https://www.proz.com/kudoz/italian-to-english/tourism-travel/6414170-uno-dovrebbe-essere-una-persona-diversa-non-in-vacanza-ma-dopo-la-vacanza.html
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intrecci personali
Oct 25, 2017 13:56
6 yrs ago
Italian term

Uno dovrebbe essere una persona diversa non in vacanza, ma dopo la vacanza

Italian to English Art/Literary Tourism & Travel Aphorism by Gerhard Uhlenbruck
Dear fellow translators,
I am translating a website for a hotel in Alto Adige and this quotation by Gerhard Uhlenbruck.
I've trawled the web but am struggling to find the authoritative English translation, assuming there is one... would anyone possibly have this at hand, or have an idea how to best find it?
I have found the German:

Man soll nicht im Urlaub ein anderer Mensch sein, sondern nach dem Urlaub.

which I might end up putting with my own translation afterwards if need be.
Any help or advice most welcome!
Many thanks in advance.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 One should be a different person not on holiday, but after it
4 You'll feel like a totally different person after your vacation
4 One/You shouldn't be a changed person ON holiday but AFTER it.
4 One should only become a transformed person after a holiday, and not during.
4 You won't become a different person while you're on vacation, but you will be afterwards.
3 You shouldn't be a changed person during a vacation, only as a result of the vacation.
3 The renewal comes after the holiday, not during it
3 -1 not during one´s holidays one should be a different person, but thereafter

Discussion

Michael Korovkin Oct 26, 2017:
IMHO: I think the premise itself is fishy. That is, I, for one, am perfectly happy to be the person I am either before or during or after... whatever... vacations included. Therefore, someone – me included – may take offence to a suggestion of becoming a different person after a vacation. Of course I understand it's a metaphor... but an unfortunate and potentially offensive one. Any version with "feeling" would be preferable to "being".
James (Jim) Davis Oct 25, 2017:
The definitive translation To Shabelula, I live in Seychelles now where the air is clean and full of oxygen :-)
To Phil: Essere o non essere, questo è il problema/dilemma/quesito
The choice of the last word would seem to support your point, but that of the first seven would tend to support the contrary. There again I would think very hard before translating the last word with "domanda" or "questione", I would tend to follow the accepted norms. My advice would be hunt online and see what the others have done and then do your own, which may or may not be identical to those of the others. Problem is this author is not Shakespeare. You say there is no such thing as a definitive translation and I suppose you don't believe in Santa Clause or even the Holy Grail either. Oh ye of little faith ;-)
Shabelula Oct 25, 2017:
the most suitable would seem Nicomew's answer, though I'd opt for an "afterwards" instead of "it". James (Jim) Davis when are you coming up for some breathing?
philgoddard Oct 25, 2017:
Asker One thing you eventually learn (and it took me a long time) is that there's no such thing as a definitive translation of anything. Even if it's a translation of Goethe that's sold far more copies than any other, it's not set in stone, and your version could be just as good or even better. Don't go hunting online for someone else's translation to copy, just do your own.
(The only exception to this rule is international law, and international organisations such as the European Union. In the EU, a direttiva is always a directive.)
James (Jim) Davis Oct 25, 2017:
This is not making any sense. You can usually identify with proverbs and sayings, but not with the interpretations here. After the holiday it's back to the daily grind. I remember returning to work with the short days and ice cold fog in Milan after Christmas in Seychelles. It gave me a true insight into the high suicide rates in Greenland where there is no sun for months. I really think we need to read the full context of the quote. Does it really mean be yourself on holiday and then you can feel reinvigorated when you get back? Even the most optimistic might feel challenged by that one, unless you went on a holiday that turned out a nightmare.

Proposed translations

+1
1 hr
Selected

One should be a different person not on holiday, but after it

Meaning how the holiday itself could have a positive effect on the person who goes on holiday, changing them (possibly for the better) and changing their views about something
Note from asker:
Hi Nikomew, Phil and Jim, thank you very much for your comments. The hotel prides itself on its wellness centre, and claims it'll work wonders on your mind and body. I agree that the choice of quote is very odd, although I am now wondering if the Italian translation is perhaps incorrect!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : Perfect, and, unlike some of the answers, grammatically correct. Not sure I agree with the sentiment, though. Why only after, and not during?
16 mins
neutral James (Jim) Davis : To Phil "Not sure I agree with the sentiment" I think we need to read a big chunk of the context, because the "sentiment" is difficult to understand or empathise with.
1 hr
neutral Rachel Musselle : Use of 'one' sounds too formal for a hotel publication.
4 days
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "With many thanks to everyone for their help!"
-1
18 mins

not during one´s holidays one should be a different person, but thereafter

or not during one´s Holidays one should be a different Person, but thereafter.

nicht im Urlaub sollte man ein anderer Mensch sein, sondern danach. oder: nachher bzw. nach dem Urlaub
Peer comment(s):
disagree Rachel Musselle : Use of 'one' is not necessary and sounds too formal for the nature of the translation as does the use of 'thereafter'.
4 days
Something went wrong...
46 mins

You shouldn't be a changed person during a vacation, only as a result of the vacation.

My American take on it.

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Note added at 48 mins (2017-10-25 14:45:14 GMT)
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Or "only as a result of it".
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1 hr

You'll feel like a totally different person after your vacation

Given it's the translation of a hotel website, I imagine this is some sort of marketing line intended to say "after a vacation in our hotel, you'll feel like a totally different person:" in the sense of regenerated, relaxed, stress-free, etc.
Something went wrong...
16 mins

One/You shouldn't be a changed person ON holiday but AFTER it.

This is my own translation, I wasn't able to find any others!

That is: the benificial effects come after the holiday but the holiday should be tailored to the real you and not vice-versa.



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Note added at 26 mins (2017-10-25 14:23:49 GMT)
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https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/a-changed-man-woman

a changed man/woman/person is an idiom used to express a profound change (conscious or unconscious) in a person's character/attitude/outlook

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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-10-25 16:26:59 GMT)
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typo: benEficial
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17 hrs

One should only become a transformed person after a holiday, and not during.

another option
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17 hrs

The renewal comes after the holiday, not during it

Besides:

I think "one" is too formal and old-fashioned.

"feel" is less offensive than "be" (pls see Discussion)

I don't get it though: what's wrong with "being" different during the holyday as well as after it? Hence this less literal version
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4 days

You won't become a different person while you're on vacation, but you will be afterwards.

1. Use of 'one' is way too informal. 'You' is more appropriate for the nature of the translation.
2. I personally prefer the term 'holiday' because I'm British, but if this is to be published internationally then maybe 'vacation' would be better.
3. If it's talking about how they pride themselves on their services to guests, why wouldn't the change process take place partly during the vacation? A strange sentence, but that's my best attempt.

I also thought about the following translation omitting the 'non in vacanza':

'You'll be a different person after your vacation'

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Note added at 4 days (2017-10-29 21:33:17 GMT)
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the verb 'to be' could be substituted with 'to feel', perhaps.
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