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ледер
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Oct 6, 2017 14:47
6 yrs ago
Russian term

Волшебная шкатулка

Russian to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature translation of a fantastic novel
How to translate "Волшебная шкатулка" or just "шкатулка"? It contains some magic things but not jewelry or precious stones. So, should it be called a "chest" or "jewel-box" or perhaps something else? I don`t want to call it just a "box".

Thanks in advance!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 Magic casket
4 magic bin
3 enchanted/magic pyxis
3 magic coffret

Discussion

5555555 (X) Oct 8, 2017:
I removed my answer Mikhail, I have removed my answer, because I think that you have contributed to this translation and you deserve some kind of a recognition. If Zhanna doesn't give you points, it doesn't matter. Because from what I see on the Internet, it's the presence of your name that gets you recognized. I quit worrying about these silly kudos a long time ago.
Mikhail Kropotov Oct 8, 2017:
Kimberly I saw your comment and I agree with you, though as you just pointed out, I had covered it in my original answer.

I would not mind in the slightest if Zhanna chose your answer over mine, or anyone else's. It's closing questions without points that gets me going.
5555555 (X) Oct 8, 2017:
I have made a comment earlier in this discussion about a funeral casket and how a casket is perceived as a coffin. But then, I read Mikhails suggestion more carefully, and realized that he had covered the concept of a casket. I removed my comment because of his thorough coverage of the concept.

Obviously, we do not have all the context that the author has. But I think, Mikhail deserves a credit. You just go ahead and give him a kudo, Zhanna. I think it's only fare.
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D. Oct 8, 2017:
Instead of a magic case, a veritable Pandora's box has been opened.
Mikhail Kropotov Oct 8, 2017:
We had no context whatsoever of your novel, other than that it belongs to the fantasy genre. No one except yourself could come up with "the right answer" in these circumstances.

But that's beside the point. Kudoz points are not awarded to "the right answer." They're given as a token of appreciation to the contribution that proved the most helpful for the asker. Whether it was a reference link, a creative idea, a wording suggestion, or anything else that was helpful.

If this discussion was not helpful to you, you can only blame yourself. Grade it any way you like, but don't expect Kudoz contributors to pay attention to your questions in the future.
Zhanna Rohalska (asker) Oct 8, 2017:
Mikhail I just don`t find it fair grading somebody`s answer that is not the right answer for me just for the sake of grading it. And unfortunately though yes, there have been several answers none of them works for the novel I`m working with.
Mikhail Kropotov Oct 8, 2017:
Indeed, closing a question with meaningful answers without grading is the best way to show one's appreciation. I can't wait to see more of your questions to waste my time on. Bring them on!
Zhanna Rohalska (asker) Oct 8, 2017:
Explanation The book is targeting American readers, so I don`t think "casket" would be appropriate. But thanks for all of your replies!
Mikhail Kropotov Oct 6, 2017:
Frank To continue our discussion, I would consider ignoring the shape of this шкатулка and what it's made of, and focusing on its magical functions, if we could only learn more about the item and what happens to it in the course of the novel.

Zhanna, could you please satisfy our curiosity and elaborate the context for us?

Thank you in advance.

Proposed translations

+2
3 mins

Magic casket

The Magic Casket by R. Austin Freeman - Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5453886-the-magic-casket

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Note added at 5 mins (2017-10-06 14:52:35 GMT)
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I know 'casket' usually means 'coffin' in contemporary US English. Still, it could work if your novel is set in an older period where casket still had its original meaning of 'box.'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2017-10-06 14:53:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

casket
/ˈkɑːskɪt/
noun

a small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valued objects.
"a small brass casket containing four black opals"
synonyms: box, chest, case, container, receptacle, coffer, trunk, crate; rarepyxis
"a small casket containing four black opals"

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Note added at 8 mins (2017-10-06 14:56:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Precious box' may be an option if you don't want to mention jewelry specifically.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jack Doughty : It still means that inUK English.
6 mins
Thanks, Jack!
agree Alexander Grabowski
18 mins
Something went wrong...
21 mins

enchanted/magic pyxis

Very magical.

cccc
A pyxis (πυξίς, plural pyxides) is a shape of vessel from the classical world, usually a cylindrical box with a separate lid. Originally mostly used by women to hold cosmetics, trinkets or jewellery, surviving pyxides are mostly Greek pottery, but especially in later periods may be in wood, metal, ivory, or other materials. The name derived from Corinthian boxes made of wood from the tree puksos (boxwood), that also came with covers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyxis_(vessel)

ccccccc
1. (Historical Terms) a small box used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to hold medicines, etc
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pyxis

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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-10-06 17:10:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

Doesn't this look like a magical vessel?
https://www.ancient.eu/img/r/p/750x750/3534.jpg?v=1485681234
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Py...

ccccccccccccc
шкатулка
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOaZbJ...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpM4NU...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE7c_E...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQv8zAQ...
Peer comment(s):
neutral Mikhail Kropotov : I researched this word and found that a pyxis is usually a round, vase-like container. This really jars (pun intended) with the image of шкатулка, which is box-shaped. Also, шкатулка (in Russian) is not a piece of pottery.
1 hr
It is more about magic than the shape. It is even more magical if indeed round. шкатулка can be round, even heart-shaped.
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

magic bin

A guess
Peer comment(s):
neutral The Misha : Why not a bucket then? Or a crate?
13 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 day 20 hrs

magic coffret

A coffret, or cofferet, is a small chest.
Something went wrong...
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