Day 36: How Do You Translate Ala Eh?

Dialogue

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1. 1
   A

   O, Sheila, kumusta ang salin? Nasa ikatlong kuwento ka na ga, o naliligaw ka pa sa Atimonan?

   So, Sheila, how's the translation going? Are you on the third story yet, or still lost in Atimonan?

   Line 1
2. 2
   B

   Naliligaw nga, sa ala eh mo. Tatlumpung beses mo itong ginamit, at hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano isalin.

   Lost, all right, in your ala eh. You used it thirty times, and I still don't know how to translate it.

   Line 2
3. 3
   A

   Kasi hindi iisa ang ala eh. Pakinggan mo: "Ala eh, umuulan na naman."

   That's because there isn't just one ala eh. Listen: "Ala eh, it's raining again."

   Line 3
4. 4
   B

   Iyan, "Oh, great, it's raining again," may inis at kaunting pagsuko.

   That one's "Oh, great, it's raining again": annoyed, and a little resigned.

   Line 4
5. 5
   A

   Ito naman, sa taong matagal mong hindi nakita: "Ala eh, ikaw pala!"

   And this one, for someone you haven't seen in ages: "Ala eh, it's you!"

   Line 5
6. 6
   B

   "Well, look who it is!" Tuwa na iyan, kaya paano ko gagamitin ang iisang salita sa dalawa?

   "Well, look who it is!" That's joy now, so how can I use one word for both?

   Line 6
7. 7
   A

   At ang huli, sa anak na ayaw kumain: "Ala eh, isang subo pa." Lambing naman iyan.

   And the last, to a child who won't eat: "Ala eh, one more bite." That one's tenderness.

   Line 7
8. 8
   B

   "Come on, sweetie, one more bite." Tatlong ala eh, tatlong Ingles, kaya baka huwag ko na lang isalin.

   "Come on, sweetie, one more bite." Three ala ehs, three Englishes, so maybe I just won't translate it.

   Line 8
9. 9
   A

   Pero kung hindi mo isasalin, baka akalain ng mambabasa na nag-typo ako nang tatlumpung beses.

   But if you don't translate it, readers might think I made the same typo thirty times.

   Line 9
10. 10
    B

    Hindi naman, basta sa unang pahina pa lang, maramdaman na nila ang tatlo. Sa ikatatlumpu, taga-Quezon na rin sila.

    Not really, as long as they can feel all three from the very first page. By the thirtieth, they'll be from Quezon too.

    Line 10
11. 11
    A

    Ala eh, sige na nga, basta huwag mong gagawing "gee whiz" ang ala eh ko.

    Ala eh, oh, all right, just don't turn my ala eh into "gee whiz."

    Line 11