Five Records or Song about the Translator with No Reply
Posted in August 13th, 2008 by Cecilia GomesPeople can say whatever they want. Yup, I’m guilty as charged and in no position to deny it. Indeed I am a romantic at heart and love smooth-tongued songs and silly movies with a happy ending. I’ve seen movies like Pretty Woman, Someone like you, Bridget Jones and others thousands of times. And, in many cases, I’m capable of saying the characters’ lines with astounding accuracy. My iPod couldn’t be different – it is stashed with these songs that talk about all kinds of love (whether it’s mutual, lost, wished, stolen, imagined…), which I choose to hear according to my mood at the time. In one of them, called Cinco discos (Five Records), Brazilian singer Pedro Mariano sings:
| So many times Have I wondered without knowing Whether there was something wrong Backing away from you The silent reply failed And tricked me I’ve read 200 books And 5 records have I listened to I’ve searched 1,000 dictionaries To know what I did wrong So much time just thinking ‘bout it If I could have another chance You know how much I try To deserve you once again Was it something I did Or said I don’t get it When I came to it You were no longer here (Translation by Miguel Lopes) |
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For some reason, when I listened to this song today, the word dictionary stood out and reminded me of our work. Then, I started to imagine a situation that I’m sure Pedro Mariano didn’t have mind when he recorded the song. Here it goes:
A translator completes the first assignment for a company. The project manager confirms receipt with appreciation, pays for the job and simply disappears. Not hearing from the client after that, the translator decides to review the work he delivered to see whether there was something wrong. The translator ends up doing more research and looking terms in “1,000 dictionaries.” The delivered files are read incessantly in an attempt to understand what went wrong. The translator thinks about calling the project manager asking for a second chance. But it is really not worth it.
If I were to follow the author, at the end of my story the translator would be looking for other clients, as that particular one is history now. Yet since this is my story, I get to choose the end that I want. So, I would rather have a happier ending. I tried to write one, but unfortunately writing poems and music is beyond my capabilities. Suggestions are really appreciated, though. 
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