We are talking at cross purposes.

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h34
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We are talking at cross purposes.

Postby h34 » 2020-08-02, 7:43

How would you translate the expression 'talking at cross purposes' in a context like this one?


- That's nonsense. Wearing a simple mask can't help to prevent the spread of the virus. It can't protect you from coming into contact with the virus.

- We're talking at cross purposes. I never said it could protect you. But it can protect those around you, in case you've been infected.

English: We are talking at cross purposes.
German: Wir reden aneinander vorbei.

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md0
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Re: We are talking at cross purposes.

Postby md0 » 2020-08-02, 8:58

It will sound less formal and more aggressive in Greek.

English: We are talking at cross purposes.
German: Wir reden aneinander vorbei.

Greek: μαζί μιλάμε χώρια καταλαβαινόμαστε (lit. we are talking together but understand different things)
"If you like your clause structure, you can keep your clause structure"
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mizuz

Re: We are talking at cross purposes.

Postby mizuz » 2020-08-03, 10:02

English: We are talking at cross purposes.
German: Wir reden aneinander vorbei.

Greek: μαζί μιλάμε χώρια καταλαβαινόμαστε (lit. we are talking together but understand different things)

Italian: Non ci siamo capiti♂♂, ♂♀/-e♀♀. (lit. we didn't understand each other)

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linguoboy
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Re: We are talking at cross purposes.

Postby linguoboy » 2020-08-03, 13:42

IME, this expression is somewhat old fashioned. More often, we say "talking past each other".

The Irish expression literally means "There's a misunderstanding between us". I don't know of an expression which makes it explicit that the misunderstanding is verbal.

Welsh has a variety of colourful expressions. The last of these translates as "I'm in a field of potatoes and you're in a field of turnips."

English: We are talking at cross purposes. / We are talking past each other.
German: Wir reden aneinander vorbei.

Irish: Tá míthuiscint eadrainn.
Welsh: Rydyn ni'n siarad (yn groes i'n gilydd)/(am y clawdd)/(am y pared)/(o boptu'r gwrych). / Rwyt ti'n y cae tatws a mi'n y cae maip.

Greek: μαζί μιλάμε χώρια καταλαβαινόμαστε (lit. we are talking together but understand different things)

Italian: Non ci siamo capiti♂♂, ♂♀/-e♀♀. (lit. we didn't understand each other).
"Richmond is a real scholar; Owen just learns languages because he can't bear not to know what other people are saying."--Margaret Lattimore on her two sons


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