Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Hello Mandaly, What is the creole translation(s) for "stage" and "stage fright"?


Hello Mandaly,

What is the creole translation(s) for "stage" and "stage fright"?

1. "The president will be on stage to discuss the healthcare and immigration issues."

2. "The little boy began to have stage fright when he got on the stage in front of a large group of people."

3. "The stage at the university auditorium can house 300 people."


stage - podyòm, sèn, estad
stage fright - trak

This is how I would translate the examples that you gave me:

1. Prezidan an va sou podyòm nan pou diskite pwoblèm lasante ak imigrasyon.
2. Ti gason an te koumanse genyen lafreyè lè te moute sou podyòm nan devan gran foul moun yo.
3. Podyòm sal inivèsite a kapab kenbe twasan (300) moun.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How is the imperative formulated in creole with "to be" verbs followed by adjective and/or reflexive?

You asked:
How is the imperative formulated in creole with "to be" verbs followed by adjective and/or reflexive?

"Be good!"
"Be kind!"
"Be courageous!"
"Be vigilant/cautious!"
"Be intelligent/smart!"
"Be yourself!"

Does the past imperative exist in creole?

"Be up at six o'clock in the morning."
"Have this report done by 6 in the evening."
"Have this room clean when I get back home."

What is the grammar structure for imperative in the first and third person in creole?

"May he/she rest in peace."
"May god bless you."
"May you/ he/she/they be blessed."

I know that "annou" translates the third person imperative as a command, but what about expressing the imperative in the third person and other persons as a permission? Can "annou" express request or permission as well?

"Let/make us leave."
"Let/allow them in."
"Let/allow us see the album."


Note that some of the examples are my own and the others are taken from various grammar sources.


Mandaly says:
Thanks for your question. 
When it comes to translating in English, sometimes it's best not to try to have a word for word translation. Sometimes the English language uses the verb to be, but the Creole translates does not use the same sentence structure.
Think Creole :)

"Be good!" - 
Konpòte w byen!
Se pou w konpòte w byen!
Fè moun debyen!
Se pou w fè moun debyen!

"Be kind!"

Se pou w janti!

"Be courageous!"

Se pou w brave!
Se pou w gen kouraj!

"Be vigilant/cautious!"

Se pou w veyatif!
Se pou w fè atansyon!
Se pou w rete sou piga w!

"Be intelligent/smart!"

Louvri je w!
Pa fè sòt!

"Be yourself!"

Rete jan w ye a!
Pa chanje!
________

"Be up at six o'clock in the morning."
Leve a sizè nan maten.
Se pou leve a sizè nan maten.

"Have this report done by 6 in the evening."

Pare rapò sa a anvan sizè diswa.

"Have this room clean when I get back home."

Se pou w netwaye chanm sa anvan m tounen.
or 
Se pou w fin netwaye chanm nan distans pou m tounen.
_____

"May he/she rest in peace."
Repoze an pè.
Se pou l repoze an pè.
Ke li repoze an pè.

"May god bless you."

Ke Bondye beni w.
Se pou Bondye beni w.

"May you/ he/she/they be blessed."

Se pou ou/li/yo beni.


For permission you may see "kite" or "pèmèt or penmèt"

Let them in.
Kite yo rantre.

allow me to see ...
kite m wè
or
penmèt mwen wè


Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words