English Experts

[Marcio_Farias]

Só para contrariar, em inglês tem o sentido básico de "final", "definitivo". "O tradutor desavisado", escreve Agenor Soares dos Santos[1], "falseará, na maior parte das vezes, a inteligência do texto, se usar a tradução literal".

Mr. Hill's professional prospects so far brightened that eventual success seemed certain.
(De tal forma as perspectivas do sr. Hill melhoraram, que o sucesso ao final parecia garantido.)

Mr. Hill went down the steps and round the house to look for another entrance. He eventually found one.
(O sr. Hill desceu a escada e rodeou a casa para procurar outra entrada. Finalmente encontrou uma.)

The eventual successor to the presidency
(O sucessor final [escolhido] da presidência)
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[1] Autor do Guia Prático da Tradução Inglesa.

[Henry Cunha]

Olá Márcio

I dislike "eventual" and "eventually" exactly because of this switch in meaning over time. "Final" and "definitive" are clearer. I also prefer "in time".

This will eventually happen. = This will take place in due time.
The eventual outcome... = Outcome already means final event.

I'm left with "eventful" as the one I use, meaning "a memorable period of time" :

No year was more eventful than 1989.

The other awfully misused term is "momentarily." Its real meaning is "for a brief period of time," but thanks to sports anouncers has acquired the meaning of "shortly":

(Wrong) Our friend will arrive momentarily.
(Right) Our friend will arrive shortly (soon).

(Right) He came by momentarily. = He came for a brief period of time (but has left).

Regards

[Marcio_Farias]

I agree with you, Henry. In his translation manual ASS[1] attempts to warn English-Portuguese translators against many of the pitfalls literal translations might dump them into. As far as momentary, ASS frankly states no, the Portuguese counterpart means "momentâneo," although it may carry the "RECORRENTE" conotation (that which occurs or recursively comes up at every moment in space or time).

For him, we should understand (and perhaps translate) "hourly and momentary fears" as "tremores que voltam a cada hora" or "... a cada momento," not as "... tremores momentâneos." He further states the corresponding adverb momentarily would give the inattentative, heedless translator a bit more of a headache than would its corresponding adjective momentary, in that the former grossly diverges from the latter much more so than its false friend instantaneamente would.

Thus, "He groaned, but almost momentarily recovered consciousness," he warns, should translate as "Ele gemeu, mas quase que instantaneamente recuperou a consciência," not as "... momentaneamente recuperou..."

His translation manual then recommends translating "We expect his coming momentarily" into "Esperamos a chegada dele a qualquer momento," not "... dele momentaneamente."

Of all that an ESL'er can further learn or state, has English momentary lost its original sense so fast? And if it has, what can this ESL'er do about it!

IMWTK

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[1] ASS = Agenor Soares dos Santos, author of Guia Prático da Tradução Inglesa.

[Henry Cunha]

I'm not sure I agree with

"hourly and momentary fears" as "tremores que voltam a cada hora" or "... a cada momento," not as "... tremores momentâneos."

"Hourly" already means every hour, so "momentary" can only add that the fears are short-lived, instantaneous. In any case, it's a strange juxtaposition. One would think "hourly but momentary," or even "hourly, momentary" might be better options.

I think discerning, careful writers continue to use "momentarily" with its more appropriate meaning.

Regards