Nikki Haley desistiu porque, enfim, não valia a pena ficar em concorrência com o palhaço cor de laranja sem hipótese de o vencer (Resignação)
Não votei porque, afinal, não sou um cidadão americano (Justificação)
Donald Trump ganhou a presidência e, por fim, acabou com a democracia nos Estados Unidos (Finalização de uma sequência)
Winston Smith sorriu porque, no fim, tinha aprendido a amar Grande Irmão (Conclusão de um processo)
Após tantos anos de votação de quatro em quatro anos, finalmente, as pessoas teriam a oportunidade de ficar em casa sem pensar em nada (Alívio)
Ao fim e ao cabo, tudo que o povo queria era um sinal de esperança até, finalmente, chegou o asteroide para acabar com tudo (Encerramento ou conclusão)
(Not endorsing her per se, but in this election, oh my god, yes… and anyway, if ever a country was long overdue for a female leader, it’s that country)
Thanks to Cristina for unfudging the last one which was a bit wrong
Oof, well here’s an eleven minute summary of right vs left in Portugal, I guess!
I thought he’d make both characters as bad as each other but I guess he’s more concerned with stopping the loony right than the loony left and it’s pretty clear where his sympathies lie
I think this is originally by Amália and based on a poem by Camões, but I like this version a lot. That pianist really needs to sort his posture out though. I’ve never really been that interested in Camané but the Humanos videos I’ve been watching have really made me warm to him.
English
Portuguese
Com que voz chorarei meu triste fado Que em tão dura paixão me sepultou Que mor não seja a dor que me deixou o tempo Que me deixou o tempo de meu bem desenganado De meu bem desenganado
With what voice will I cry my sad Fado That has entombed me in this hard passion May the love not be pain that allowed me the time Allowed me the time of my disenchanted lover Of my disenchanted lover
Mas chorar não se estima neste estado Aonde suspirar nunca aproveitou Triste quero viver, pois se mudou em tristeza Pois se mudou em tristeza a alegria do passado A alegria do passado De tanto mal, a causa é amor puro Devido a quem de mim tenho ausente Por quem a vida e bens dele aventuro
But crying isn’t appreciated in this state Where I never took the time to breathe I want to live sadly because it turned into sadness It turned into sadness, the happiness of the past The happiness of the past Pure love is the cause of so much evil Owning to the one who is away from me For whom I risk life and all its benefits
Com que voz chorarei meu triste fado Que em tão dura paixão me sepultou Que mor não seja a dor que me deixou o tempo Que me deixou o tempo de meu bem desenganado De meu bem desenganado, desenganado
With what voice will I cry my sad Fado That has entombed me in this hard passion May the love not be pain that allowed me the time Allowed me the time of my disenchanted lover Of my disenchanted lover
I’m very underwhelmed by Português em Foco. This is the online, interactive book I mentioned a while ago, which has some good content but a very annoying UI that really casts a shadow over my enjoyment of it. I’ve restarted paid online lessons with Cristina of Say it in Portuguese, because the C1 prep lessons went so well it seemed like it was worth carrying on. We thought we’d try working through the exercises together, so she gamely bought her own license and set up a class on the online site, which is called BlinkLearning.
OK, great so far, I can see the book, she can see the book, everything looks fine, but it doesn’t work as expected.
Firstly, if she sends me homework and I try to click on it, I get taken to the right exercise but the page is frozen and nothing works apart from the “back button”.
If it was just that, it’d be a minor irritation, but there’s more: even if I don’t go via the homework link, and I manage to get some work done, the teacher doesn’t get alerted to the changes I’ve made. In some exercises, she also can’t read the whole of my answers, and I can’t read the whole of her feedback, either, just the first sentence or so, and the marking tools are extremely limited – there is no scope to amend what I’ve written or make suggestions, just give a mark or use a fairly crude highlighting button.
Worse still, I find when I submit oral work as recordings they aren’t reaching her, they just disappear into the ether.
The customer support on the platform hasn’t been very helpful at all: I sent them a screencap video showing me using the site in Chrome so they could see I wasn’t doing anything wrong but after a few days they asked me to do the same actions but this time with the browser console open. Then when I sent them that video they asked me to uninstall all my browser extensions and make a third video with console open again.
Ugh, I don’t have the patience and it’s distracting me, so we’ve just ended up having to work outside the book: The simple fill-in-the-blank exercises work OK, but with the teacher-marked work, I have to, write (or record) the answer outside the website and pass it across to her via a shared google drive. It works well enough, but it’s one of those mildly annoying little extra admin tasks that makes technology harder to use. I suppose it’s still easier than – say – if we were working from a paper book, so maybe I should just get over it, but I have had my expectations raised, so it’s disappointing. They were pretty grudging about exchanging the online teacher license for a paper copy too, which seems pretty shoddy to me. You would think they’d try a bit harder, if only to stop people writing snotty blog posts like this and scaring potential future customers away.
So basically, now Lidel are my enemy.
Me glaring at the manager of my local Lidl just in case I was right about them being the makers of Lidel Books
It’s a shame because I like the exercises. The texts are fun and the questions are challenging, but the platform is not fit for porpoises.
Anyway, disappointing but not crushing. I’ve updated the blurb about Português em Foco on my Study Guides page.
I suspect if I went back over my old blog posts I’d find that I’ve written quite a lot of guff over the years, which is why I never read anything more than 2 weeks old. Anyway, I wrote one called “Prestável vs. Prestativo” 5 years ago in which I said Prestativo was used for helpful people and Prestável for helpful things.
Apparently this was bollocks though, a reliable source has informed me. I mean, the source didn’t use that word obviously, but that was the gist. I must have had some reason for saying so at the time, but I can’t remember what prompted it. Anyway, Prestativo and Prestável are pretty close synonyms. Prestável may have slightly more of a subservient tinge to it, but these things probably vary from place to place and time to time, so probably take that with a pinch of salt too.
I looked both up on Linguee to see if there were any differences in the way they are used. Not really. It gives slightly different patterns but there’s a lot of overlap. Most of the examples in prestativo seem to have the adjective directly applied to the person
Nosso motorista, Yuri, é muito prestativo e para cada vez que quero tirar fotos.
and prestável tended to be weighted towards modifying an attitude or action of some kind held by a person or organisation
Para que isto se torne realidade, conto com a acção prestável, incentivadora e fiscalizadora de todas as Instituições europeias.
But it’s definitely not an ironclad rule and there are counterexamples for both, so it’s pobably just be randomness in what Linguee has on its first page when I looked at it and I’m definitely not going to read anything into that since I messed it up so badly last time!
Ouvi uma canção recentemente chamada “Tu Não Prendas o Cabelo”. É muito portuguesa. Fiz uma pesquisa para saber mais sobre a origem e por acaso a história é cativante! A canção foi escrita por um compositor chamado José Pinhal. Pinhal não teve grande sucesso na sua vida. Tinha perdido uma perna na guerra colonial. A guerra acabou quando o cantor tinha 22 anos. Que desperdício da vida é a guerra. Durante a sua vida, o Pinhal encontrou pouco sucesso. Editou 3 álbuns em cassete e cantou em espetáculos, romarias e festas regionais. Quando faleceu num acidente rodoviária com 41 anos o mundo esqueceu-se dele.
Mas a história não acabou com a sua morte, porque duas décadas depois, uma fã do cantor carregou as suas músicas na internet e a sua fama espalhou-se boca-a-boca. Em 2016 nasceu um grupo de tributo chamado “José Pinhal Post-Mortem Experience”. A história deste cantor até chegou à imprensa estrangeira (mas confesso que eu não sabia nada disso!) e tem sido assunto de documentários na internet e na RTP.
While I was looking for a video of that (there isn’t one!) I found a version from Canta-me uma história so I decided to translate that instead. This is a cover from João Sábita and he’s changed the bulk of the lyrics to match his personality (which I’ll talk more about tomorrow).
This should be fun. The subtitles are written in dialect and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to transcribe it all. Cover me, I’m going in!
English
Portuguese
Tu não prendas o cabelo Eu gosto de solto vê-lo, pois te fica bem, quando nele dá no vento
Don’t tie up your hair I like to see it loose Because it suits you When the wind catches it
Que lindo é o teu cabelo Que chega até a cintura És a minha estranha loucura És lenha da minha fogueira Tens um sorriso à maneira*
Your hair is so lovely It goes down to your waist You’re my strange madness You’re the wood for my bonfire You have a smile that’s just right
Tu és o meu arroz de tamboril Tu és a isca do meu anzol Tu és os remos do meu candil Os teus olhos alumiam como o farol
You are my Arroz de Tamboril** You are the bait on my fishing hook You are the oars on my fishing boat*** Your eyes lit up like the lighthouse
Tu és o meu bicho de estimação Tu és o meu gazol**** de gerador Tu és o cordel do meu estendal Tu és o meu amor da carnaval
You are my pet You are the fuel for my generator You are the cord of my washing line You are my carnival love
***Tricky one, this. A candil is a kind of lamp so why the hell would it have oars? Well, the clue is that João Cabita was performing the song at a Carnival in Nazaré and he must have added this in to give it extra colour because a Barco de candil is a very pretty, colourful, traditional boat which… well, information is a bit sparse about it on the internet, but maybe typical to Nazaré specifically(?) According to this guy’s web page, it is maybe called that because they have a lamp attached so you can go fishing by lamplight (“Pesca do candil”).
****Whether he’s referring to Gazol the brand of liquid petroleum gas or it’s just short for gasolina I’m not sure.
Well that was fun. I feel a bit guilty that I haven’t done the original song, but I wanted the challenge of trying to unravel their accents
I’m not really sure what my AI Art generator is driving at with this one.
That there’s an obvious connection between “Desabafar” (rant, get things off your chest) and “Abafar” (which can mean a few things to do with smothering things, quietening things down). I’ve used both before but I never really twigged that Desabafar is the opposite of Abafar: it’s just un-smothering something and letting it come out and be heard. Am I the only person on earth who hadn’t noticed this?
This is another António Variações cover by Humanos and it’s a banger.
The lyrics are pretty paradoxical: “I only want to be where I’m not, I only want to go where I’m not going”. Even the title is a bit hard to render into english: “Estou Além” means “I am beyond” but that isn’t any good. How about “I’ve gone beyond”. Nah, that sounds like he’s died. Well, he has, but I am pretty sure that didn’t happen till after he wrote it. Maybe something like “I’m far out” or “I’m out there!” Too trippy? “I’m miles away”? Nah, it sounds like he’s just daydreaming. I think I like “I’m elsewhere” best but I’m not sure I could defend that in a court of law. If anyone has any better ideas, let me know in the comments.
English
Portuguese
Não consigo dominar Este estado de ansiedade A pressa de chegar P’ra não chegar tarde
Não sei do que é que eu fujo Será desta solidão Mas porque é que eu recuso Quem quer dar-me a mão
I can’t control This state of excitement The rush to arrive To not arrive late
I don’t know what I’m running from Maybe this loneliness But why do I refuse Anyone who gives me their hand
Vou continuar a procurar A quem eu me quero dar Porque até aqui eu só
Quero quem quem eu nunca vi Porque eu só quero quem Quem não conheci
I’ll keep on searching For someone I want to give myself to Because up to now, I only
Want who, who I’ve never seen Because I only want The one I’ve never met
Porque eu só quero quem Quem eu nunca vi Porque eu só quero quem Quem não conheci
Porque eu só quero quem Quem eu nunca vi
Because I only want who I’ve never seen Because I only want The one I’ve never met
Because I only want who I’ve never seen
Esta insatisfação Não consigo compreender Sempre esta sensação Que estou a perder
Tenho pressa de sair Quero sentir ao chegar Vontade de partir P’ra outro lugar
This insatisfaction I can’t understand Always this sensation That I am missing out
I’m in a hurry to leave I want to feel at the departure An urge to leave For somewhere else
Vou continuar a procurar O meu mundo O meu lugar Porque até aqui eu só
Estou bem aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
I’ll keep on looking My world My place Because up to now I only
I am on my way to where I am not Because I only want to go To where I am not going
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde não estou
Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not Because I only want to go Where I’m not going
Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not
Esta insatisfação Não consigo compreender Sempre esta sensação Que estou a perder
Tenho pressa de sair Quero sentir ao chegar Vontade de partir P’ra outro lugar
This insatisfaction I can’t understand Always this sensation That I am missing out
I’m in a hurry to leave I want to feel at the departure An urge to leave For somewhere else
Vou continuar a procurar A minha forma O meu lugar Porque até aqui eu só
Estou bem aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
I’ll keep on looking My form My place Because up to now I only
I am on my way to where I am not Because I only want to go To where I am not going
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde não estou
Estou bem aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not Because I only want to go Where I’m not going
Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not
I am on my way to where I am not Because I only want to go To where I am not going
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not Because I only want to go Where I’m not going Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not Because I only want to go Where I’m not going
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
Porque eu só estou bem Aonde eu não estou Porque eu só quero ir Aonde eu não vou
Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not Because I only want to go Where I’m not going
Because I’m only OK When I’m where I’m not Because I only want to go Where I’m not going
Mais uma tradução! Após de mergulhar no mar de política, mereço uns dias de diversão não achas? Esta cancão é incrível. Por um lado, lembra-me daquela colaboração entre Dulce Pontes e os Moonspell: Um homem de barba a rugir no palco e depois a mulher abre a boca e rebenta com tudo. Por outro lado, também tem letras interessantes com umas expressões idiomáticas úteis.
Português
Inglês
Eu não nasci em berço d’ouro Felizmente há quem pense no amor e no apreço como um bem mais valioso E o preço que eu penso que valha Aos olhos de muita gente nem um terço calha Tenho o passado presente, com meu futuro na mente Perguntam se sou vidente ou mais um canalha Mas venha só um que tente meter-se na minha frente Derrubar tudo o que penso só pra ver que falha
I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth* Luckily there are those who think of love and appreciation as a more valuable good And the price I think it’s worth It isn’t worth a third in the eyes of others I have the past present with my future in mind They ask if I’m a visionary or just another lowlife But just let one person get in my way To tear down everything only to see that he fails
Vivo como antigamente, alguém que represente Porque eu baixo a cabeça quando a mãe me ralha Se pra ti eu sou diferente, então fica ciente Que esta vida te deu tudo e tu só comes palha Fui forjado p’rá batalha, eu tenho um compromisso Fiz-me homem de vontades e a fome nem deu por isso Se queres ouvir verdades então fica submisso Não venhas para aqui com frases só p’ra encher chouriço
I live like back in the day, someone who respresents Because I hang my head when my mother tells me off If I’m different from you, then be aware That this life gave you everything and you only eat straw I was forged for battle, I have a commitment I made myself a man of will and the hunger didn’t even notice If you want to hear truths then keep quiet Don’t come round here with phrases just to pass the time of day**
E é assim que guardo a meu lado Os olhos de quem me ama As vozes de quem chama por mim E quando tudo chegar ao fim Direi adeus sorrindo
And that’s how I keep at my side The eyes of those who love me The voices of those who call for me And when everything comes to an end I’ll say goodbye, smiling
Puto mimado, beijocas das tias e vias nos olhos do meu pai babado Lágrimas frias entre as melodias sempre que me ouvias a cantar o fado Todos os dias vos tive a meu lado minha raíz que foi presa sem nós Vivi feliz porque não sabia as saudades que iria ter dos meus avós Ouçam a minha voz, vós aí em cima eu fiz esta rima pra vos ver sorrir Se há coisa que a vida ensina, é que a dor em si É ter de aceitar a sina de vos ver partir Mas assim não, não dá p’ra não sentir A cicatriz é grande e marca o tempo que os perdi Protegem-me a cada passo que dou e eu agradeço Beijando sempre o meu braço quando vou dormir
Spoiled child, kisses from the aunties and you used to see in the eyes of my doting father*** Cold tears among the melodies whenever you hear me sing fado Every day I had you at my side my root that was trapped without us I lived happy because I didn’t know how much I would miss my grandparents Listen to my voice, you up there, I made this rhyme just so I could see you smile If life teaches us anything its that pain itself Is having to accept the inevitability of seeing you go The scar is deep and marks the time I lost them They protect me every step I take and I thank them Always kissing my arm when i go to sleep
Nem tudo foram favas contadas Se achavas que eu vinha queixar das minhas amarguras De portas fechadas e cartas rasgadas de amor acreditem há vidas mais duras Eu fico grato pelo facto de ter no momento exacto Histórias de vitórias pelos meus actos E há que ver que só vivo a vida se for destaque Vim para tapar os fracassos sem me enterrar em buracos
It wasn’t all preordained**** If you thought I was coming to complain about my bitterness of closed doors and torn up love letters, believe me there are harder lives I’m grateful for the fact of having at the exact moment Stories and victories of my actions And you have to see I only live life if I’m at the forefront I came to cover the weaknesses without burying myself in holes
E é assim que guardo a meu lado Os olhos de quem me ama As vozes de quem chama por mim E quando tudo chegar ao fim Direi adeus sorrindo
And that’s how I keep at my side The eyes of those who love me The voices of those who call for me And when everything comes to an end I’ll say goodbye, smiling
E é assim que guardo a meu lado Os olhos de quem me ama As vozes de quem chama por mim E quando tudo chegar ao fim Direi adeus sorrindo de obrigado
And that’s how I keep at my side The eyes of those who love me The voices of those who call for me And when everything comes to an end I’ll say goodbye, smiling thank you
*Actually, “Nascer em berço de ouro” means to be born in a golder cradle, but this is the nearest english equivalent
**Encher chouriço(s) is another expression: busy-work, filling up time by talking or doing something without any real purpose. In brasil they would say encher linguiça.
***I’m not sure this is an expression as such, but pai babado sounds like it should mean drooling father. Seems like a weird choice of words, but it’s actually a way of saying doting father, and that makes a lot more sense in context!
****Favas contadas is an expression meaning something inevitable
This has been a really exhausting week, writing one long text per day plus a few smaller ones. It’s been exhilirating though. I like a challenge! I’ll probably go easy for the next few days, to give myself time to do other things. Thanks to everyone who has read any of these, and special thanks to someone who has not only read all of them (apart from the one that just went live one minute ago!) but also corrected approximately 8 million mistakes: Cristina, tu és muito simpática!
By the way, it’s probably obvious, but although I have learned LOTS about portuguese politics in the last week, I am still basically clueless, so if there are any floating voters reading this, please, for the love of god, don’t go letting anything I’ve said influence you. Who knows? Maybe André Ventura is the best potential primeiro-ministro. LOL. Seems unlikely, I wouldn’t let him run a pie shop, let alone a country, but it’s your vote. Use it wisely.
Luso 