[bastantebueno55]

I would like to jump into the Spanish translation fray. (Am Spanish tchr at h.s. and jr. college levels)

Sometimes the best translation will use a completely different idiomatic expression in the second language. I would offer up: Agárrese (or Agárrate) los tobillos mientras te la doy otra vez (Grab your ankles while I give "it"--the "la" would be a very crude reference to a certain male organ--to you again).

On the other hand, I couldn't disagree more with the general sentiments expressed by the majority of posters here at FR on this subject. I fear for what will happen to the Republican party at the national level if the Tom Tancredo wing takes over. He will do to the national party what Pete Wilson did to the California pubbies.

Go ahead and flame me if you wish, but I have yet to hear one single responsible suggestion from the other side that deals with the fact that we cannot deport 12 million people. It's not going to happen. Lindsay Graham is right when he says that the status quo is the biggest amnesty program of all, and the House-passed version offers no realistic answer for what we do about those already here.

[george wythe]

Sometimes the best translation will use a completely different idiomatic expression in the second language.

I would offer up: Agárrese (or Agárrate) los tobillos mientras te la doy otra vez (Grab your ankles while I give "it"--the "la" would be a very crude reference to a certain male organ--to you again).

Excellent choice. It encapsulates the intent and purpose of the American expression better than any other literal translation.

Among linguists and translators, there is always a tension between the literalists and the paraphrasers. This is especially true when dealing with important texts like sacred writings (Bible, Quran, etc) or classical writings (in Greek, Latin, etc).

I've come to the conclusion that the only way to actually understand a foreign-language colloquial phrase or idiomatic expression is by learning such language.

Despite my reluctance to learn classical languages in high school, now I'm of the opinion that learning ancient languages, such as Greek and Latin, is a good idea. I took some Latin in high school, but I forgot most of it already. I'm considering taking night classes in my local university to actually learn to read fluent Latin text.