Anyone here read Italian?


Recommended Posts

I just read the first comment on my Cato Excursions page. I would like to respond, but, unfortunately, it is in Italian. (See below.) Can someone translate this for me? I can kinda make it out, but not nearly well enough to comment. I will include the translation in my reply so others can follow what is going on.

.

Umberto Fontana · Federico II Napoli

La parola tolleranza prevede e al tempo stesso presuppone la coesistenza del "tollerante" e del "tollerato". la sperequazione psicologica e perfino morale appare evidente.La sensibilità degli animi liberi fuggono queste connotazioni volta per volta buoniste, politically correct, progressive e-o progressiste.

See:

http://www.libertari...reedom#comments

I understand some of you will be sorely tempted to give joke translations. That's fine, since I would probably do the same thing. But if you give a serious translation, please be sure you know what you are doing.

Thanks.

Ghs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Babelfish suggests:

"The word tolerance previews and at the same time it presupposes the co-existence of the " tollerante" and of the " tollerato". the psychological sperequazione and moral even appears obvious. The sensibility of the free minds escapes these connotations turns for time buoniste, politically correct, progressive e-o progressives."

And I would fix that to

The word tolerance previews and at the same time it presupposes the co-existence of the " tolerated" and of the "tolerator". the psychological expectation (??) and moral even appears obvious. The sensibility of the free minds escapes these connotations turns for time for the better, politically correct, progressive vis-a-vis progressives.

(Best I can do. I had to take a class in Italian for Tourists. We never spoke it at home. That was for guineas.)

In short, in being "tolerant" you are objectifying the other person whom you tolerate. ... certainly not a problem here...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe Adam (Selene) can help?

Angela:

Thanks for the nomination.

Adam

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And I would fix that to

The word tolerance previews and at the same time it presupposes the co-existence of the " tolerated" and of the "tolerator". the psychological expectation (??) and moral even appears obvious. The sensibility of the free minds escapes these connotations turns for time for the better, politically correct, progressive vis-a-vis progressives.

I'd swap out "previews" for "anticipates", "expectation" for "imbalance", and "escapes" for "flees". It still doesn't entirely add up, particularly the end.

I took a year of Italian 20 years ago, have spent some terrific vacations there, and am something of an opera fanatic. I also read good parts of Foucault's Pendulum in Italian, cross referencing it to the translation, resulting in some interesting differences in nuance.

Funny thing, I meant to leave a comment on the article, I was going to reference Voltaire's "écrasez l'infame", but I forget how I was going to tie it in. I must have gotten distracted by a Philabuster.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My knowledge of Italian is very limited, so I apologize beforehand if I'm way off base here -

Imo the gist of the comment is that religious tolerance can become morally problematic in case the members of a 'tolerated religion' advocate intolerance (toward e. g. other religious groups, apostates or non-believers, or even against the political system that permits them to practice their religion). So there seems to be a reproach contained (by the writer) toward those who are too tolerant because of political correctness, turning a blind eye to a possible religious radicalism that might e. g. want to establish a theocracy).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is my stab at it, George, with assistance from GoogleTranslate and a touch of OCD. X-ray may be adding just a touch of 'between the lines' -- I think the message is fairly straightforward (if luscious-sounding in Italian!)

The word
tolerance
provides
, and
at the same time
assumes
the coexistence of the
"tolerant
"
and
"
tolerated
"
.
The
psychological
and even
moral
inequality
is obvious
.
From time to time, t
he sensitivities
of free minds
flee from
the politically-correct,
do-gooder, "progressive' and/or 'progressivist' connotations.

Maybe you can post this translation back to the gentleman to verify: I assume, perhaps wrongly, that he is not reading George H Smith in Italian.

Edited by william.scherk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is my stab at it, George, with assistance from GoogleTranslate and a touch of OCD. X-ray may be adding just a touch of 'between the lines' -- I think the message is fairly straightforward (if luscious-sounding in Italian!)

The word
tolerance
provides
, and
at the same time
assumes
the coexistence of the
"tolerant
"
and
"
tolerated
"
.
The
psychological
and even
moral
inequality
is obvious
.
From time to time, t
he sensitivities
of free minds
flee from
the politically-correct,
do-gooder, "progressive' and/or 'progressivist' connotations.

Maybe you can post this translation back to the gentleman to verify: I assume, perhaps wrongly, that he is not reading George H Smith in Italian.

Thanks -- and thanks to Michael and Ninth as well.

The first response I got was offlist, so I assume the person wants to remain anonymous. He offered the following as his "best guess," stating that he doesn't speak Italian fluently. His translation is similar to yours.

The word tolerance, at the same time provides and assumes the coexistence of the "tolerant" and "tolerated". Psychological and even moral inequality is obvious.

The sensitivity of the free spirits flee these associations from time to time, do-gooders, politically correct, -progressive or progressive.

Ghs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now