contempt as it is used in the title.
I can only speak for Czech language here, I don't know if this also applies to Polish.
Now, after some thinking about it, I believe that there's a slight difference. Not in the word contempt itself, but in adjectives that can be made from it. In Czech, as in English, you can have two adjectives derived from the noun contempt - contemptuous and contemptible - in Czech opovržlivý and opovrženíhodný. And I think that Czech opovrženíhodný can be a bit stronger than English contemptible, and that it can have a wider application than English contemptible.
Opovrženíhodný can also be translated as despicable, abominable, vile, and maybe even heinous. And if you inverse the Czech title and use opovrženíhodný you get something like Abominable Times or Vile Times. So, although the meaning of the title translated from Czech to English would be Times of Contempt (or Disdain), a Czech can feel the world opovrženíhodný in the title, and I think that it can therefore make a stronger impression in Czech than in English.
I can only speak for Czech language here, I don't know if this also applies to Polish.
Now, after some thinking about it, I believe that there's a slight difference. Not in the word contempt itself, but in adjectives that can be made from it. In Czech, as in English, you can have two adjectives derived from the noun contempt - contemptuous and contemptible - in Czech opovržlivý and opovrženíhodný. And I think that Czech opovrženíhodný can be a bit stronger than English contemptible, and that it can have a wider application than English contemptible.
Opovrženíhodný can also be translated as despicable, abominable, vile, and maybe even heinous. And if you inverse the Czech title and use opovrženíhodný you get something like Abominable Times or Vile Times. So, although the meaning of the title translated from Czech to English would be Times of Contempt (or Disdain), a Czech can feel the world opovrženíhodný in the title, and I think that it can therefore make a stronger impression in Czech than in English.
In today's English, "contempt" (and to an extent, "disdain") contains a callous disregard or disrespect for another, but it doesn't have the hint of violence. Perhaps "despise" or "despite" might carry that connotation of active dislike and disregard, close to but not fully synonymous with "hatred."
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.

Andrzej Sapkowski, Times of Disdain/Tiempo del odio
27/11/2010 03:24:22 AM
- 1339 Views
Bizarre that you would go to a Spanish translation
(A translation note)
27/11/2010 04:05:28 PM
- 765 Views

Not really, when that's the only complete translation available in a language I read
27/11/2010 06:54:18 PM
- 824 Views

It's an interesting discussion about that title... "disdain" is indeed somewhat weak.
27/11/2010 06:35:14 PM
- 833 Views
When I have time later tonight, I'll translate the relevant passage near the end of the book
27/11/2010 06:57:23 PM
- 852 Views
Re: Andrzej Sapkowski, Times of Disdain/Tiempo del odio
27/11/2010 09:37:07 PM
- 908 Views
The main reason why I lean toward "hatred" is later on
27/11/2010 09:43:43 PM
- 860 Views
Yeah, there may be a slight difference between Czech and English meaning of the word
28/11/2010 10:49:23 AM
- 834 Views
Makes sense to me
28/11/2010 07:13:08 PM
- 895 Views
Now for that passage near the end of the book I said I'd post
28/11/2010 02:35:38 AM
- 826 Views
Hm. I'd actually say it makes me more inclined to think "contempt" is right after all.
28/11/2010 10:50:09 AM
- 902 Views
I didn't quote what happened immediately afterward, as that is a major spoiler
28/11/2010 07:16:39 PM
- 788 Views
Re: Now for that passage near the end of the book I said I'd post
28/11/2010 11:03:18 AM
- 822 Views
Re: Now for that passage near the end of the book I said I'd post
29/11/2010 01:12:58 AM
- 686 Views
I find it funny that all the discussion in the thread is about the best translation of the title.
28/11/2010 10:17:44 PM
- 772 Views
Time of Contempt is closest to original meaning
28/11/2010 11:42:56 PM
- 888 Views
Perhaps, but there's been a weakening of "contempt" in English over the past few generations
28/11/2010 11:55:16 PM
- 917 Views
Re: Perhaps, but there's been a weakening of "contempt" in English over the past few generations
29/11/2010 12:47:12 AM
- 905 Views
You made me want to go and reread this again
29/11/2010 12:07:46 AM
- 877 Views
I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow
29/11/2010 12:32:23 AM
- 966 Views
Re: I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow
29/11/2010 01:05:30 AM
- 910 Views
Re: I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow
29/11/2010 05:02:48 AM
- 898 Views
Re: I'm in the midst of re-reading The Tower of the Swallow
29/11/2010 04:39:02 PM
- 928 Views
Still, seeing as many as six consonants together can be intimidating for some of us
29/11/2010 11:37:22 PM
- 938 Views

Re: Still, seeing as many as six consonants together can be intimidating for some of us
30/11/2010 02:27:03 AM
- 911 Views

I refuse to give the Germans credit when it comes to language and grammar issues!
30/11/2010 03:04:30 AM
- 1077 Views

I don't see why; except maybe page long nouns
30/11/2010 04:22:37 PM
- 1113 Views

I dunno, some people dig saying "Machtübernahme" and "Größerdeutschland"
30/11/2010 05:53:43 PM
- 930 Views
