The Dialogue Guide
A linguistic guide to the Bone Season series.
The Bone Season series is set in an alternative version of the real world and takes place across several countries. During the course of the story, some of the characters – including the narrator, Paige – speak in languages other than English. I generally only translate this dialogue on the page if I feel the meaning is crucial to understanding the story. The reason for this is either because Paige is fluent in the language – in which case, I feel it would seem unnatural, and break immersion, for her to automatically translate it into English – or because she doesn’t understand it, and is therefore unable to translate.
My thanks to the many people who have given their time and expertise to assist me with these translations, including Alwyn Hamilton, Benjamin Kuntzer, Ciarán Collins, Laure Eve, Lenka Kapsová, Manuela D’Alessandro, Marco Corsi, Professor Nicola de Blasi, and my readers on Instagram, who are always quick to respond if I have questions.
THE BONE SEASON
❀
Éire go brach
[Gaeilge]
Ireland forever
Go dtuitfeadh an tigh ort.
[Gaeilge]
May your house fall upon you.
The MIME ORDER
❀
Jag kunde inte stanna. Jag kan
inte göra det här.
[Swedish]
I couldn’t stay. I can’t do this.
The SONG RISING
❀
Alba gu bràth
[Gàidhlig]
Scotland forever
Dè tha sibh a’ déanamh an seo?
[Gàidhlig]
What are you doing here?
A bheil Gàidhlig agaibh?
[Gàidhlig]
Do you speak Gàidhlig?
Táim anseo chun teacht ar dhuine éigin.
[Gaeilge]
I’m here to find someone.
The dawn chorus
❀
Nil an fhírinne ar eolas agat, a Mathúinín.
[Gaeilge]
You do not know the truth, little bear.
Inis dom, a athair.
[Gaeilge]
Tell me, Father.
Ní an ceathrú glas, ach an ceann deireanach. Tá an milleán go léir ortsa.
[Gaeilge]
Not the fourth Seal, but the last. This is all your fault.
The MASK FALLING
❀
Sláinte. ¹
[Gaeilge]
Cheers!
Est-ce-que j’ai l’air suffisamment française?
[French]
Do I look sufficiently French?
Très française, petite rêveuse.
[French]
Very French, little dreamer.
Il est venu m’ enlever.
[French]
He’s come to take me away.
Ta gueule.
[French]
Shut up.
Regardez ça, les gars. Ce mec est un colosse.
[French]
Take a look, guys. This guy is a giant.
Hey, hey, ne bouge pas. Parle, maintenant.
[French]
Hey, hey, don’t move. Speak, right now.
Il es temps de voler ce qui nous appartient
[French]
It’s time to steal what’s ours.
Pardonnez-moi. C’était un accident.
[French]
Pardon me. It was an accident.
Bonsoir, Laurent. Gloire à l’ancre. J’espère que vous avez
passé un journée productive au travail.
[French]
Good evening, Laurent. Glory to the anchor. I hope you had a productive day at work.
Bonne nuit, petite rêveuse.
[French]
Goodnight, little dreamer.
Onésime, t’es trop doué. C’est pas juste. Laisse moi gagner pour changer.
[French]
Onésime, you’re too good. It’s not fair. Let me win, for a change.
Si je te laisse gagner, c’est pas gagner pour de vrai.
[French]
If I let you win, it isn’t really winning.
Tu m’embêtes.
[French]
You’re annoying me.
Breizh da viken
[Brezhoneg]
Brittany forever
Je veux lui parler seule. Hors de ma vue, anormal. Tout de suite.
[French]
I wish to speak to her alone. Out of my sight, unnatural, now.
Ne tombe pas. Je ne veux pas que tu salisses mes bottes au fond.
[French]
Don’t fall. I don’t want to get my boots dirty on you.
Vous allez rester avec nous.
[French]
You will stay with us.
Putain d’imbêcile. Espèce d’enfoiré—
[French]
You fucking idiot. You fucking bastard—
Codladh sámh.
[Gaeilge]
Sleep well.
Slán.
[Gaeilge]
Goodbye.
The DARK MIRROR
❀
Dobry wieczór.
[Polish]
Good evening.
Kak ya karash, priyatelko?
[Bulgarian]
How are you doing, my friend?
Biva.
[Bulgarian]
Fine.
Na zdraví
[Czech]
Cheers!
Abbracciate Scion! Non temetelo. A Venezia dimorano forze soprannaturali.
Solo l’àncora può salvarvi tutti. Quando arriva in Italia, accoglietelo a braccia aperte!
[Italian]
Embrace Scion! Don’t be afraid of it. Unnatural forces dwell in Venice. Only the anchor
can save you all. When it comes to Italy, welcome it with open arms!
Va a remengo. Ti xe drio dir monae!
[Venetian]
Fuck off. You’re talking bullshit!
Neh, ma che cazzo stai facenno, strunze!
[Neapolitan]
Hey, what the fuck are you doing, idiot?
Grazie che c’hê fatto venì ccà.
[Neapolitan]
Thanks for letting us come here.
Chesta è ’a casa toia, Verò.
[Neapolitan]
Welcome home, Verò.
Chesta è ’a guagliona mia, se chiamma Maria.
[Neapolitan]
This is my girlfriend, Maria.
Mo t ’a faie cu na piromante, Verò?
[Neapolitan]
You’re dating a pyromancer, Verò?
Ué, ’a puo’ fernì. Nun tene niente ’a spàrtere cu ’e Vesuviane. Nun
ce ’a faccio cchiù a stà mmiezo a sti ttarantelle inutile.
[Neapolitan]
Hey, that’s enough. She has nothing to do with the Vesuviani.
I still refuse to participate n this pointless rivalry.
Vabbuò. Pe te fà piacere nun ce rico niente.
[Neapolitan]
All right. I will be kind, for your sake.
Nun te preoccupà. Chiste stanne ccà pe’ ce aiutà.
[Neapolitan]
Don’t worry. They’re here to help us.
Tá sé ceart go leor.
[Gaeilge]
It’s all right.
Non posso farla entrare.
[Italian]
I can’t let her in.
Vuole solo bere qualcosa. La porterò dentro solo per poco. Smettila di fare lo stronzo.
[Italian]
She just wants a drink. I'll only take her a short way inside. Stop being an asshole.
E va bene. Se qualcuno chiede, è entrata di nascosto.
[Italian]
Fine. If anyone asks, she snuck in.
Aspetta un momento. Tu non puoi stare qui. Come sei entrata?
[Italian]
Wait a moment. You can’t be here. How did you get in?
A chroí
[Gaeilge]
My heart.
Is ceol m’anama tu.
[Gaeilge]
You are the music of my soul.
Fan liom, a rúnseirce. ²
[Gaeilge]
Stay with me, my secret love.
Is tusa mo bhaile, mo dhídean.
[Gaeilge]
You are my home, my refuge.
Credimi, Fatima. Sa di cosa sta parlando.
[Italian]
Trust me, Fatima. She knows what she’s talking about.
Caterina Sforza io ti invoco. Ti invoco, Caterina Sforza!
[Italian]
Caterina Sforza, I summon you. I summon you, Caterina Sforza!
Notes
¹ This literally means health in Gaeilge and is used as a toast.
² Fan liom can also mean ‘wait for me’ in Irish.