This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
vnos
mocensko-technologický
Feb 14, 2009 17:55
15 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Czech term

Evropě to osladíme!

Czech to English Social Sciences Government / Politics
Has anyone got a decent translation of this (reflecting the ambiguity). I know they dropped the slogan, but it still crops up. I think "We'll show Europe the sweet taste of its own medicine" was a very good effort, but am sure there must be something even better. I've been trying to think of something with "lump" (if you've seen the pictures).
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 Making Europe sweeter
5 We will sweeten it up to Europe!
5 We will sweeten Europe
4 "We will make it sweet for Europe"
4 You'll see, Europe
2 More sugar for Europe!
2 A lump of sugar helps the medicine go down

Discussion

Stuart Hoskins (asker) Feb 14, 2009:
Yes, good point, it looks like this is something that might differ from one translation to another, depending on how it has been perceived by the author/speaker. There doesn't seem to be a "one size fits all".
Dylan Edwards Feb 14, 2009:
It depends on the context. Is it important to indicate that there's a double meaning? If it came up in a speech, I would judge it according to the speaker's attitude or the point being made.
Stuart Hoskins (asker) Feb 14, 2009:
Yes, those are the lines I was thinking along. Would you use it? Or would it be better/safer to stick with the "official" translation pointed out by Helena?
Dylan Edwards Feb 14, 2009:
"Czech sugar: like it or lump it" is the best play on words I've seen (I think it was actually "like it and lump it"). I suppose this would work in combination with a picture of sugar lumps.

Proposed translations

+1
13 mins
Selected

Making Europe sweeter

... or making things sweeter for Europe?

They're all pretty bad, imho... :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 48 mins (2009-02-14 18:44:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think 'spicing things up for Europe' would work well too if it weren't for the sugar cubes. too

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 51 mins (2009-02-14 18:46:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

(Excuse the unintentionally placed extra too!)
Note from asker:
that spice line is good, Jennifer. Yes, it's just a shame they're not red hot chilli peppers or something.
Peer comment(s):
agree Pavel Prudký : I agree with stuart, official slogan is very cheeky. Mine was meant as a joke. This one is best, I think.
35 mins
Thanks. I like yours too, tongue in cheek though it may be!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I think this sounds best as a slogan and seems to be how it is perceived abroad (with the reservation that the suggestions by Dylan and Elizabeth could be used where the double meaning has to be made clear). Thanks for all the ideas!"
4 mins

We will sweeten it up to Europe!

see reference

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2009-02-14 18:01:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or: we will sweeten Europe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi6dKIRjAaw
Reference:

http://motls.blogspot.com/2008/09/we-will-sweeten-it-up-to-europe.html

Note from asker:
Thanks Michal, that's a very interesting reference
Something went wrong...
6 mins

More sugar for Europe!

You may not take it seriously, but I like it as it is about another ambiguity - sugar as informal term for money :-))))
Something went wrong...
11 mins

We will sweeten Europe

This is the official translation as provided by the Office of the Czech Government to the interpreting service of the European Council and Commission.
Note from asker:
Really?! A bit like slapping someone on the back with a smile as you stick a "kick me" note on them. How could they not explain the other meaning? These Czechs are so cheeky sometimes!
Something went wrong...
1 hr

"We will make it sweet for Europe"

" it is concluding line after one cube falls into a cup of coffee under the Czech flag" http://euobserver.com "
Czechs promise to 'sweeten' Europe

"sweeter or harde for E" ? www.businessinfor.cz

from "Evropě to osladíme" to "Sladíme Evropu" www.EU2009.cz
Note from asker:
Some good references there, Maria. I knew they'd changed the slogan (for whatever reason), but the old one keeps popping up. Perhaps it's best just to be sweet about it, then.
Something went wrong...
5 hrs

A lump of sugar helps the medicine go down

Just thinking of Julie Andrews skipping through the Alps. I know she said "spoonful of sugar" ... poor Austrians must not have had sugar cubes.
Note from asker:
I love this suggestion, Elizabeth! And on the poster I'd put a picture of Klaus as the Childcatcher, running after Munchkin Barroso.
Something went wrong...
1 day 12 hrs

You'll see, Europe

Just fresh off of interpreting for Zlin Region within framework of Informal Meeting of EU Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs in Luhacovice, CR. I'm not going to go into why I know this, but you all know what the phrase infers. It's harder to understand why they found it important to say it. It's a bunch of B.S. In the meaning of the phrase, when one uses it, it is pretty "strong coffee". It basically means tit for tat when tat is gonna deliver you much worse than tit did. in short: you got me, now I'm gonna get you :(

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day12 hrs (2009-02-16 06:30:54 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

here's a question for you linguist out there...Is it important at this point to convey verbatim, or meaning?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days22 hrs (2009-02-17 15:59:13 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

No Stuart, everything was laid back, no nonsense, hats off to Luhacovice, Zlin Region, etc. for representing the CR in high style. Mr. Necas was great. As much anxiety such phrases and behavior at the castle created, the Czechs in my opinion are off to a fine start in their Presidency. Let us not forget that the last evening ended up in Jelinek for "decentni degustace" ;)
Example sentence:

You may have gotten me now, but you'll see.

Note from asker:
Absolutely agree, Scott. Were you still hearing this slogan in Zlin, or did they use the new toned-down "Sladime Evropu"?
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search