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Should I use a literal, figurative, or idiomatic translation for “I only have eyes for you�
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Some years ago, I tried to translate into German an English line:
I only have eyes for you.
My first attempt was a fairly literal one:
Meine Augen sind nur für dich.
Then I decided that a figurative translation might work better:
Meine Anblicken sind nur für dich.
which translates roughly as "My glances are only for you." The focus here is not on the "eyes" but what you do with the eyes.
I came by this version using what I call a "parallel construction." I had learned from an American textbook that "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English as "Loyalty is my honor," and therefore "reverse engineered" (or tried to) this construction.
Here's the poem the line came from.
Is either translation better or more accurate than the other? Or is there a third, more idiomatic translation that's better than either one?
english-to-german
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Some years ago, I tried to translate into German an English line:
I only have eyes for you.
My first attempt was a fairly literal one:
Meine Augen sind nur für dich.
Then I decided that a figurative translation might work better:
Meine Anblicken sind nur für dich.
which translates roughly as "My glances are only for you." The focus here is not on the "eyes" but what you do with the eyes.
I came by this version using what I call a "parallel construction." I had learned from an American textbook that "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English as "Loyalty is my honor," and therefore "reverse engineered" (or tried to) this construction.
Here's the poem the line came from.
Is either translation better or more accurate than the other? Or is there a third, more idiomatic translation that's better than either one?
english-to-german
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
Where is the my in the English sentence? Where's the are?
– Janka
2 hours ago
Since idioms rarely follow logical rules, describing how you got to your translation is imho only noise in the question. In other words: By reading your failed attempts I did not gain more insight in what you want to know. Therefore, I would reduce it to your final question.
– problemofficer
2 hours ago
You need definitively to give the context where you want to use this context. Otherwise appropriate advice cannot be given. Describe the social context where you want to use this, and the text form you want to use. Is it a love letter? Is it an oral utterance? Is it a parliamentary speech? An ironic remark towards a nasty co-worker?
– Christian Geiselmann
1 hour ago
@Janka: I wasn't using a strictly literal translation. The meaning of the English is, "I have eyes for you, and no one else." Which is what I tried to render in German as "Meine Augen/Anblicken sind nur fur dich." Example: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English is "Loyalty is my honor."
– Tom Au
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Some years ago, I tried to translate into German an English line:
I only have eyes for you.
My first attempt was a fairly literal one:
Meine Augen sind nur für dich.
Then I decided that a figurative translation might work better:
Meine Anblicken sind nur für dich.
which translates roughly as "My glances are only for you." The focus here is not on the "eyes" but what you do with the eyes.
I came by this version using what I call a "parallel construction." I had learned from an American textbook that "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English as "Loyalty is my honor," and therefore "reverse engineered" (or tried to) this construction.
Here's the poem the line came from.
Is either translation better or more accurate than the other? Or is there a third, more idiomatic translation that's better than either one?
english-to-german
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
Some years ago, I tried to translate into German an English line:
I only have eyes for you.
My first attempt was a fairly literal one:
Meine Augen sind nur für dich.
Then I decided that a figurative translation might work better:
Meine Anblicken sind nur für dich.
which translates roughly as "My glances are only for you." The focus here is not on the "eyes" but what you do with the eyes.
I came by this version using what I call a "parallel construction." I had learned from an American textbook that "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English as "Loyalty is my honor," and therefore "reverse engineered" (or tried to) this construction.
Here's the poem the line came from.
Is either translation better or more accurate than the other? Or is there a third, more idiomatic translation that's better than either one?
english-to-german
english-to-german
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
edited 2 mins ago
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
asked 4 hours ago
Tom Au
8,88432566
8,88432566
Where is the my in the English sentence? Where's the are?
– Janka
2 hours ago
Since idioms rarely follow logical rules, describing how you got to your translation is imho only noise in the question. In other words: By reading your failed attempts I did not gain more insight in what you want to know. Therefore, I would reduce it to your final question.
– problemofficer
2 hours ago
You need definitively to give the context where you want to use this context. Otherwise appropriate advice cannot be given. Describe the social context where you want to use this, and the text form you want to use. Is it a love letter? Is it an oral utterance? Is it a parliamentary speech? An ironic remark towards a nasty co-worker?
– Christian Geiselmann
1 hour ago
@Janka: I wasn't using a strictly literal translation. The meaning of the English is, "I have eyes for you, and no one else." Which is what I tried to render in German as "Meine Augen/Anblicken sind nur fur dich." Example: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English is "Loyalty is my honor."
– Tom Au
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Where is the my in the English sentence? Where's the are?
– Janka
2 hours ago
Since idioms rarely follow logical rules, describing how you got to your translation is imho only noise in the question. In other words: By reading your failed attempts I did not gain more insight in what you want to know. Therefore, I would reduce it to your final question.
– problemofficer
2 hours ago
You need definitively to give the context where you want to use this context. Otherwise appropriate advice cannot be given. Describe the social context where you want to use this, and the text form you want to use. Is it a love letter? Is it an oral utterance? Is it a parliamentary speech? An ironic remark towards a nasty co-worker?
– Christian Geiselmann
1 hour ago
@Janka: I wasn't using a strictly literal translation. The meaning of the English is, "I have eyes for you, and no one else." Which is what I tried to render in German as "Meine Augen/Anblicken sind nur fur dich." Example: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English is "Loyalty is my honor."
– Tom Au
6 mins ago
Where is the my in the English sentence? Where's the are?
– Janka
2 hours ago
Where is the my in the English sentence? Where's the are?
– Janka
2 hours ago
Since idioms rarely follow logical rules, describing how you got to your translation is imho only noise in the question. In other words: By reading your failed attempts I did not gain more insight in what you want to know. Therefore, I would reduce it to your final question.
– problemofficer
2 hours ago
Since idioms rarely follow logical rules, describing how you got to your translation is imho only noise in the question. In other words: By reading your failed attempts I did not gain more insight in what you want to know. Therefore, I would reduce it to your final question.
– problemofficer
2 hours ago
You need definitively to give the context where you want to use this context. Otherwise appropriate advice cannot be given. Describe the social context where you want to use this, and the text form you want to use. Is it a love letter? Is it an oral utterance? Is it a parliamentary speech? An ironic remark towards a nasty co-worker?
– Christian Geiselmann
1 hour ago
You need definitively to give the context where you want to use this context. Otherwise appropriate advice cannot be given. Describe the social context where you want to use this, and the text form you want to use. Is it a love letter? Is it an oral utterance? Is it a parliamentary speech? An ironic remark towards a nasty co-worker?
– Christian Geiselmann
1 hour ago
@Janka: I wasn't using a strictly literal translation. The meaning of the English is, "I have eyes for you, and no one else." Which is what I tried to render in German as "Meine Augen/Anblicken sind nur fur dich." Example: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English is "Loyalty is my honor."
– Tom Au
6 mins ago
@Janka: I wasn't using a strictly literal translation. The meaning of the English is, "I have eyes for you, and no one else." Which is what I tried to render in German as "Meine Augen/Anblicken sind nur fur dich." Example: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English is "Loyalty is my honor."
– Tom Au
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Your translations are unfortunately wrong in meaning and/or grammar.
The best attempt at translating this sentence would be the well known
Ich habe nur Augen für dich!
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
2
I'm not sure that works. Isn't "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" better? The emphasis is on you/dich, not on "eyes" (versus ears).
– Tom Au
3 hours ago
1
@TomAu It's actually an idiom this way round - Probably because the amount of eyes per person is pretty limited on humans...
– tofro
3 hours ago
@TomAu while "Ich habe nur Augen für dich" says something like "The only thing/person i want to see is you", "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" can be seen as "I have eyes (just) to give them to you". The difference is very subtle and probably you can say it in both ways and no one will ever notice . Also someone may interpret it the other way around... but as tofro said it's a known idiom this way
– mtwde
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Your translations are unfortunately wrong in meaning and/or grammar.
The best attempt at translating this sentence would be the well known
Ich habe nur Augen für dich!
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
2
I'm not sure that works. Isn't "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" better? The emphasis is on you/dich, not on "eyes" (versus ears).
– Tom Au
3 hours ago
1
@TomAu It's actually an idiom this way round - Probably because the amount of eyes per person is pretty limited on humans...
– tofro
3 hours ago
@TomAu while "Ich habe nur Augen für dich" says something like "The only thing/person i want to see is you", "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" can be seen as "I have eyes (just) to give them to you". The difference is very subtle and probably you can say it in both ways and no one will ever notice . Also someone may interpret it the other way around... but as tofro said it's a known idiom this way
– mtwde
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Your translations are unfortunately wrong in meaning and/or grammar.
The best attempt at translating this sentence would be the well known
Ich habe nur Augen für dich!
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
2
I'm not sure that works. Isn't "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" better? The emphasis is on you/dich, not on "eyes" (versus ears).
– Tom Au
3 hours ago
1
@TomAu It's actually an idiom this way round - Probably because the amount of eyes per person is pretty limited on humans...
– tofro
3 hours ago
@TomAu while "Ich habe nur Augen für dich" says something like "The only thing/person i want to see is you", "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" can be seen as "I have eyes (just) to give them to you". The difference is very subtle and probably you can say it in both ways and no one will ever notice . Also someone may interpret it the other way around... but as tofro said it's a known idiom this way
– mtwde
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Your translations are unfortunately wrong in meaning and/or grammar.
The best attempt at translating this sentence would be the well known
Ich habe nur Augen für dich!
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
Your translations are unfortunately wrong in meaning and/or grammar.
The best attempt at translating this sentence would be the well known
Ich habe nur Augen für dich!
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
answered 4 hours ago
mtwde
1,15819
1,15819
2
I'm not sure that works. Isn't "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" better? The emphasis is on you/dich, not on "eyes" (versus ears).
– Tom Au
3 hours ago
1
@TomAu It's actually an idiom this way round - Probably because the amount of eyes per person is pretty limited on humans...
– tofro
3 hours ago
@TomAu while "Ich habe nur Augen für dich" says something like "The only thing/person i want to see is you", "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" can be seen as "I have eyes (just) to give them to you". The difference is very subtle and probably you can say it in both ways and no one will ever notice . Also someone may interpret it the other way around... but as tofro said it's a known idiom this way
– mtwde
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2
I'm not sure that works. Isn't "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" better? The emphasis is on you/dich, not on "eyes" (versus ears).
– Tom Au
3 hours ago
1
@TomAu It's actually an idiom this way round - Probably because the amount of eyes per person is pretty limited on humans...
– tofro
3 hours ago
@TomAu while "Ich habe nur Augen für dich" says something like "The only thing/person i want to see is you", "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" can be seen as "I have eyes (just) to give them to you". The difference is very subtle and probably you can say it in both ways and no one will ever notice . Also someone may interpret it the other way around... but as tofro said it's a known idiom this way
– mtwde
2 hours ago
2
2
I'm not sure that works. Isn't "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" better? The emphasis is on you/dich, not on "eyes" (versus ears).
– Tom Au
3 hours ago
I'm not sure that works. Isn't "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" better? The emphasis is on you/dich, not on "eyes" (versus ears).
– Tom Au
3 hours ago
1
1
@TomAu It's actually an idiom this way round - Probably because the amount of eyes per person is pretty limited on humans...
– tofro
3 hours ago
@TomAu It's actually an idiom this way round - Probably because the amount of eyes per person is pretty limited on humans...
– tofro
3 hours ago
@TomAu while "Ich habe nur Augen für dich" says something like "The only thing/person i want to see is you", "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" can be seen as "I have eyes (just) to give them to you". The difference is very subtle and probably you can say it in both ways and no one will ever notice . Also someone may interpret it the other way around... but as tofro said it's a known idiom this way
– mtwde
2 hours ago
@TomAu while "Ich habe nur Augen für dich" says something like "The only thing/person i want to see is you", "Ich habe Augen nur für dich" can be seen as "I have eyes (just) to give them to you". The difference is very subtle and probably you can say it in both ways and no one will ever notice . Also someone may interpret it the other way around... but as tofro said it's a known idiom this way
– mtwde
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
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Where is the my in the English sentence? Where's the are?
– Janka
2 hours ago
Since idioms rarely follow logical rules, describing how you got to your translation is imho only noise in the question. In other words: By reading your failed attempts I did not gain more insight in what you want to know. Therefore, I would reduce it to your final question.
– problemofficer
2 hours ago
You need definitively to give the context where you want to use this context. Otherwise appropriate advice cannot be given. Describe the social context where you want to use this, and the text form you want to use. Is it a love letter? Is it an oral utterance? Is it a parliamentary speech? An ironic remark towards a nasty co-worker?
– Christian Geiselmann
1 hour ago
@Janka: I wasn't using a strictly literal translation. The meaning of the English is, "I have eyes for you, and no one else." Which is what I tried to render in German as "Meine Augen/Anblicken sind nur fur dich." Example: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" is rendered in English is "Loyalty is my honor."
– Tom Au
6 mins ago