Sep 13, 2021 19:51
2 yrs ago
20 viewers *
Arabic term
یهتكون سترك
Arabic to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Syria
*trigger warning: sexual violence*
Hi everyone,
I'm translating a short story about being a prisoner in Syria. It's quite heavy stuff.
The story is in the form of a letter from the prisoner to his mother. I think this phrase is referring to a (metaphorical) rape (of the mother)? But would appreciate confirmation.
أخیراً سأخرج من فرع المخابرات الجویة. ولن تجفلي بعد الیوم من حینٍ لحین هناك في حمص حین یهتكون سترك هنا تحت أرض الشام مع كلّ كابلٍ رباعيّ یسوط ظهري.
Many thanks
Anam
Hi everyone,
I'm translating a short story about being a prisoner in Syria. It's quite heavy stuff.
The story is in the form of a letter from the prisoner to his mother. I think this phrase is referring to a (metaphorical) rape (of the mother)? But would appreciate confirmation.
أخیراً سأخرج من فرع المخابرات الجویة. ولن تجفلي بعد الیوم من حینٍ لحین هناك في حمص حین یهتكون سترك هنا تحت أرض الشام مع كلّ كابلٍ رباعيّ یسوط ظهري.
Many thanks
Anam
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | abuse your decency with... |
Saeed Najmi
|
| 4 | to expose/show up/disclose |
Lamine Boukabour
|
| 4 | They assault/violate you |
Samaa Zeitoun
|
Proposed translations
5 days
Saeed Najmi
Morocco
Morocco
Native in Arabic
Morocco
Juggling languages: a science and an art
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Moroccan, Standard-Arabian (MSA)) 
, French
Works in: English to Arabic, French to Arabic, Arabic to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
146
Selected
abuse your decency with...
الستر generally refers to what and who hides a person's imperfections, weaknesses and intimacy and pritects their decency and dignity.
As for يهتكون، I opt for abuse for, IMO, it is stronger than other possible verbs and hence better reflects what things are actually.
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Note added at 6 days (2021-09-20 09:09:42 GMT)
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"intimacy"
An afterthought carried me to consider "intimacy" as a good option. I guess "decency" is inherent in "intimacy". As a matter of fact, it is the mental and emotional state that is the result of "intimacy", the very special things that make your shield and cover, decency, dignity and safety when they are spared. The case here, they are being abused here everyday with every whip on the son's body, naked body maybe for, our clothes are الستر of our bodies.
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Note added at 6 days (2021-09-20 09:25:30 GMT)
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To elaborate, the little things that make the mother's "intimacy" are her son. He's all of them, and as long as he's untouched, she will feel her "intimacy" is whole. This gives her a sense of dignity, decency and safety no matter what else. Her son, her intimacy, is being "abused-naked".
As for يهتكون، I opt for abuse for, IMO, it is stronger than other possible verbs and hence better reflects what things are actually.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 days (2021-09-20 09:09:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"intimacy"
An afterthought carried me to consider "intimacy" as a good option. I guess "decency" is inherent in "intimacy". As a matter of fact, it is the mental and emotional state that is the result of "intimacy", the very special things that make your shield and cover, decency, dignity and safety when they are spared. The case here, they are being abused here everyday with every whip on the son's body, naked body maybe for, our clothes are الستر of our bodies.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 days (2021-09-20 09:25:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To elaborate, the little things that make the mother's "intimacy" are her son. He's all of them, and as long as he's untouched, she will feel her "intimacy" is whole. This gives her a sense of dignity, decency and safety no matter what else. Her son, her intimacy, is being "abused-naked".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks for this interpretation. It is indeed useful to think about it in this way! thanks"
48 mins
Lamine Boukabour
Algeria
Algeria
Native in Arabic
Algeria
Every Word Matters
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Standard-Arabian (MSA), Algerian) 
Works in: English to Arabic
Related KudoZ points
:
94
to expose/show up/disclose
to expose/show up/disclose
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Note added at 51 mins (2021-09-13 20:42:15 GMT)
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It means:
كشف مساوئه
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Note added at 52 mins (2021-09-13 20:43:23 GMT)
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هذا المصطلح عام، ولا يقتصر على الاغتصاب، وإنما يعني كشف أي سوء من المساوئ.
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Note added at 53 mins (2021-09-13 20:44:17 GMT)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlH3hIKvGKc
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Note added at 51 mins (2021-09-13 20:42:15 GMT)
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It means:
كشف مساوئه
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 mins (2021-09-13 20:43:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
هذا المصطلح عام، ولا يقتصر على الاغتصاب، وإنما يعني كشف أي سوء من المساوئ.
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Note added at 53 mins (2021-09-13 20:44:17 GMT)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlH3hIKvGKc
2 days 19 hrs
Samaa Zeitoun
United States
United States
Native in Arabic
Works in field
United States
Quality comes first
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Egyptian, Standard-Arabian (MSA))
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic
Related KudoZ points
:
17
They assault/violate you
I believe he's metaphorically referring to the spiritual bond between him and his mother. My understanding of it is (roughly translated): You will no longer flinch/wince there in Homs when they assault/violate you here in Damascus with every whip that strikes my back (they assault her by assaulting her son).
As far as I know, Syrians mean Damascus by Sham. I found proof in the attached link, but perhaps Syrian colleagues could verify this :) .
وترافق تصاعد استخدام مصطلح سورية مع تضيق معنى مصطلح الشام الذي اقتصر على دمشق وما جاورها فقط، وما زال هذا الفرق باقيا في كلام أهل الشام إلى اليوم، حيث أن الشامي هو الدمشقي أما الحلبي مثلا فليس بشامي.
As far as I know, Syrians mean Damascus by Sham. I found proof in the attached link, but perhaps Syrian colleagues could verify this :) .
وترافق تصاعد استخدام مصطلح سورية مع تضيق معنى مصطلح الشام الذي اقتصر على دمشق وما جاورها فقط، وما زال هذا الفرق باقيا في كلام أهل الشام إلى اليوم، حيث أن الشامي هو الدمشقي أما الحلبي مثلا فليس بشامي.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, yes I think you are right, it could very well be referring to a spiritual bond! |
Discussion
Looking at the references you have privided, I guess you are right where Homs and Sham are concerned.
Come to your interpretation and translation of the source phrase, I also feel "violate" does render the meaning but is liable to improvement. I am personally inclined to use the term "abuse", what do you think?
Regarding the object of the verb "violate/abuse/assault" refers to the son, so it should be "me", not "you". What's your say there too?