Page 1, paragraph 1

 

Let's start from the first two paragraphs of the book.

In English they read:

 TAO

District 242, Shirong, Sichuan, 2098

Like oversize birds, we balanced on our respective branches, each of us with a plastic container in one hand and a feather brush in the other.

In German, the same lines read: 

tao

Bezirk 242, Shirong, Sichuan, 2098

Wie verwachsene Vögel balancierten wir auf unseren Ästen, das Plastikgefäß in der einen Hand, den Federpinsel in der anderen.

In French, the same lines read:

Tao

District 242, Shirong, Sichuan, 2098

Tels des oiseaux disproportionnés, nous nous tenions en équilibre chacune sur notre branche, un bac en plastique dans une main, un plumeau dans l'autre.

Let's start with consideration of the English word "oversize", which I will comment should be "oversized" in this context. 

The French word in this translation for the English "oversize" is "disproportionnés", which in English translates to "disproportionate". In English, "disproportionate" can mean either "oversized" or "undersized" depending on the context - in this case the context is clear.

The German "verwachsene" translates as "overgrown", which seems about right.





 





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