SirReaL Apr 4, 2011:

I, for one, am glad you're done. Such a challenge, wasn't it?

If and when you return to Kudoz, please make an effort to be a helpful asker. Don't ignore useful advice and don't make people extort essential context from you.

And one last note: if you don't want to embarrass yourself next time, please check the difference between translators and interpreters.

Good luck!

PaulinaK (asker) Apr 4, 2011:

No "next time", Mikhail! It so happens that this was actually my last question: tonight I'm turning in my completed 200-page translation (and finally receiving the rest of my salary)!

Thanks to the majority of you who helped me by submitting excellent translation suggestions and providing thought-provoking discussion - some of your creative and clever suggestions amazed me, making me proud to be a member of this community! (Special thanks to Kiwiland Bear and Rachel Douglas).

And to the few interpreters who proved that educated, intellectual people can be the most snobby and condescending individuals on the web: NEENER! I'm starting a new job with Russian Oligarchs and film directors..
Ciao!
;)~

Inna Edsall Mar 19, 2011:

I must say, in my opinion, Lana's idea sounds the best so far. Very nice way to connect the trip to the proverb.

Inna Edsall Mar 19, 2011:

@rikka You are totally right. Every cloud has a silver lining is definitely better. Interestingly, I came across this expression in Lingvo Universal, and it something stuck me as odd (to be exact "the"), but I didn't check. I should have right away. Thanks for pointing that out.

rikka Mar 18, 2011:

@Inna - "every cloud has a silver lining"?
@Lana - "a blessing in disguise" - that sounds good!

SirReaL Mar 18, 2011:

When you post a Kudoz question, there's this note: ==========
Help translators help you: providing context for the term for which you are seeking help is a valuable tool for potential answerers. The more context you can provide for your term, the better help you will tend to receive. Consider including such information as:
* type of document/situation in which the term appears
* country and dialect
* target audience/country
* specific context (the source sentence or paragraph where the term occurs)
* any reference URLs, translations you are considering, etc.
See a more detailed description of context to include here: http://www.proz.com/faq/70204#70204
==========

We don't need no education, eh?

But you're right: no one is forcing me to read your question. I've gone to the trouble of opening your question, providing a useful reference and giving you advice. Obviously, I won't bother next time. Take care.

LanaUK Mar 18, 2011:

My trip to X turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

PaulinaK (asker) Mar 18, 2011:

I always have my own translation option, which I usually present. However, I do like to consider other interpreters' input, and there are times when I 2nd guess myself (especially with my brain working on overdrive to complete a huge project).

No one is forcing you to:
A. Submit answers
B. Read any of this

So it would be refreshing if you followed the guidelines for this forum, and left your condescension to yourself...

SirReaL Mar 18, 2011:

I sure was curious What I was curious about, and still am, is why you cannot come up with the right way to say this, what with being a native speaker of English and perfectly bilingual and all.
And THEN... if you're having trouble doing that, how do you expect people who don't have YOUR context to provide something better than the standard dictionary options. Which in this case are 100% standard.

PaulinaK (asker) Mar 18, 2011:

@ Inna Edsall That sounds nice, please submit :)

PaulinaK (asker) Mar 18, 2011:

Context Are you ready for this?!:

Героиня ищет военную часть своего мужа, во время Второй Мировой:

"Пока дождалась поезда, а затем оказавшись одной в вагоне - много пережила. Поезд тронулся, я жива и через час я была уже в Энгельсе. Здала вещи в камеру хранения и подалась через лес и поле. Спустя час я нашла часть. Полком в Энгельсе командовала Марина K., полк был женский и зачем я там нужна была не знаю.
*Не было бы счастья, да несчастье помогло.*
Однажды находясь в городе Я увидела знакомого мальчика, узнала в нем сына подруги Тети X, Фиму. Я обрадовалась, что в городе есть знакомые. Фима меня повел к себе, и какая это была встреча! От них я узнала адрес Тети X. Тут же пошла на почту и дала маме телеграмму, и до моего приезда Тетя X уже побывала у мамы в Ташкенте."

So does this - prolonged - context really make a difference in translating the adage?

In my opinion, it does not.

Honestly, were you guys simply curious to read the next installment of the saga? :)

Inna Edsall Mar 18, 2011:

Вот еще один вариант не было бы счастья, да несчастье помогло — ≈ there's a silver lining to the cloud
Lingvo Universal

SirReaL Mar 18, 2011:

Yeah, well Without context, the best you can come up with is some one-size-fits-all blah-blah. No guarantee that it'll work for your particular text.

If you're just looking for some options to choose from, well... since this is a saying/proverb, you might as well look it up in a dictionary. That's about the most reliable thing dictionaries can do for you - offer translations of things people have been saying for centuries ;)
I trust you will make the right choice.

But just in case you need something more appropriate and fitting... context is your magic word ;)

Mark Berelekhis Mar 18, 2011:

+1 Context matters even for an adage, which can go a dozen different ways.

PaulinaK (asker) Mar 18, 2011:

Thanks for the link, by the way :)

PaulinaK (asker) Mar 18, 2011:

I do, Mikhail, but this is a specific saying.
Honestly, I don't think context is necessary.. and besides, it is quite long...

SirReaL Mar 18, 2011:

Asking questions without context? I thought you knew better than that, Paulina.

http://www.multitran.ru/c/m.exe?a=3&&s=������� ���������&l1=2&l2=1