Jan 19, 2015 22:26
9 yrs ago
Russian term
"Математику только за то учить следует, что она ум в порядок приводит"
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Mathematics
Very known (in Russian) phrase of M. Lomonosov. Can somebody help to find its adequate English version? Thank a lot in advance!
Yours,
T.
Yours,
T.
Proposed translations
(English)
References
| Existing Translation |
Victoria Batarchuk
|
Proposed translations
7 hrs
Roman Bouchev
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Native in Russian
Russian Federation
Handling words with care
Native in: Russian (Variant: Standard-Russia)
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
We should study mathematics for no other reason than to organize our minds.
У этого высказывания несколько вариантов, среди которых такие:
Why do we learn mathematics? Because it organizes our mind.
Why learn maths? Because it develops orderly minds!
Из всех глаголов наиболее емким мне кажется organize (If you organize a set of things, you arrange them in an ordered way or give them a structure. - Collins Cobuild).
Вместо bring я бы использовал глагол develop и тогда всю фразу можно передать так: It makes sense to study mathematics if only to develop an organized mind.
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Note added at 1 day11 hrs (2015-01-21 10:26:54 GMT)
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Согласен с архаикой. В таком случае я бы предпочел вместо mind слово более академичное, если так можно выразиться, - intelligence (if only to provide organization for your intelligence). Пусть будет оборот вроде этого: Mathematics must be studied if only because it puts the mind in order (http://www.google.ru/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=...
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Note added at 2 days15 hrs (2015-01-22 13:39:54 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks for grading, Tagir! Anyway, it's up to you to make the choice you think best suits the context under discussion. If you feel that the link provides a clue for your translation purposes, then go for it. Good luck!
Why do we learn mathematics? Because it organizes our mind.
Why learn maths? Because it develops orderly minds!
Из всех глаголов наиболее емким мне кажется organize (If you organize a set of things, you arrange them in an ordered way or give them a structure. - Collins Cobuild).
Вместо bring я бы использовал глагол develop и тогда всю фразу можно передать так: It makes sense to study mathematics if only to develop an organized mind.
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Note added at 1 day11 hrs (2015-01-21 10:26:54 GMT)
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Согласен с архаикой. В таком случае я бы предпочел вместо mind слово более академичное, если так можно выразиться, - intelligence (if only to provide organization for your intelligence). Пусть будет оборот вроде этого: Mathematics must be studied if only because it puts the mind in order (http://www.google.ru/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=...
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Note added at 2 days15 hrs (2015-01-22 13:39:54 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks for grading, Tagir! Anyway, it's up to you to make the choice you think best suits the context under discussion. If you feel that the link provides a clue for your translation purposes, then go for it. Good luck!
Note from asker:
| "Organize" seems to be slightly modern, while the spirit here should be slightly (say) archaic |
| Dear Roman! I think your lik to that "Why learn Math?..." is the most helpful, though it is not the most rigid answer!:) I decided to give the poinst to you. |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Victoria Batarchuk
: I think, "for no other reason" is not quite to the point. It changes the meaning ("there are no other reasons"), while the meaning is "if only because", i.e. it is the most important, but not the only reason (as I see it).
11 hrs
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Well, you might be right, Victoria.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you indeed for deep search in the Inet!:) Yours, Tagir."
+1
2 hrs
Sam Pinson
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
ATA and SDL Trados Certified, IT, legal
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: Russian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Math(ematics) should be learned if only because it brings order to the mind
This is how I would render it.
Note from asker:
| Thank you! |
+1
40 mins
Donald Jacobson
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Neuropsychiatrist(MD) German(MA)
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, Swedish to English
it is reasonable to learn math, even if it is just because it brings order to the mind
My take on it
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Note added at 4 hrs (2015-01-20 03:07:16 GMT)
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or: Math should be learned even if for no other than reason than that it brings order to the mind.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2015-01-20 03:07:16 GMT)
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or: Math should be learned even if for no other than reason than that it brings order to the mind.
Note from asker:
| I do appreciate your answer, but doubled "it"... |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Victoria Batarchuk
: I like "Math should be learnt, even if it is just because...".
18 hrs
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Thanks, Victoria....I concur that should be learnt is better
|
+1
14 hrs
Mathematics should be studied if only because it organizes the mind.
только за то учить следует - "should be studied if only because".
она ум в порядок приводит - "it organizes the mind".
this reflects the passive verb form of the original as well.
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Note added at 19 hrs (2015-01-20 17:36:19 GMT)
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to organize _is_ to order, and staying in the passive verb form reflects the more archaic spirit.
it is closer both in meaning and in style (of a proverb).
and also easier to comprehend that the more literal translations.
in your variant you at least need to move the words around for easier comprehension: "even if it will only bring".
она ум в порядок приводит - "it organizes the mind".
this reflects the passive verb form of the original as well.
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Note added at 19 hrs (2015-01-20 17:36:19 GMT)
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to organize _is_ to order, and staying in the passive verb form reflects the more archaic spirit.
it is closer both in meaning and in style (of a proverb).
and also easier to comprehend that the more literal translations.
in your variant you at least need to move the words around for easier comprehension: "even if it will only bring".
Note from asker:
| Thank you! However, I would remake your answer as "Mathematics should be studied even if it only will bring your mind in order." Not beautiful, but more close to the Russian sense... |
Reference comments
21 mins
Victoria Batarchuk
Ukraine
Ukraine
Native in Russian
Ukraine
Experienced technical/legal translator
Native in: Russian 
, Ukrainian
Works in: English to Russian, English to Ukrainian, Russian to English, and 3 more.
Reference:
Existing Translation
“Mathematics should be learned just because it disciplines and bring up the mind”.
This translation is presented on the website of AP Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems (ИСИ СО РАН) – see the reference.
This translation is presented on the website of AP Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems (ИСИ СО РАН) – see the reference.
Reference:
Note from asker:
| Thanks for reference! However, I am not sure they solicited a real pro in translating. |
Discussion
Also, it is hardly "math" if one wants to give an accurate rendition