My dilemma with "borderline boring" word combination I am translating subtitles for TED talk from English to Russian. I've met 'borderline boring' in the following context: First year of marriage, i

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My dilemma with "borderline boring" word combination I am translating subtitles for TED talk from English to Russian. I've met 'borderline boring' in the following context: First year of marriage, it's all wonderful; twentieth year of marriage - and we have been married 21 years, I've said this in front of my wife - partners become borderline boring after 20 years. 30 years, even worse. I had doubts on meaning of 'borderline boring' and I asked for help from professional and amauter translators on FB. Their opinions divided (almost 50%/50%) which reflects my own doubts. So, I would like to hear opinion of native speakers. I am interested in meaning of this word combination. What does "borderline boring" mean here? 1) spouses are ALMOST bored with each other after 20 years of marriage (I tend toward this variant) 2) spouses are ALREADY bored to death with each other after 20 years of marriage Russian translation will vary significantly depending on the meaning. thank you!

12 de abr. de 2017 7:29

Respuestas · 7

If you take the literal meaning of borderline, it is to be on the border of, or at the edge of, whatever the noun or verb is. So for example, the borderline to a country is the edge of the country - neither in nor out of it, but right on the line. To be "borderline" anything suggests being "on the edge of" or "close to" or "almost" at the stage of the verb or noun it is describing. So in this example, to be "borderline boring", means being almost boring, or, "on the edge of" being boring. Therefore, your first answer (number 1) is the most accurate. I hope this helps.

12 de abril de 2017

1st answer "spouses are ALMOST bored' is correct. Notionally, this is similar to on the boundary of an area (Country, continent,town) or a quality (good or bad) or state of being (personality traits, love or friendship between two people) - implying that you're neither on one side of the border nor on the other. To clarify any confusion, think about this sentence. Romeo and Juliet crossed the borderline between friendship and love.

12 de abril de 2017

Prasad and Sebastian are quite right: it is answer number one. If there were a physical place called "being bored with each other," and another place called "not being bored with each other," this couple would not be in either place, but standing on the border between the two. The use of "Borderline" in "Borderline Personality Disorder" is a historical artifact, dating from when BPD was thought to be a form of schizophrenia and "on the borderline between neurosis and psychosis."

12 de abril de 2017

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