I need help translating a sentence!
Tal
April 13, 2009, 01:12 AM posted in General DiscussionHi folks! If one of our more advanced poddies has a moment I would be so grateful if you could help me to translate the following sentence into Chinese. (A Chinese colleague clearly credits me with more ability than I have!)
"When the motorcar become more than an oddity, other types of accommodations developed in the United States."
This was my first attempt, which I know is not perfect: 汽车还没有珍闻的时候，在美国各种各样的住宿出来了, which my (Chinese) wife has just told me she cannot understand at all! Aargh! Why am I trying to learn this language!?
Tal
April 13, 2009, 01:54 AMOh dear! I don't think so, but actually it's hard to be certain, (the colleague just sent me this in an email begging for a translation!) Perhaps with an 'out of context' sentence like this it's hard to be certain.
But I think the first part refers to automobiles becoming more common (for example the time around 1900 to 1920?) and the second part means that this change in the US society caused people to live in different types of housing/accommodation.
changye
April 13, 2009, 11:12 AMHi rigau
I'm afraid I can't think of a good direct translation of the sentence. My free translation is as follows ..... no guarantee.
上世纪20年代，随着汽车的普及，新类型的旅店开始出现在美国社会 (or 美国社会开始出现新类型的旅店)。
Tal
April 13, 2009, 11:23 AMchangye many thanks! The lady was on my case for an answer before noon today, so in the end I settled for:
当汽车变得越来越普遍，很多不同的住宿形式在美国发展起来。
Not entirely my own work I'm afraid! *sigh*
changye
April 13, 2009, 01:36 AMIn the first place, I don't understand the meaning of the English sentence, hehe. Is that about motels in the US?