Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
il desiderio di realizzare il mito del superuomo
English translation:
the desire to achieve superman status
Added to glossary by
Fiona Grace Peterson
Dec 30, 2014 21:55
9 yrs ago
Italian term
Italy
Just what the doctor ordered
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: Italian to English
il desiderio di realizzare il mito del superuomo
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Sports / Fitness / Recreation
Extreme sports
A text describing the reasons why people take up extreme sports.
"La sfida a ciò che era ritenuto comunemente impossibile, la ricerca del limite del rischio e dell’emozione, il desiderio di realizzare il mito del superuomo o la spinta all'autoperfezionamento sono solo alcuni aspetti..."
The meaning is clear, but I can't seem to find a solution that accurately conveys the nuance of the source text, and that doesn't sound completely corny...
TIA!!!
"La sfida a ciò che era ritenuto comunemente impossibile, la ricerca del limite del rischio e dell’emozione, il desiderio di realizzare il mito del superuomo o la spinta all'autoperfezionamento sono solo alcuni aspetti..."
The meaning is clear, but I can't seem to find a solution that accurately conveys the nuance of the source text, and that doesn't sound completely corny...
TIA!!!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
12 hrs
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Selected
the desire to achieve superman status
No Storm Lasts Forever - Page 110 - Google Books Result
https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=1401939864
Dr. Terry A. Gordon
Some take this to an extreme, consuming muscle-enhancing supplements such as creatine and anabolic steroids to achieve Superman status with Incredible Hulk-like...
Learn how to achieve Superman Status using...
https://twitter.com/ProCoachVideos/status/527921210043416576
I have never been able to read 'Watt' by Beckett without laughter. 'Man without a Shadow' is one of four works of fiction and while there is a storyline, there is also Wilson's main subject, how to achieve Superman status. To be all that we can be.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R35O53I1JEXI7J
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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2015-01-01 02:08:43 GMT)
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or:
"the desire to release the/one's inner superhero"
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you Rachel, and to everyone for your suggestions and agrees. I felt this was the best fit for the style of my text. Happy New Year everyone!"
+3
27 mins
Gad Kohenov
Israel
Israel
Works in field
Israel
30 years of experience+satisfied clients
Native in: French 
, Hebrew
Works in: English to Hebrew, Hebrew to English, French to Hebrew, and 8 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
29
the ambition to achieve/fulfill the superman myth
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
mona elshazly
7 hrs
|
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Mille grazie!
|
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| agree |
philgoddard
: I'd stick to desire.
16 hrs
|
|
Thanks! Certainly a possibility.
|
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| agree |
Adar Brauner
: Nice
20 hrs
|
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Thanks a lot!
|
47 mins
texjax DDS PhD
Native in Italian
Degree + PhD in Dentistry, ATA-Certified
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English, Italian
Related KudoZ points
:
24
the desire to embody the myth of superhuman
To my (non native) ears superhuman sounds better
or: superhuman traits
or: superman
As David already pointed out, myth might not be absolutely necessary
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Note added at 51 mins (2014-12-30 22:46:50 GMT)
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I was about to say "To my (non native) ears superhuman sounds better but I might be wrong" but I was interrupted by a phone call..sorry
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Note added at 59 mins (2014-12-30 22:55:46 GMT)
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Fearless photographers go out on limb for extreme sports
xfinitytv.comcast.net/watch/CBS-This...go...extreme-sports/videos
Extreme sports have never been more popular, and now the craft of filming these superhuman feats is also getting attention.
http://www.thefeelgoodlifestyle.com/on-becoming-superhuman-h...
or: superhuman traits
or: superman
As David already pointed out, myth might not be absolutely necessary
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Note added at 51 mins (2014-12-30 22:46:50 GMT)
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I was about to say "To my (non native) ears superhuman sounds better but I might be wrong" but I was interrupted by a phone call..sorry
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Note added at 59 mins (2014-12-30 22:55:46 GMT)
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Fearless photographers go out on limb for extreme sports
xfinitytv.comcast.net/watch/CBS-This...go...extreme-sports/videos
Extreme sports have never been more popular, and now the craft of filming these superhuman feats is also getting attention.
http://www.thefeelgoodlifestyle.com/on-becoming-superhuman-h...
1 hr
longing for/striving to (the myth of) the overman (Übermensch)
'Superman' does not render well the German 'ueber', moreover the term tends to be identified with the 'comic-character'.
I would leave 'myth' out is pleonastic
the choice of 'long for' and/or 'strive to' depends on your context..
Übermensch in English
The first translation, published in 1896, of Thus Spoke Zarathustra into English was by Alexander Tille, who translated Übermensch as **Beyond-Man**. In the Thomas Common translation, published in 1909, however, Übermensch was rendered as **"Superman"**. Common was anticipated in this by George Bernard Shaw, who had done the same in his 1903 stage play Man and Superman. Walter Kaufmann lambasted this translation in the 1950s for two reasons: first, its near or éétotal failure to capture the nuance of the German word über** (while the Latin prefix super- means above or beyond, the English use of the prefix or its use as an adjective has altered the meaning); and second, a rationale which Fredric Wertham railed against even more vehemently in Seduction of the Innocent, for promoting an eventual puerile[citation needed] identification with the **comic-book character Superman**. His preference was to translate Übermensch as "overman". Scholars continue to employ both terms, some simply opting to reproduce the German word.[1][2]
I would leave 'myth' out is pleonastic
the choice of 'long for' and/or 'strive to' depends on your context..
Übermensch in English
The first translation, published in 1896, of Thus Spoke Zarathustra into English was by Alexander Tille, who translated Übermensch as **Beyond-Man**. In the Thomas Common translation, published in 1909, however, Übermensch was rendered as **"Superman"**. Common was anticipated in this by George Bernard Shaw, who had done the same in his 1903 stage play Man and Superman. Walter Kaufmann lambasted this translation in the 1950s for two reasons: first, its near or éétotal failure to capture the nuance of the German word über** (while the Latin prefix super- means above or beyond, the English use of the prefix or its use as an adjective has altered the meaning); and second, a rationale which Fredric Wertham railed against even more vehemently in Seduction of the Innocent, for promoting an eventual puerile[citation needed] identification with the **comic-book character Superman**. His preference was to translate Übermensch as "overman". Scholars continue to employ both terms, some simply opting to reproduce the German word.[1][2]
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
James (Jim) Davis
: I think the reference is to the "man of steel" character in the comics rather than to Nietzsche's "oltreuomo".
4 hrs
|
14 mins
David Hollywood
Native in English
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
the desire to give (real) life to/live the superman myth
couple of ideas
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Note added at 17 mins (2014-12-30 22:13:34 GMT)
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or maybe even just go literal and say: realize the superman myth
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Note added at 19 mins (2014-12-30 22:14:53 GMT)
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but doesn't ring too true IMO
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Note added at 24 mins (2014-12-30 22:20:18 GMT)
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or: the desire to be superman in act and deed
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Note added at 26 mins (2014-12-30 22:22:03 GMT)
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or: the desire to make superman come alive
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Note added at 27 mins (2014-12-30 22:23:26 GMT)
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We can be pretty free here so let's see what else comes up ...
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Note added at 31 mins (2014-12-30 22:27:38 GMT)
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not sure it's absolutely necessary to include "myth"as it's implicit in the superman concept
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-12-30 23:34:49 GMT)
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I really think we have to flexible and creative here ... anything literal sounds forced
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-12-30 23:39:22 GMT)
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making superman a reality
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-12-30 23:40:26 GMT)
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the desire to make superman a reality
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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-12-31 01:00:14 GMT)
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or: the desire tp be like superman
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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-12-31 01:00:49 GMT)
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to be like etc.
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Note added at 17 mins (2014-12-30 22:13:34 GMT)
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or maybe even just go literal and say: realize the superman myth
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Note added at 19 mins (2014-12-30 22:14:53 GMT)
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but doesn't ring too true IMO
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Note added at 24 mins (2014-12-30 22:20:18 GMT)
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or: the desire to be superman in act and deed
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2014-12-30 22:22:03 GMT)
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or: the desire to make superman come alive
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2014-12-30 22:23:26 GMT)
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We can be pretty free here so let's see what else comes up ...
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Note added at 31 mins (2014-12-30 22:27:38 GMT)
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not sure it's absolutely necessary to include "myth"as it's implicit in the superman concept
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-12-30 23:34:49 GMT)
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I really think we have to flexible and creative here ... anything literal sounds forced
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-12-30 23:39:22 GMT)
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making superman a reality
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-12-30 23:40:26 GMT)
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the desire to make superman a reality
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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-12-31 01:00:14 GMT)
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or: the desire tp be like superman
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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-12-31 01:00:49 GMT)
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to be like etc.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
writeaway
: so which one of the many many attempts is actually the proposed answer?
10 hrs
|
6 hrs
James (Jim) Davis
Seychelles
Seychelles
Native in English
Seychelles
25 years experience constantly improving
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
54
the desire to become a real superman
I think you can safely leave the word "mito" as incorporated in the meaning of superman, which is already a modern day myth. Any attempt to translate it sounds forced. The word is overdone and ubiquitous in Italian. All I have to do is deliver a translation the same day and my clients happily tell me I am "mitico".
As for taking the corn out of it, I can't see a way of doing that without taking "superuomo" out of the source text. Of course that is what extreme sports are all about, except that superman never ends up in hospital and never dies.
As for taking the corn out of it, I can't see a way of doing that without taking "superuomo" out of the source text. Of course that is what extreme sports are all about, except that superman never ends up in hospital and never dies.
Discussion