Quotations

Original version

Quotations

Italian translation

Comparative analysis

“Perhaps it was my

speech: like Pakistan,

America is, after all, a

former English colony,

and it stands to reason,

therefore, that an

Anglicized accent may in

your country continue to

be associated with wealth

and power, just as it is in

mine.”

(page 48)

Forse era per come

parlavo: dopotutto anche

gli Stati Uniti sono, come

il Pakistan, una ex colonia

inglese, e non è quindi

così ingiustificato se un

accento anglicizzato nel

vostro paese continua ad

essere associato alle

ricchezze e al potere.

By analysing the quotation the intelligent reader understands that the Italian version uses more words than the English version. This is one of the main differences that can be found in the comparison between English language and Italian. In addition in the Italian version the speech is more sofisticated and articulated.

From syntactic point of view the first line’s of Italian version is not a literally translation because in original version “my speech” is direct object while in Italian version it translates to causal subordinate “per come parlavo”.

The Italian version is more explicit and it underlines how to speak while the English version uses one word to underline the speech and not the way to speak.

The word “America” is referred to whole continent so it does not imply connection with a specific reality instead the Italian version uses the word “Stati Uniti” to refers to a specific reality.

In the Italian translation there is an understatement on the other hand in the original version there is not the understatement because English grammar does not provide the double negative because it does not represent a statement but a reinforcement.

In the English version it is always specified the subject.

It goes without saying in English the conjugation of the verb does not allow to accurately recognize different people indeed in Italian it can be recognized by the conjugation of the verb.

I observe, sir, that there

continues to be something

about our waiter that puts

you ill at ease. I will admit

that he is an intimidating

chap, larger even than

you are.

(page 115)

Vedo, signore, che

qualcosa nel nostro

cameriere continua a

metterla a disagio.

Ammetto che è un tipo

minaccioso, ancora più

grosso di lei.

By analysing the quotation the intelligent reader understands that the use of the word “vedo” in the Italian version does not correspond with the original version in which the writer uses the verb “observe”.

The meaning of the Italian verb is perceiving someone by sight. On the other hand the English verb “observe” has not got the same meaning indeed it means to watch someone carefully. The two versions refer to the sensory field of view.

English's language system allows a lot of flexibility. English language makes it idea of progress, of change.

Sintax is very similar. The reader could understand that also the American is larger. There is an indirect physical description.

In the English version it is always specified the subject (I will admit); on the other hand in the Italian language verbs do not always have the subject. Indeed the verb “Ammetto” has the implied subject.

In addition in the English language you can not connect directly pronouns to verbs. Therefore the word “metterla” in the English version translates to “ puts you ill at ease”.

Another important difference between English and Italian is the use of form of courtesy. English uses the word “you” instead the Italian language uses the word “lei”.

In addition there are also some differences in the use of verbal tenses.

The Future "will admit" in the English version is translated with the present "ammetto" in the Italian version.

“I stared as one – and

then the other – of the

twin towers of New York's

World Trade Center

collapsed. And then I

smiled. Yes, despicable

as it may sound, my initial

reaction was to be

remarkably pleased.”

(page 79)

Vidi crollare prima una e

poi l'altra delle torri

gemelle del World Trade

Center di New York. E

allora sorrisi. Sì, per

quanto possa apparire

deprecabile, la mia prima

reazione fu di notevole

compiacimento.

The difference between the two versions mainly affects syntax: the difference of two versions is in the use of the word “then” and “allora”.

The Italian word is more specific than the English word. The word "sounds" in the english version refers to the sensory field. The word “compiacimento” emphasized the duration of action, but in the original version the word “pleased” refers to a past action.

In the English version it is specified the subject “I stared”,”I smiled” however in the Italian version there is not subject.

In the English version there is the participle “collapsed” on the other hand in the italian version there is the infinite “crollare”.