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English translation: filled the emptiness / whatever void there was

23:31 Apr 21, 2013
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Russian term or phrase: заполнять собой пространство
An orphan is looked after by her grandmother from afar.

I have, "She wasn't troubled; Vera Ivanovna ably filled in the gaps," but something is missing.

"gaps left in her life" perhaps, depending on what the original implies? собой I will probably leave out entirely.

Переживаний она не испытывала, Вера Ивановна умело заполняла собой пространство и жалости к Рите не допускала даже со стороны старух с темных лавочек
Deborah Hoffman
Local time: 22:48
English translation:filled the emptiness / whatever void there was
Explanation:
That's what the author means -- the empty space left by the orphan's parents.
Selected response from:

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 22:48
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3См.
Alexander Teplitsky
4 +1filled the emptiness / whatever void there was
Mark Berelekhis
4was a good company
rns
3filled the shoes left empty
The Misha
3ably met her every need
crainny


  

Answers


51 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
filled the emptiness / whatever void there was


Explanation:
That's what the author means -- the empty space left by the orphan's parents.

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 22:48
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 467

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cyhul
6 days
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
filled the shoes left empty


Explanation:
Perhaps that? Then again, I am often accused of being overly idiomatic for no good reason.

The Misha
Local time: 22:48
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 88
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
См.


Explanation:
Вера Ивановна умело заполняла собой пространство - Vera Ivanovna skillfully filled time and space by her own life [therefore she doesn't feel Rita could experience any
compassion from any one, even from old ladies].

]

Alexander Teplitsky
Local time: 22:48
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexander Grabowski
4 hrs
  -> Спасибо
agree  Maria Popova
5 hrs
  -> Спасибо
agree  Natalia Volkova: Absolutely!
6 hrs
  -> Спасибо
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
was a good company


Explanation:
As in "she was a good company" — http://goo.gl/ig2nl — based on broader context (paragraph) [1] — пространство refers to Ritka's solitude after her parents passed away.

[1] Родителей своих Ритка почти не знала — мать умерла от тоски по какому-то завсегдатаю холостяцких пивнушек, а отец считался умершим от гриппа. Переживаний она не испытывала, Вера Ивановна умело заполняла собой пространство и жалости к Рите не допускала даже со стороны старух с темных лавочек.
— http://magazines.russ.ru/novyi_mi/2010/9/kl4.html

rns
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 64
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
ably met her every need


Explanation:
Just trying to step away from the stylistics, and get closer to the meaning.

crainny
United States
Local time: 22:48
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
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