Translation of 答えを知っている人はいませんでした












2















I started studying studying Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide by Naomi McGloin et al. In section 1.2 there's following example:




[おどろいたことに、] 答えを知っている人はいませんでした。




Which is translated as:




[Surprisingly,] no one knew the answer.




This translation sounds a bit off to me. I'd say that the sentence roughly translates to "[Surprisingly,] person who know the answer is absent", which isn't equivalent to provided translation. I guess it'd be more adequate if the original sentence was something like "[おどろいたことに、] 誰も答えを知らない". I think that difference between "no one knew" and "person who know was not here" is quite stark. Second one implies presence of someone who know while first one does not.



Is this an error in the book or do I understand it incorrectly?






translation







share|improve this question


















  • 1





    'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.

    – Aeon Akechi
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.

    – Felipe Oliveira
    2 hours ago
















2















I started studying studying Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide by Naomi McGloin et al. In section 1.2 there's following example:




[おどろいたことに、] 答えを知っている人はいませんでした。




Which is translated as:




[Surprisingly,] no one knew the answer.




This translation sounds a bit off to me. I'd say that the sentence roughly translates to "[Surprisingly,] person who know the answer is absent", which isn't equivalent to provided translation. I guess it'd be more adequate if the original sentence was something like "[おどろいたことに、] 誰も答えを知らない". I think that difference between "no one knew" and "person who know was not here" is quite stark. Second one implies presence of someone who know while first one does not.



Is this an error in the book or do I understand it incorrectly?






translation







share|improve this question


















  • 1





    'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.

    – Aeon Akechi
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.

    – Felipe Oliveira
    2 hours ago














2












2








2








I started studying studying Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide by Naomi McGloin et al. In section 1.2 there's following example:




[おどろいたことに、] 答えを知っている人はいませんでした。




Which is translated as:




[Surprisingly,] no one knew the answer.




This translation sounds a bit off to me. I'd say that the sentence roughly translates to "[Surprisingly,] person who know the answer is absent", which isn't equivalent to provided translation. I guess it'd be more adequate if the original sentence was something like "[おどろいたことに、] 誰も答えを知らない". I think that difference between "no one knew" and "person who know was not here" is quite stark. Second one implies presence of someone who know while first one does not.



Is this an error in the book or do I understand it incorrectly?






translation







share|improve this question














I started studying studying Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide by Naomi McGloin et al. In section 1.2 there's following example:




[おどろいたことに、] 答えを知っている人はいませんでした。




Which is translated as:




[Surprisingly,] no one knew the answer.




This translation sounds a bit off to me. I'd say that the sentence roughly translates to "[Surprisingly,] person who know the answer is absent", which isn't equivalent to provided translation. I guess it'd be more adequate if the original sentence was something like "[おどろいたことに、] 誰も答えを知らない". I think that difference between "no one knew" and "person who know was not here" is quite stark. Second one implies presence of someone who know while first one does not.



Is this an error in the book or do I understand it incorrectly?






translation




translation






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asked 4 hours ago









PrestoPresto

182




182








  • 1





    'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.

    – Aeon Akechi
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.

    – Felipe Oliveira
    2 hours ago














  • 1





    'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.

    – Aeon Akechi
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.

    – Felipe Oliveira
    2 hours ago








1




1





'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.

– Aeon Akechi
3 hours ago





'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.

– Aeon Akechi
3 hours ago




1




1





while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.

– Felipe Oliveira
2 hours ago





while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.

– Felipe Oliveira
2 hours ago










1 Answer
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"To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:




  1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent

  2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist


You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.





  • 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.

  • ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.




Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.






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    3














    "To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:




    1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent

    2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist


    You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.





    • 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.

    • ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.




    Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.






    share|improve this answer




























      3














      "To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:




      1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent

      2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist


      You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.





      • 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.

      • ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.




      Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.






      share|improve this answer


























        3












        3








        3







        "To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:




        1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent

        2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist


        You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.





        • 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.

        • ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.




        Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.






        share|improve this answer













        "To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:




        1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent

        2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist


        You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.





        • 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.

        • ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.




        Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        narutonaruto

        160k8153299




        160k8153299






























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