si facevano quasi sempre schermo di motivazioni scientifiche

English translation: ...were almost always hidden behind the screen/façade of scientific ...

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:si facevano quasi sempre schermo di motivazioni scientifiche
English translation:...were almost always hidden behind the screen/façade of scientific ...
Entered by: Barbara Cochran, MFA

23:46 Mar 9, 2020
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / History Book On Explorations And Discoveries
Italian term or phrase: si facevano quasi sempre schermo di motivazioni scientifiche
Contesto:

Bisogna però arrivare alla fine del XVIII secolo perché cominci la sistematica esplorazione delle regioni interne dell'Africa. Naturalmente, le aspirazioni coloniali, che ne erano la principale ragione, si facevano quasi sempre schermo di motivazioni scientifiche e sopratutto umanitarie; queste, dato il basso tenore di vita della popolazioni africane del tempo, trovavano a loro volta facilmente sostegno nel filantropismo delle società europee.

Grazie,

Barbara
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 02:43
...were almost always hidden behind the screen of scientific ...
Explanation:
Or you could say that "scientific and, especially, humanitarian motives almost always provided a screen for colonial ambitions..."
There are many possible translations.
Selected response from:

Marco Solinas
Local time: 23:43
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +10...were almost always hidden behind the screen of scientific ...
Marco Solinas


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +10
...were almost always hidden behind the screen of scientific ...


Explanation:
Or you could say that "scientific and, especially, humanitarian motives almost always provided a screen for colonial ambitions..."
There are many possible translations.

Marco Solinas
Local time: 23:43
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 106

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  mrrafe: or facade - connotes more disingenuousness than screen
32 mins

agree  Josephine Cassar
3 hrs

agree  martini
7 hrs

agree  Luca Gentili
7 hrs

agree  Lisa Jane: also facade
9 hrs

agree  Michael Korovkin: hid behind? It's always best to avoid the passive voice... or so I was told as a child...:)
12 hrs

agree  Luisa Salzano
14 hrs

agree  EleoE
18 hrs

agree  Mary Carroll Richer LaFlèche
1 day 5 hrs

agree  Simon Charass
1 day 17 hrs
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