15minuteficlets: Word 91

Firinel (

firinel) wrote in

15minuteficlets,
@ 2005-01-23 19:52:00

Word 91
Please post a link here to your ficlet, but ficlets in comments are fine as well. If you do write the ficlet on your own page, please put the word behind an lj-cut tag (or hidden in some way), so as not to spoil anyone for the word.

Word for this week is: Translation

Happy Writing!

(Post a new comment)

	marnanel 2005-01-24 01:18 am UTC (link)
	Translation (Reply to this)

	instantkarma19 2005-01-24 01:27 am UTC (link)
	Fandom: Harry Potter Ship: None. Faint H/HG if you really want to read it that way. Characters: Harry and Hermione Rating: A clean G. Time: 14 minutes Link: http://www.livejournal.com/users/instantkarma19/115866.html (Reply to this)

	eightofhearts 2005-01-24 04:10 am UTC (link)
	Title: Intention to Action Dictionary Fandom: Original Rating: PG Link: http://www.livejournal.com/users/eightofhearts/1599.html#cutid1 (Reply to this)

	cosmorific 2005-01-24 05:17 am UTC (link)
	Title: Les Dialogues des Sodomites Fandom: Gravitation Pairing: K/Hiro Rating: R Warnings: implied m/m, bad language, firearms, manga spoilers up to Vol. 9 Here 'tis! (Reply to this)

quatorze
2005-01-24 12:10 pm UTC (link)

This was just too good to pass up, especially as it deals so closely with what I do for my living. More of an introspective, no warnings. 10 minutes + two for editing out the most obvious typos.

*****
I should get it ready, and I really am going to get it ready by the deadline, if only it wasn't for this one measly word. I've been going round and round for a long time, polishing here, correcting there, but I know that if I don't get that one word right, the whole premise will be wrong.

It's not that I wouldn't know exactly what it means. The problem is that it means things that no word in the target language captures - no single word, that is.

Of course I could choose this one aspect and ignore the rest, but that would be too simplistic. It wouldn't be true. I want to convey as many of the nuances as I can, preferably all of them, but there just is no such word I could pick.

Therefore I need to do what a professional translator does: look at my alternatives. It's not always necessary to be literal. No, in fact trying to be too true to the original text (at the level of words) will only result in a text that is in fact far less faithful than something that at first glance seems to deviate from it far more.

Thus, if there is no single word to carry the full meaning and implications, I need to pick words and expressions that will do the trick for me. Luckily I have a plethora of tools at my disposal - they are just a bit different from the ones the original writer had. As I look at the problem in front of me, I can't hold back a smug smile. I'm beginning to see the solution.

So I do exactly what I've been taught to do, back in school when I was studying the art of translation. I look at the original once more and take it apart, find the meaning behind it.

Then I do my best to forget about the words of the original, and switch to another language.

Use the words and connotations and structures and means of that language to convey the same meaning, as faithfully as I can.

In the end, I can look at my creation and be happy with it - well, as happy as a translator can be. The result is never perfect, but I've accomplished something: I've let the writer of the original be understood in another language.

That is translation.

*****

(Reply to this)

	fullmetalkatu 2005-01-24 10:06 pm UTC (link)
	Title: Simple Translation Rating: G Warnings: ShinichixRan fluff [And beware the Heiji in disguise!] Time: 15 minutes :D http://www.livejournal.com/users/fullmetalkatu/12456.html#cutid1 (Reply to this) (Thread)

	fullmetalkatu 2005-01-24 10:07 pm UTC (link)
	Fandom: Meitantei Conan Yeah, that was stupid to forget. (Reply to this) (Parent)

tainted4life
2005-01-24 10:48 pm UTC (link)

Title: Archaeology
Author: Tainted4life
Fandom: SHADOWS (original)
Words: 304
Time: 14 minutes 30 seconds

The Vabren man watched the other Vabren man confer with a half-Vabren woman, their heads bent together, two trails of black hair bending into one. They spoke in low tones, so low that he couldn't even catch a hint of the language they used, and then they turned to the other party.

He resisted the urge to spit on the pale-faced, pale-haired fool who had applied something to the inside of his nose and done it completely wrong, so that it leaked from one of his nostrils.

The pale-face stamped his foot at the words of the larger man, then spread his hands, pleading. The sun glared on his clear and silver whatever-it-was. The bright glare must have hurt his eyes, but the pale-face didn't wince.

*"Yeu don unnersstan, ttyss yss e frykkyn YMESING appartunny, a cynn jyss myssss yd!"

**"Symtting appirs du hev bin loss yn translation," the Zintznean said to the woman, but soon turned back to the pale-face. ***"Aim sari, byt tti Kaonsil lidyr syd 'jyoqe vairba harihebeveh', yd minz 'nao yss e taim yv morning'. For fir yv tte gadz, tte wyl nat ryzk yntranz to Alrik."

But at the behest of the pale-face, the Zintznean turned to make his case again.

And again, the Vabren man gave his answer: "No. The plant hunt will badly after the last time we allowed a foreigner into the forsaken city. We have so little left... We can't even afford to feast him. I cannot let this happen."

The Zintzean bowed, and turned to the pale-face. ****"Yd yz e fainol ynsor. Tte wyl nat alao yd. Go om."

The pale-face's face became red with anger, but he left, and the Vabren man opened his arms wide to his son.

"I am glad you finally returned," he said. "Now, introduce me to your wife-to-be."

* - a Vabren transliteration of the phrase "You don't understand, this is a fricking AMAZING opportunity, I can't just miss it."

** - a Vabren transliteration of the phrase, "Something appears to have been lost in translation."

*** - "I'm sorry, but the Council leader said, 'jyoqe vairba harihevebeveh,' it means 'now is a time of mourning'. For fear of the gods, they will not risk entrance to Alrik."

**** - "It is a final answer. They will not allow it. Go home."

(Reply to this)

	Translation sourdoughchick 2005-01-25 01:45 am UTC (link)
	Words: 430 Time: 17 minutes, plus a minute of research at the end Title: Secret Admirer Fandom: IvoryFilter ( original ) Characters: Rory, mention of Latin, Alex, Biscuit and Ritchie Warnings: ...a bit gross. PG, maybe PG-13 Location: Here. (Reply to this)

	pick_up_styx 2005-01-25 03:25 am UTC (link)
	link to my journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/pick_up_styx/138821.html#cutid1 I think it's either about genocide or euthanasia. Fun stuff. (Reply to this)

	kiwivodka 2005-01-25 04:25 pm UTC (link)
	Title :: Lost in Translation Author :: Pandora's Fallen Fandom :: Golden Cain Rating :: PG Pairing :: Cain x Shun Lost in Translation (Reply to this)

	my response storydivagirl 2005-01-25 05:58 pm UTC (link)
	Title: Doesn't Quite Compute Author: storydivagirl Fandom: Battlestar Galatica 2003 A/N: Written for word challenge # 91 at 15minuteficlets. First time writing in this fandom. Unbeta'd at the moment. Feedback always appreciated. link to the story (Reply to this)

translation
(Anonymous)
2005-01-25 06:24 pm UTC (link)

She had done away with most of them by now. The only one left was that man, mingling with the doorknob as he entered the room.
She smiled and wrote a note on a piece of paper as he walked towards the desk.
“Hello, sir, how are you today?” She exclaimed.
“Good, good.” He rushed. People always seem to repeat something when they mean the exact opposite.
“How pleasant.”
“I need a room.” He muttered, putting a hundred-dollar bill on the counter, pushing it lightly towards her with his fingertips, crumbling poor Ben Franklin.
“Of course,” she examined the hundred, “Another hundred can get you into our suite, you know.”
“I’ll take whatever this can get me.”
“That would be a third class room. Enjoy.” She brought the hundred to her chest, then stuffed it in the register. Her long, ape-like arms reached for a key hanging behind her. “Room 6, sir. Have a good night.” She laughed. He didn’t look at her, he just yanked the key from her hand and strode away respectfully.
His room was dark, tan fabric everywhere. It was a usual hotel room, first love, or cheap family vacation. Around forty, he was used to these kinds of rooms by now. Rain dripped down the crevices of the building, he watched drops gather on his window and tear down. Memories.
There was a knock. The man wandered over to the door, looking through the peephole at the unidentified person outside. There was darkness, and another knock.
“Who’s there?” He screamed. There was a silence. He curiously opened the door. The lights still weren’t on.
“Sir, you forgot your receipt.” The woman from the desk said, entering the room uninvited. She didn’t seem as rude as she was being.
“Uh, okay.” He took the slip of paper and held it close to his face, examining it in the darkness of the room. He read it outloud, letting the words slide off of his tongue into her face. “G-GOODBYE.” He looked at her, confused.
“Sir. I hope you had a pleasant stay. Damn it’s cold.” She said, shooting him in the head as he looked at the rain pour down outside, using the rifle she rarely needed, that was neatly propped behind her back. He fell to the ground, like all of the others.

(Reply to this)

	erato_the_muse 2005-01-25 06:49 pm UTC (link)
	TWW, J/D, PG (Reply to this)

	sayianchild86 2005-01-26 12:05 am UTC (link)
	Title: Don't Make Me Fandom: Detective Conan/ Case Closed Rated: PG-13 Genre: Angst Words: 620 (Reply to this)

	Interpretation redwolfoz 2005-01-26 03:04 am UTC (link)
	( Interpretation ) — buffy the vampire slayer (Reply to this)

Counter-culture Shock

sophia101
2005-01-27 03:48 am UTC (link)

Word#91 – translation

Title: Counter-culture Shock
Fandom: original work
Rated: PPI – possibly politically incorrect
Words: 488

The filthy white Escalade screeched into the diner’s nearly-empty parking lot, stopping just short of the fence.

Not surprisingly, there was a ski rack on top, and a mountain of expensive gear piled to the roof inside the bloated SUV. Of course, it was hard to see through the darkened windows. Massachusetts plates – vanity plates, of course, saying “LUV2SKI.” Sophie just rolled her eyes as the occupants disembarked. 30-somethings, a couple, wearing matching snow-bunny outfits; expensive, trendy sunglasses; even matching blue suede boots – very practical in slushy, dirty snow. No kids. If there were offspring, they were undoubtedly back in Weston with their nanny.

Sophie glanced at the clock. It was just after 11 AM. She wondered if they’d want breakfast or lunch…

The man opened the door for the woman. The wind chime that hangs just inside the door rang softly, startling the woman, who looked at it like it was an alien thing, and said “Oh…” and giggled uncomfortably.
They seated themselves at the booth farthest from the door. Sophie brought them both breakfast and lunch menus.
The man took his and asked, “Do you serve brunch?”
“No, we do serve breakfast all day, and we hadn’t started serving lunch yet, but if you’d like something on the lunch menu, that’s fine, too. Would you like coffee?”
The woman looked at Sophie about the same way that she’d looked at the wind chime. “I’d like a glass of Chardonnay, please.”
“Sorry, we don’t have a liquor license.”
“Oh…well, then, tea please. It is brewed, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Would you like decaf or regular?”
“Decaffineated Earl Grey, please.”
“Sure. Sir, what would you like?”
“I’ll have coffee. Decaf.”
Since she was holding the pot – having guessed that one of them would want decaf – she poured his coffee. “Cream?” she asked.
“Skim milk, can you warm it up?”
“I’ll bring it out with the tea.”
“Oh…” said the woman, “I don’t want milk in my tea!”
“No, I understand, “said Sophie, as patiently as she could.

Going back to the kitchen, Sophie wondered if she was on Venus instead of in Vermont. Oh well. She warmed the single teapot with boiling water, poured that out, then filled it with fresh boiling water, put the decaf Earl Grey teabag in the pot. Her cook, Matt, handed her the heavy white cream pitcher filled with warm skim milk, and she brought it and the teapot to the booth. She placed them on the table. The woman looked at the teapot and at the mug on her placemat. Sophie was very impressed that she didn’t ask for a teacup.

“Do you know what you’d like, or do you need a few minutes?” Sophie asked as they looked at the specials board.

“Um,” the woman said, looking at the menu, “do you have any vegan bacon?”

(Reply to this)

irishvampire13
2005-01-27 03:52 am UTC (link)

Title: 'Language Lesson'
Fandom: Original
Rating: G

They sat together beneath a tree in the park, an open textbook sitting before them.

"I know that you think studying is a waste of a perfectly good weekend afternoon," Elizabeth said, picking the book up. "But you do have a quiz coming up. The last thing you need is another F."

She heard Jacob grumbling something under his breath as he plucked blades of grass in obvious irritation. Reaching out, she gently grasped his chin and turned his face toward her until their eyes met. "Don't give me that, J. You know I'm right."

He averted his gaze after a few seconds of facing the mild reproach in her eyes. "Alright, Liz, I give. Gimme the first prompt. Let's get this...studying over with."

She grinned encouragingly. "That's better. Okay: 'Would you please give me a sandwich.'"

"Uh..." Jacob scratched his head pensively. "'S'il vous plait, je voudrais manger vos chaussures.'" He blinked when she stifled a giggle. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Her eyes twinkled. "Oh, no, of course not. That was fine. But...I really don't want you to eat my shoes."

Jacob fell back on the grass, laughing. "What? Is that what I said?"

"Yes!"

"God," he muttered, wiping amused tears away. "No wonder I'm flunking French. I suck."

"Well, I'll keep tutoring you, if you want," Elizabeth offered once her laughing fit had worn off.

Watching as she tucked her hair behind her ear, and replaying echoes of her laughter in his mind, Jacob smiled. "I don't think I'd mind that, actually."

(Reply to this)

	geoectomy 2005-01-27 05:41 am UTC (link)
	Title: Divorce Author: geoectomy Rating: PG? Genre: Modern Fantasy? Words: 702 Time: 15 minutes, 10 seconds (Reply to this) (Thread)

	geoectomy 2005-01-27 05:41 am UTC (link)
	Also my first time here... (Reply to this) (Parent)

	rchan 2005-01-27 03:44 pm UTC (link)
	Late as usual... Title: Lost in Translation Author: Renee-chan Fandom: Gundam SEED Just a short lil' introspection deal from Kira's POV. (Reply to this)

ministry_victim
2005-01-28 10:02 am UTC (link)

Title: Knock-Off
Fandom: Nada (El Original, I guess)
Words: Not many
Rating: PG

Rob rolled the blunt between his thumb and forefinger, and gave it a thin layer of his own superglue saliva before tucking it between his lips and lighting up. Valerie was gone. Another day, another war, and this was the only reward he had for a war well-fought.

At this part in the relationship, with Valerie the hard-bitten career woman and Robert, the charmed existence starving artist, any communication would be pointless as there would be so much lost in the translation.

He missed her, and she missed him, but it was fargone.

Rob sat back in his recliner and thought about his latest piece, a daring knock-off of one of Renoir's least famous paintings, and a striking resemblance. He'd be the first to admit he didn't know the first thing about impressionism, expressionism or anything-ism, but he could stab paint in directions to make a decent replica. He was a copier and he was proud of it.

Who gives a shit about the woman when you've got your art, right? Squinting against the approaching listlessness of a good thc rush, Rob grinned - as long as he had his weed, his canvass and paints, and maybe a roof over his head, who gave a shit about the future? Not he. Oh no. Not he.

(Reply to this)

cupkeyk
2005-01-28 07:27 pm UTC (link)

I sat on the floor with my ankles on the opposite knee: a full lotus. Ambient music translated into images of seaside mangrove forests into my head. I would push them out if they weren’t so pleasant. I knew that the objective of meditation was to center myself and gain full consciousness by contemplating the tip of my nose.

The others have chosen to lie down. Their cores, although unseen to me, were clenched into there prone mountain poses. I have this tendency to fall asleep, I have not reached that level of awareness and I knew better to succumb to my body’s whim. My mind should be the master.

His voice told me that I should smile and I did. Rather, I became conscious that I was already smiling, and have been smiling for some time. I refocus on the tip of my nose diverting my consciousness from the temptations that idle thinking brings.

He says that we are dust settled on the ground. He takes an imaginary brush and swept us away. I think of his hair cascading down his shoulders. At around this time, he would undo his ponytail, already mussed by dogs and folds and tables and horses. Although I wasn’t able to steer my mind away I kept my eyes from looking.

He swept away my toes and feet, my fingers and hands. He brushed away my legs and arms. I imagined his hair lingering on my loins, my stomach, my chest, and my heart. I have been swept away.

He then collected stardust and sprinkled it where we were and new forms emerged. He summons us back to the conscious world.

I reprimand myself for failing miserably at my meditation: my mind should be master not my heart.

(Reply to this)

	Marvel's Ultimates - "Able Communication" unanon 2005-01-28 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	Title: "Able Communication" Author: unanon Fandom: Marvel Universe, Ultimates. Characters: Pietro Maximoff aka Quicksilver. (Reply to this)

	kaeje_write 2005-01-28 10:01 pm UTC (link)
	Title: Lost in Translation (seems to be a popular choice) Fandom: Harry Potter Rating: G Word Count: 174 Start Time: 4:36 Finish Time 4:45 (Reply to this)

	clez_ficlets 2005-01-30 06:45 pm UTC (link)
	Title: Only Human Fandom: ER Character/Pairing: Ray Barnett Rating: PG Genre: Angst/Pensive Word Count: 971 Time: 12 minutes Summary: Ray Barnett doesn’t like feeling human… it makes him weak, and small and frail… and vulnerable. (Reply to this)

sethoz
2005-01-30 08:24 pm UTC (link)

Title: Friendship
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst/Drama
Words: 858
Series: Carries on from The Art of Sport. You will need to have read that to understand this. Part of the Life's Art series.
Time: 14 minutes.
Summary: When you wake up after being injured, the last thing you need is some smart ass Major making jokes at your expense... right?

(Reply to this)

wordsaremyfaith
2005-01-30 09:33 pm UTC (link)

Title: Unnerving
Fandom: The OC
Pairing: Ryan/Seth
Rating: G
***

When Seth says, “I still don’t understand why you two couldn’t just raise the baby in the pool house,” it means Why did you leave me?

When he says, “Yeah, my summer was all right,” it means I spent the whole time trying not think about you.

When he says, “I just couldn’t stay there, you know? It was too… stifling,” it means Newport isn’t home without you.

When he says, “I left Summer a note,” it means Even the girl of my dreams wasn’t enough to make me stay.

When he says, “I missed you, dude,” it means I love you. Don’t ever leave me again.

Ryan can read Seth; he always could. Seth doesn’t say what he means, not in words, anyway. He says it in facial expressions and hand gestures and expects you to read between the lines.

Most people take Seth at face value. Ryan reads between the lines.

He can always tell exactly what Seth is thinking, feeling, wanting. Seth is like an open book that you just have to be able to decode. Ryan gets that.

Seth wants him. It’s flattering and scary and… sweet. Somehow, Ryan isn’t sure how, he finds himself wanting Seth back. Which unnerves him, because Seth is a guy. A sports-hating, comic-reading guy who talks to a plastic horse, perhaps, but still a guy. Which makes the whole thing a little… odd.

For Ryan. He’s sure it’s okay for some people. But Ryan’s not… he’s never… but Seth…

This is what Seth does to him. Makes him unable to complete a sentence, even just inside his head. Turns him into a stuttering fool. But isn’t that the mark of a new love?

Love. Ryan’s never thought about it in those terms. Attraction, sure, but love? He doesn’t know.

He needs to get Seth out of Portland, that he does know. Away from Luke’s dad and Gus, away from an open, accepting community, and maybe this will all die down. His feelings. Seth’s truths, right there for anyone to see. Maybe they can go back to Newport together and not be RyanandSeth, who are meant to be together, but just Ryan. And. Seth. Who are best friends, almost like brothers, who hang out in the pool house discussing the ladies.

Sure. And maybe Marissa and Summer will forgive them and won’t have moved on, and maybe Ryan will still want to be with Marissa, and Seth will still want to be with Summer, and everything will be exactly like it was last year and they’ll all walk off into the sunset holding hands.

Right.

So Ryan pretends. Pretends that he can’t tell what Seth wants, why Seth left. Lets Seth hope in vain, and takes him home.

(Reply to this)

zilly14
2005-02-06 08:54 pm UTC (link)

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon's the genius, not me.

Title: Doomed
Fandom: BtVS, post-Chosen
Word count: 100
Rating: G

“We’re doomed,” Giles sighed on the other end of the phone.

“Doomed? Are you telling me there’s another apocalypse coming our way?”

“You could call it that... but there’s no way you can stop it.”

“It?” Buffy wondered. “I need a translation, Giles. What am I dealing with? Demon? Vampire? God? A mixture of all the above?”

“Neither.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m afraid to inform you that Dawn...”

“Is she okay? Did she drop out of college? Giles, talk to me!”

“Your sister,” he admitted, “is getting married.”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s not the worst of it. Spike’s the groom.”

(Reply to this)

	christhiane 2005-02-14 03:11 pm UTC (link)
	Author: Jalita/Christhiane Title: The Word Athor's note: Well, I had nothing to write, so this is some lame humour thingy... again. Feedback: Yes please http://www.livejournal.com/users/christhiane/154175.html?mode=reply (Reply to this)

tarma
2005-03-15 11:09 pm UTC (link)

Title: Lost in Translation
Author: Haruka

tarma
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Rated: PG
Charas: Seigaku regulars, Kevin mentioned
Crossposted to:

canadian_haruka

The Seigaku regulars trooped into the locker room after practice, laughing and kidding each other about how practice had gone. Eiji looked around curiously.

“Where’s Ochibi-chan? Didn’t he come in with us?”

“Ryuzaki-sensei and Tezuka wanted to speak to him,” Inui remarked. “They’ll probably be a few minutes.”

Fuji glanced toward Ryoma’s bag on the bench and noticed a folded-up sheet of paper sticking out of it. He went over and pulled it out, opening it.

“Fujiko, isn’t that Echizen’s?” Kawamura asked uneasily. “It might be private.”

“It seems to be a letter from Kevin Smith,” Fuji commented. “It’s all in English.”

“That makes sense, since Kevin and Ryoma knew each other in America first,” Oishi pointed out. “Put the letter back, Fuji.”

“Gee,” Eiji grinned mischievously, “too bad it’s in English. We can’t read it then.”

“Eiji!” Oishi admonished.

“Sure, we can. I think I know enough English to translate.” Fuji looked down at the letter and began reading before anyone could stop him, “’Dear Ryoma, how are you? I am fine.’”

“Well, it’s certainly exciting so far.” Momoshiro rolled his eyes.

“I’ll read from further down then,” Fuji said and continued, “’Remember that day in New York when we sneaked out on doing interviews so we could go to FAO Schwarz? We spent the whole day there – it was a blast!’”

“What’s FAO Schwarz?” Kaidoh asked.

“A huge toy store with several floors,” Oishi explained and looked at the blue-eyed tensai. “Fuji, I think you should stop –“

“’Do you remember what happened later, Ryoma?’” Fuji went on, ignoring his team captain. “’When I kissed you out in front of the store and that one reporter recognized us? He was so mad that he didn’t have a camera on him to prove what he’d seen!’”

The boys all stared in silence for a moment, then Eiji exclaimed, “Are you kidding?! Kevin KISSED Ochibi?!”

Kawamura cleared his throat and motioned toward the doorway. Ryoma stood there, his expression unreadable, gold eyes focused on the paper in Fuji’s hand.

“Oh, Echizen!” Fuji said brightly and held it out to him. “Here’s your grocery list. I guess your mother wants you to pick up a few things on the way home?”

Their teammates groaned. “Is THAT what it really was?” Momoshiro cried.

Oishi sighed in relief. “I should known that Fuji couldn’t translate that well from English.”

Kaidoh shook his head. “Fsshhuuuu. You really had me going there.”

“Fuji is evil!” Eiji accused, but giggled at the same time.

As the others began to clear out of the room, Fuji leaned closer to Ryoma. “You shouldn’t leave such important grocery lists where others can find them, you know,” he suggested with a secretive smile.

“Thanks for the advice, senpai,” Ryoma said wryly. “And you might want to brush up on your English before translating anymore private grocery lists. You got the word ‘kiss’ confused with the word ‘kick.’”

Fuji’s eyes opened and he looked genuinely surprised. Ryoma picked up his bag and walked out, feeling more than a little smug.

“Fuji-senpai is a better translator than he knows.” He smiled to himself and went home to reply to his grocery list.

(Reply to this)

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