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  3. Poetry & Literature

il mare non riusciva piú a chiamare a sé

English translation: that the sea breeze was unable to sweep away

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:il mare non riusciva piú a chiamare a sé
English translation:that the sea breeze was unable to sweep away
Entered by: Lisa Jane

10:06 Jun 12, 2019
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / novel
Italian term or phrase: il mare non riusciva piú a chiamare a sé
Buongiorno a tutti,

I am currently writing a sample translation for an Italian novel for an applied literary translation programme that I am completing with a publishing house and have a small question. The author is describing the landscape of Naples and reads as follows, "E io allora me l'ero fatta a piedi per tutta via Marina, rinunciando ai tram bloccati dalle macchine sui binari, respirando tutti gli scarichi che il mare non riusciva piú a chiamare a sé", the first part is okay but I am struggling with "chiamare a sé", I have read elsewhere that it's a euphamism and could be translated as "to call home" but I'm not sure if that makes much sense here. Would really appreciate some help if anyone can!

All the best,

Emily.
Emily Staunton (X)
Ireland
Local time: 16:06
that the sea breeze was unable to sweep away
Explanation:
Or more literally

could no longer sweep away.

As we are talking about the polluted air it is the sea breeze rather than the sea itself that cannot manage the fumes
Selected response from:

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 17:06
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1that the sea breeze was unable to sweep away
Lisa Jane
4that the sea was no longer able to call to itself
Tom in London
4the sea was unable to carry off
Alexandra Speirs


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
that the sea breeze was unable to sweep away


Explanation:
Or more literally

could no longer sweep away.

As we are talking about the polluted air it is the sea breeze rather than the sea itself that cannot manage the fumes

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 17:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 136

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stuart and Aida Nelson: it sounds good!
30 mins
  -> Thanks Stuart and Aida!
disagree  Tom in London: We are NOT talking about the polluted air. we're talking about the smell of sewage from "tutti gli scarichi che il mare non riusciva piú a chiamare a sé",
1 hr
  -> OK, possibly but the text doesn't make that clear as scarichi can also refer to traffic fumes can't it?
agree  bluenoric: from the context scarichi can only refer to the "macchine sui binari"
2 days 53 mins
  -> Thanks bluenoric!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
that the sea was no longer able to call to itself


Explanation:
in the text I see nothing about a breeze, or sweeping away.

Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:06
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 155

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  bluenoric: and I see no mention of sewers...
1 day 23 hrs
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5 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the sea was unable to carry off


Explanation:
traffic fumes that the sea was unable to carry off

Alexandra Speirs
Local time: 17:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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