Each people have their own unique expressions, which may have similar meanings in other languages, but may not always be translated verbatim. Wislev’s “If you like to ride, you also love to carry a sleigh” is not a fault, and even for such an accurate translation into Ukrainian language it is necessary to include not only the lexical, but also the cultural context. WomanEL reveals how Ukrainians adapt the Russian Vistula to my family.
ContentVerbatim translationEquivalent Ukrainian VistulaPhraseological sourcesCulturally adapted variants
Verbatim translation
“If you like to ride, you like to carry sleighs” – this option is the most obvious, It also preserves the structure, sensation and imagery of the original. In the Ukrainian language, this sleigh ride has familiar cultural symbols, which is also a sensible and natural translation.
However, sometimes the verbatim translation may look too straightforward. Therefore, it’s time to turn to Ukrainian phraseological units and adapted expressions.
Equivalent Ukrainian vislov
Ukrainian language has its own analogue, which miraculously reflects the same idea: “If you love honey, you love smoke.” Wisłow is worried about the process of extracting honey – In order to avoid licorice often, it is necessary to go through a lot of difficulties (dim when working with bjols). This conveys the same essence as “sleds”, but is closer to the Ukrainian tradition.
Phraseological providers
Ukrainian language is rich in words that convey similar meaning. You can also find Ukrainian proverbs that have similar meanings:
- “Without labor there is no fruit.”
- “What have you sown, You will reap it.”
- “Not everything is a cat’s meal.”
These options are more abstract, but they convey the idea that, if satisfied, it will require a lot of sacrifice.
Culturally adapted options
To adapt Vistula to Ukrainian culture, you can use similar images that are closer to local traditions and culture.
- “If you want to eat a fish, be ready to climb into the water” – option to sound natural, vikory and wider in the Ukrainian culture, the motives of water and food.
- “If you want a pie, don’t forget to knead the dough” – It is therefore necessary to shift the emphasis to gastronomic traditions that are meaningful to the Ukrainians.
This will add some national flavor to the translation and make it more reasonable for a wide range of tastes.
Ukrainian language has a lot of equivalents for the words “If you like to ride, you also love to carry a sleigh.” It is important that the version you choose is literal for a specific situation and understandable for the audience.
Verbatim translation may be entirely acceptable, but is often more effective in vikory Ukrainian folk adjectives or adapted expressions that give depth and naturalness to the translation. The choice of a specific option depends on the situation in which you want to conquer this Vistula.
Also find out how to convey to the Ukrainian instead of the Russian Vistula “Patience and work will grind everything.”