You just wander around. Is it 95per cent?" I asked my friend Fely when we saw each other at the city public plaza here and talked among other things, about the SONA.
"Well, let's put it at 94 percent…" She then said.
There was no point anymore in discussing it with her.
But a lot of people commented here that this is a "paper truth." Only. I am now wondering if this is just another truth that's lost in translation. Like the "truth" can't be seen on paper, but by wandering around. See if the "paper" translation, is just something that is: "lost in translation.''
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