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Ayvalığ’a âlâ!

English translation: Ayvalık-Aliağa

07:54 Sep 16, 2008
Turkish to English translations [Non-PRO]
Tourism & Travel
Turkish term or phrase: Ayvalığ’a âlâ!
Hi

Before I learnt Turkish properly I visited Turkey and remember catching the bus to Ayvalık.

I saw a bus coming, and near it was a boy of about 14 calling out “Ayvalığ’a âlâ!”

For many years I thought he had meant “Just right for Ayvalık.”

However, I recently learnt that the place name “Aliağa”, when pronounced very quickly, loses much of its İ, and so would sound rather like “âlâ”.

So, which do you think he said? “Ayvalığa âlâ!” or “Ayvalığ’a Aliağa’ya!”? And, therefore, how do you translate it?

This is somewhat complicated by the fact that Aliağa is on the road to Ayvalık. I wish I could remember exactly where I was at the time – it must have been somewhere on the way to Ayvalık, perhaps even Aliağa itself...

This is important because I have never heard “âlâ” used before except in this case – if indeed it was used in this case.

Best wishes,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:52
English translation:Ayvalık-Aliağa
Explanation:
You are right that "âlâ" is irrevelvant here. But I think he was not saying “Ayvalığ’a Aliağa’ya" (to ayvalık, to aliağa) either. Usually they call out the bare name of places.

I think he might had said something like "Ayvalığaliaa", which is basicly Ayvalık-Aliağa.
Selected response from:

skaya
Türkiye
Local time: 08:52
Grading comment
many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1“Ayvalığ’a Aliağa’ya!”
Mehmet Hascan
4 +1Ayvalık-Aliağa
skaya


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Ayvalık-Aliağa


Explanation:
You are right that "âlâ" is irrevelvant here. But I think he was not saying “Ayvalığ’a Aliağa’ya" (to ayvalık, to aliağa) either. Usually they call out the bare name of places.

I think he might had said something like "Ayvalığaliaa", which is basicly Ayvalık-Aliağa.

skaya
Türkiye
Local time: 08:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Turkish
Grading comment
many thanks excellent

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Özden Arıkan: Bu bir "mondegreens" örneği galiba. Kesin cevabı ancak muavin bilir :-) // Linki yapıştırmayı unutmuşum, epeyce eğlenceli: http://www.proz.com/topic/23328
4 hrs
  -> :)) benim de şarkılarda yanlış anladığım şeyler çok oluyor. gerçi şimdi örnek vermek için hatırlayamadım ama..
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
“Ayvalığ’a Aliağa’ya!”


Explanation:
It must have been a bus bound for Ayvalık via Aliağa.



Mehmet Hascan
Ireland
Local time: 06:52
Native speaker of: Turkish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Özden Arıkan: Ben de küçükken, seyyar satıcıların kapı kapı dolaşarak sattığına inandığım "buruka"nın nasıl bir şey olduğunu merak ederdim çok. ("Hangi kapıyı çalsam, karşımda buruk acı" Biliyor musunuz o şarkıyı?)
2 hrs
  -> Teşekkürler Özden Hn. Yok hayır o şarkıyı hiç duymadım.
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