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retroguardia

English translation: rear-guard

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:retroguardia
English translation:rear-guard
Entered by: Lara Barnett

23:14 Dec 11, 2017
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Character-based fiction
Italian term or phrase: retroguardia
The narrator is describing the rehearsal period of a Greek play, in which he is part of the chorus. During rehearsals most of the chorus edge further and further forward to the front of the stage in order to be seen by the audience. They have been deterred from upstaging the main actors with a gap, built into the stage floor, across which they are not allowed to cross. But some chorus members are still taking the risk in order to get further forward. Then:

Solo per accaparrarsi uno sguardo in più. Io, insieme a pochi altri, avevo scelto fin dall’inizio la retroguardia, desideroso di essere e rimanere invisibile. E la mia vanità? C’era, eccome se c’era.
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:03
rearguard
Explanation:
It's a bit of a military term and used purposely that way, so I think you want the literal translation here. It's rearguard.

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Note added at 19 hrs (2017-12-12 18:44:15 GMT)
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Nice grammar in my example sentence, eh?
Selected response from:

Anthony Mazzorana (X)
United States
Local time: 12:03
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2... decided to hang back
Michael Korovkin
3 +2rear ranks
Daniel Frisano
4 +1rearguard
Anthony Mazzorana (X)
4the back rows
Lisa Jane


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
rear ranks


Explanation:
That's the idea. Maybe someone can find a better definition.

Daniel Frisano
Italy
Local time: 18:03
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  BdiL: It fits, and if ever a "military" hue is meant, it shows from ranks. IMO. Maurizio
9 hrs
agree  tradu-grace
9 hrs
neutral  James (Jim) Davis: sounds unnatural here in English
13 hrs
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
... decided to hang back


Explanation:
to stay in the rare ranks, rearguard, etc, sound too bombastic in this context: the guy felt shy so he decided to hang back, that's all.

The military allusion is, I think, totally accidental and is due to a poor choice of terms in Italian rather than an aritistic device... In effect, the entire prose of the piece in Italian is kinda purple. Naturally, if you wanna keep it purple, it's your choice. Personally, I would tone it down a bit, taste-wise.


Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 18:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 125

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  James (Jim) Davis: Yes definitely. If a more literal translation doesn't work you have to go for something else.
1 hr
  -> Thanks Jim
agree  philgoddard
7 hrs
  -> Thanks Phil
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the back rows


Explanation:
I agree that the military terms don't sound quite right in English and this guy just preferred to remain hidden in the back rows of the choir.

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 18:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 496
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
rearguard


Explanation:
It's a bit of a military term and used purposely that way, so I think you want the literal translation here. It's rearguard.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2017-12-12 18:44:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Nice grammar in my example sentence, eh?

Example sentence(s):
  • since the beginning I had chosed the rearguard.
Anthony Mazzorana (X)
United States
Local time: 12:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Great grammar !


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: You could say "chose to remain in the rearguard".
15 hrs
  -> Yeah, not sure what I did there when typing in the example. I think I was writing "chosen". It was 10 p.m. and the screen was a little blurry. Thanks!
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