double negative and bad songs

Discussion in 'Grammar & Pronunciation' started by Wicker808, Apr 27, 2004.

  1. Wicker808

    Wicker808 Well-Known Member

    Here is another question. There is a terrible song in English that has the memorable line:

    Never misunderstand me.

    This is an imperative. The question is how to translate this effectively to Czech. Unfortunately, in Czech, "misunderstand" is usually the same as "not understand." And we can't attach a double negative prefix to a verb.

    WRONG: Nikdy mi nenerozumej.

    Another solution is to use subjunctive.

    At mi nikdy nerozumis.

    Or even,

    At neni mezi nama nedorozumeni.

    Which is okay, but lacks the direct imperative impact of the original.
    Any suggestions?
     
  2. Halef

    Halef Well-Known Member

    I do not like negatives.
    What about "Ať mi vždycky rozumíš?"
     
  3. Wicker808

    Wicker808 Well-Known Member

    Halef: yes, but that is again subjunctive, and lacks the force of the imperative. We could say:

    Vzdy mi rozumej.

    But this is not the same as "Never misunderstand me." In English, I think "misunderstand" is different from "not understand," but I am perhaps not able to explain this difference well.
     
  4. Karel

    Karel Well-Known Member

    Hi,

    My translation would go something like this:

    Ne abys me spatne pochopil/pochopila
    Ne abys me spatne vyrozumel/vyrozumela

    misunderstand vs not understand is certaintly beyond the normal. Similalry, this is not true vs this is untrue. Well, if a native speaker fails to give an explanation, then who else should help?

    Karel
     
  5. Halef

    Halef Well-Known Member

    I understand the difference, but caccnot find the appropriate Czech expressions :(
     
  6. Karel

    Karel Well-Known Member

    I don`t even think that there is a one-word equivalent of misunderstand in Czech that could be used in the imperative given.

    People either understand or not - Lide bud rozumeji nebo ne.
    People understand or misunderstand - Lide bud rozumeji nebo rozumeni spatne.

    mis-
    wrongly -- misapply :arrow: badly--mismanage :arrow: unsuitably -- misuse
     
  7. amraam_7

    amraam_7 Well-Known Member

    People understand or misunderstand - Lide bud rozumeji nebo rozumeji/rozumi spatne.
     
  8. Karel

    Karel Well-Known Member

    sorry for the typo, I`d better proofread before posting.
     
  9. Wicker808

    Wicker808 Well-Known Member

    Appeared to me last night this:

    At nejsem nikdy tebou nepochopen.

    What do you think?
     

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