Original text (English)

Italian translation

I wonder how it was that America was able to wreak such havoc in the world – orchestrating an entire war in Afghanistan, say, and legitimizing through its actions in the invasion of weaker states by more powerful ones, which India was now proposing to do to Pakistan – with so few apparent consequences at home.

Mi chiedevo come gli Stati Uniti potesse creare un tale scempio nel mondo – orchestrare un’intera guerra in Afghanistan, ad esempio, e legittimare con le proprie azioni l’invasione di stati più deboli da parte di altri più potenti, cioè quello che l’India si proponeva di fare col Pakistan – con apparentemente così poche ripercussioni in patria.

Reason for choice: The quotation shows Changez's point of view about America.

Themes:

• Different cultures meeting
• Superiority VS inferiority

Analysis: Changez is negatively surprised by America’s power. Changez uses two examples in order to explain it: the war in Afghanistan and the consent to the domination of most powerful people on poor people. As a further example, Changez used India, a powerful state, and Pakistan, a weak state.

Comparative analysis:

• America – Stati Uniti: The Italian version uses the name “United States” instead of “America” in order to be more specific from a geographical point of view.
• Wreak – creare: the word “wreak” implies that there is something previously repressed is going to burst. The Italian version uses the verb “creare”, which gives the impression that there wasn’t anything before.
• Havoc – scempio: The word “havoc” refers to a devastated scenario. The term “scempio” connotes the fact as immoral. Therefore the Italian version focuses more on the ethical value, while the English version uses a descriptive word that creates an image in the reader's mind.
• Say – ad esempio: The word “say” refers to Changez and to his presence. The word “esempio” is only used to link arguments to the thesis. In the English version Changez's presence is more evident.
• Now: The English word “now” emphasizes the presence of Changez-character and therefore of his location in a specific place and time.
• Consequences – ripercussioni: the Italian word “ripercussioni” differs from the English word “consequences” since it implies an indirect consequence.
• Home – patria: the English word “home” refers to the family, while the Italian word “patria” refers to the nation. This difference shows that in the English version "home" and "homeland" are interchangeable: Changez gives them the same meaning. Instead, in the Italian version there is a separation between family and homeland.

Conclusion: The English version seems to be more informal and personal, and highlights Changez’s point of view. The Italian version seems to provide a more objective and formal point of view, linked to the State.

Original text (English)

Italian translation

I telephoned my parents and they told me that the situation in Pakistan continued to be precarious; it was rumoured that India was acting with America’s connivance, both countries seeking through the threat of force to coerce our government into changing its policies. Moreover, our house’s main water connection had ruptured – the pipes were long overdue for replacement – and the pressure now was so low that it had become impossible to take a shower; they were making do with buckets and ladles instead. This caused me to reflect again on the absurdity of my situation, being two hemispheres – if such a thing is possible – from home at the time when my family was in need.

Telefonai ai miei genitori e appresi che la situazione in Pakistan era sempre incerta; girava voce che l’India agisse con la connivenza degli Stati Uniti, che i due paesi, minacciando l’uso della forza, cercassero di costringere il nostro governo a cambiare politica. Inoltre l’impianto idrico della casa si era rotto – le tubature avrebbero dovuto essere cambiate già da tempo – e adesso la pressione dell’acqua era così bassa che era diventato impossibile fare una doccia; andavano avanti con secchi e mestoli. Questo mi portò a riflettere di nuovo sull’assurdità della mia situazione, trovarmi a due emisferi di distanza da casa – sempre che così si possa dire – in un momento in cui la famiglia era nel bisogno.

Reason for choice: The quotation provides useful information to understand Changez’s relationship with his family and homeland.

Themes:

• Different cultures meeting
• Identity
• Family

Analysis: Changez provides the reader a few information about the situation in Pakistan by reporting a phone call with his family. At first Changez reports information about the politic situation: the balance is precarious and Pakistan seems to be in danger. He later adds information about his family, which is facing some problems with pipes. Changez’s help seems to be needed not only by his family, but also by Pakistan itself. What Changez’s family wanted to tell him is to come back home instead of staying in America, which is not his homeland. However, the reader can catch some signs of Changez’s reluctance to go back. Indeed, Changez uses the expression “our house”: it is a contraddiction, since “house” implies it’s someone else’s (“my home” versus “your house”), but at the same time Changez uses the adjective “our”. In short, he seem not to know what to do.

Comparative analysis:

• They told me – appresi: The English version draws the attention on Changez’s family. In the Italian translation, however, the verb “appresi” shifts the attention on Changez himself: it highlights Changez’s comprehension of the information provided by his family.
• If such a thing is possible – sempre che così si possa dire:
• Both – i due: The adjective “both” is translated as “i due”. The English version implies that the two countries have the same interests and therefore conveys the idea of a strategic alliance between the two countries. The Italian translation, only puts the two countries close, but does not unite them.
• Our house’s – della casa: The Italian version does not include the adjective “our”: thus, the expression “della casa” seems to be objective and conveys Changez’s detachment from his family and homeland. Changez’s detachment is conveyed in the English version as well, but it is less strong: indeed, the English version uses the word “house” instead of “home”; here, Changez’s detachment is balanced by the adjective “our”.
• If such a thing is possible – sempre che così si possa dire: the aside of the English version refers to Changez’s distance from home: in particular, it implies that Changez should be at home with his family. On the contrary, in the Italian version, the aside refers to what Changez is saying: in particular, it refers to the expression “due emisferi”, which may sound unreal.
• At the time – in un momento: The Italian version is more generic and does not convey the idea of simultaneity. Indeed, the English version seems to focus the reader’s attention on the fact that Changez is needed by his family right now.
• My family – la famiglia: Once again, the Italian version conveys Changez’s detachment from his family by not including the adjective “my”.

Conclusion: The overall effect of the Italian translation is to focus on Changez and his actions only: he seems to be alone and not bound to his family. On the contrary, in the English translation Changez seems to be aware of the distance from his family, due to his experience in the USA; however, he still feels a sense of belonging to his family, as suggested by the adjectives “our” and “my”.

Original text (English)

Italian translation

Such journeys have convinced me that it is not always possible to restore one’s boundaries after they have been blurred and made permeable by a relationship: try as we might, we cannot reconstitute ourselves as the autonomous beings we previously imagined ourselves to be. Something of us is now outside, and something of the outside is now within us.

Tali esperienze mi hanno convinto che non è sempre possibile restaurare i propri confini dopo che sono stati turbati e resi permeabili da una relazione: per quanto ci proviamo, non possiamo ricostruirci nella forma autonoma che in precedenza immaginavamo di avere. Qualcosa di noi si trova adesso all'esterno, e qualcosa di esterno è adesso dentro di noi.

Reason for choice: The quotation allows the reader to understand how another culture can affect and influence you. It also refers to Changez’s relationship with Erica.

Themes:

• Love relationship
• Different genders meeting
• Different social classes meeting
• Different cultures meeting
• Meeting the Other
• Identity

Analysis: Changez explains the American what happens when you meet another culture: his reasoning starts from a statement, which focuses on his experience in the USA. He later develops the statement and explain that one changes after meeting another culture. The last sentence is the conclusion of his reasoning: meeting another culture implies a contamination between the two parts and also giving away a part of yourself. In the quotation, Changez shifts from his experience to a general point of view.

Comparative analysis:

• Journeys – esperienze: Journey only focuses the attention on Changez’s physical travels. The Italian version also focuses the reader’s attention on the psychological consequences of a journey.
• Blurred – turbati: the English word “blurred” refers to a weak distinction between two separate things: thus, meeting another culture makes you unable to distinguish what belongs to which culture. The Italian version, uses the word “turbati”: it implies that the limits and divisions are placed in a different way after you met another culture.
• Try as we might – per quanto ci proviamo: The English expression “try as we might” sounds more optimistic and less sententious than the Italian translation. Indeed, the Italian version seems to imply that there are no possibilities to go back.
• Autonomous beings – forma autonoma: the English expression “autonomous beings” implies that Changez wasn’t able to reconstitute his own essence. On the contrary, the Italian translation implies that Changez is trying to rebuild his identity.

Conclusion: The overall effect is that the Italian version is more objective. It offers a general point of view but less psychological.