Sep 3, 2016 05:22
7 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Spanish term
Geology and Hydrogeology / Proofreading
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
diáspora
Spanish to English
Science
Science (general)
Hydrology
It's a book on hydrogeology, but its author has a more literary style than your average scientist. He uses the following expression:
"una diáspora de normas de distinta jerarquía"
He is referring to different regulations that legislate on the hydrology of the study area. He probably means "a myriad of", but highlighting the fact that there isn't a unified code or law. I checked the Diccionario de la Real Academia Española, and "diáspora" does not seem to be used in that sense, but that's what sounds more logical to me... Here's the definition:
diáspora
1. f. Dispersión de los judíos exiliados de su país.
2. f. Dispersión de grupos humanos que abandonan su lugar de origen.
Now, I checked uses of "diaspora" in Google Scholar and I found this:
The decline and dispersion of marketing competence
FE Webster Jr, AJ Malter… - MIT Sloan Management …, 2005 - search.proquest.com
Abstract. In many companies, there has been a marked fall-off in the influence, stature and
significance of the corporate marketing department. Today, marketing is often less of a corporate
function and more a diaspora of skills and capabilities spread across the organization.
Of course, this one at least includes the idea of something (not people in this case) spreading across space. My example does not even entail any movement! Any thoughts on how to translate it? Maybe "scattered standards/regulations"? Thanks!!!
"una diáspora de normas de distinta jerarquía"
He is referring to different regulations that legislate on the hydrology of the study area. He probably means "a myriad of", but highlighting the fact that there isn't a unified code or law. I checked the Diccionario de la Real Academia Española, and "diáspora" does not seem to be used in that sense, but that's what sounds more logical to me... Here's the definition:
diáspora
1. f. Dispersión de los judíos exiliados de su país.
2. f. Dispersión de grupos humanos que abandonan su lugar de origen.
Now, I checked uses of "diaspora" in Google Scholar and I found this:
The decline and dispersion of marketing competence
FE Webster Jr, AJ Malter… - MIT Sloan Management …, 2005 - search.proquest.com
Abstract. In many companies, there has been a marked fall-off in the influence, stature and
significance of the corporate marketing department. Today, marketing is often less of a corporate
function and more a diaspora of skills and capabilities spread across the organization.
Of course, this one at least includes the idea of something (not people in this case) spreading across space. My example does not even entail any movement! Any thoughts on how to translate it? Maybe "scattered standards/regulations"? Thanks!!!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
2 hrs
Selected
propagation/"cascading" of rules from different hierarchies
One finds this sort of statement in computerised rule modeling studies. That's a very different are but it seems like the effect he is describing.
Cascading in brackets might work as it gives an image from hydrology.
Cascading in brackets might work as it gives an image from hydrology.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
JohnMcDove
: For want of some meaningful additional context, that's the "flow" I get from the original too... ;-)
9 hrs
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Thanks John.
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| agree |
Isidora Ortiz
: I like your proposal of "cascading" translates both the tone of the original, and the meaning of course. Thanks!
3 days 7 hrs
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Thanks Isidora.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
1 hr
Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Each translation a gem!
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
56
chaotic jumble / farrago
Personally, I don't think your author had checked out the meaning of the word. But the sense is clear. First I thought of words like:
mishmash
hodgepodge
patchwork
But then I decided that the situation calls for a sense of movement and drama (even though I never saw a piece of legislation running around).
Here's the definition of 'farrago' from my desktop version of Merriam Webster:
Main Entry:far£ra£go
Pronunciation:f**r*(*)g*, -r*(-, -ra(-
Function:noun
Inflected Form:-es
Etymology:Latin farragin-, farrago mixed fodder for cattle, mash, mixture, from far spelt * more at BARLEY
1 : MIXTURE, MEDLEY *a farrago of protein, fiber, and mineral salts— New Yorker*
2 a : a confused, disordered, or irrational assemblage (as of words or ideas) *his farrago of facts would need sifting— O.W.Holmes *1935* *arranged as *South is London of Brighton* they make a farrago which
mishmash
hodgepodge
patchwork
But then I decided that the situation calls for a sense of movement and drama (even though I never saw a piece of legislation running around).
Here's the definition of 'farrago' from my desktop version of Merriam Webster:
Main Entry:far£ra£go
Pronunciation:f**r*(*)g*, -r*(-, -ra(-
Function:noun
Inflected Form:-es
Etymology:Latin farragin-, farrago mixed fodder for cattle, mash, mixture, from far spelt * more at BARLEY
1 : MIXTURE, MEDLEY *a farrago of protein, fiber, and mineral salts— New Yorker*
2 a : a confused, disordered, or irrational assemblage (as of words or ideas) *his farrago of facts would need sifting— O.W.Holmes *1935* *arranged as *South is London of Brighton* they make a farrago which
1 hr
a parade of [rules/regulations/norms]
Or perhaps "a miscellaneous parade of rules".
I understand the Spanish usage is very lax.
Some more context would be helpful, but your concept of "scattered regulations" seems to be the idea.
From my native Spanish viewpoint, such an usage does not sound too pedantic or particularly odd.
The other possible (less likely?) interpretation could be that these "regulations" start "going away" or "scattering away" and disappearing.
Now that I wrote the above, it'd very useful to have more context, as that second option would actually match better the basic meaning of "diáspora", even if taken figuratively.
Good luck!
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-03 06:57:31 GMT)
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The other possibilities could go in the direction of "a proliferation of regulations", or if you want "a mogollón" (colloquial register intended... ;-) "rules and regulations in droves" "aplenty" or your original "myriad of rules".
Such an usage (a bit stretched) may be sustained with a google search:
https://www.google.com/search?q="una diáspora de"&ie=utf-8&o...
https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/211297-farc-acuerdo-rec...
I understand the Spanish usage is very lax.
Some more context would be helpful, but your concept of "scattered regulations" seems to be the idea.
From my native Spanish viewpoint, such an usage does not sound too pedantic or particularly odd.
The other possible (less likely?) interpretation could be that these "regulations" start "going away" or "scattering away" and disappearing.
Now that I wrote the above, it'd very useful to have more context, as that second option would actually match better the basic meaning of "diáspora", even if taken figuratively.
Good luck!
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-03 06:57:31 GMT)
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The other possibilities could go in the direction of "a proliferation of regulations", or if you want "a mogollón" (colloquial register intended... ;-) "rules and regulations in droves" "aplenty" or your original "myriad of rules".
Such an usage (a bit stretched) may be sustained with a google search:
https://www.google.com/search?q="una diáspora de"&ie=utf-8&o...
https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/211297-farc-acuerdo-rec...
+1
2 hrs
Ana Vozone
Will do!
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: European/Portugal)
Works in: English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, German to Portuguese, and 1 more.
acquis
Explanation:
A suggestion.
https://www.google.pt/?gws_rd=ssl#q="legal acquis"
http://www.linguee.com/english-spanish/search?query=acquis
http://www.linguee.com/english-spanish/search?source=auto&qu...
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Note added at 7 hrs (2016-09-03 13:00:29 GMT)
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@asker: I did not suggest "acquis communautaire", but merely "acquis" which means "acervo", in the sense of "repertorio", a group/variety/set of knowledge, legislation, etc.
http://www.significados.com/acervo/
A suggestion.
https://www.google.pt/?gws_rd=ssl#q="legal acquis"
http://www.linguee.com/english-spanish/search?query=acquis
http://www.linguee.com/english-spanish/search?source=auto&qu...
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Note added at 7 hrs (2016-09-03 13:00:29 GMT)
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@asker: I did not suggest "acquis communautaire", but merely "acquis" which means "acervo", in the sense of "repertorio", a group/variety/set of knowledge, legislation, etc.
http://www.significados.com/acervo/
Example sentence:
The Commission will also initiate and propose removal from the acquis of legislation which is clearly outdated and obsolete, either by formal ...
A large number of the Bilateral Agreements are based in different ways, but to a substantial degree on the EU legal acquis
Note from asker:
| Isn't this a very specific term? http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/acquis-communautaire |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
MPGS
: This is probably what the author meant, not what she said :-)
38 mins
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Many thanks, it is my interpretation too...
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| neutral |
Muriel Vasconcellos
: The word isn't in the unabridged Merriam-Webster (US English). Also, I don't see that it fits the intent of the original.
2 hrs
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| neutral |
philgoddard
: This is an EU term.
4 hrs
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Being an EU term is not a crime... the term has been adopted and used for many years with a specific meaning which I think is equivalent to the term "diaspora" in this particular context.
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6 days
Robert Carter
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
Mexico
Translating full-time since 1998
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
diaspore
The only thing I can think of is that the author is using the botanical meaning of "diáspora" (Wikipedia: "unidad estructural que permite a una planta propagarse") in a figurative sense, perhaps they are referring to a piece of legislation from which all kinds of rules and regulations have "sprung".
In botany, a diaspore is a plant dispersal unit consisting of a seed or spore plus any additional tissues that assist dispersal. In some seed plants, the diaspore is a seed and fruit together, or a seed and elaiosome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspore_(botany)
In any case, it does have the benefit of being a legitimate translation of "diáspora".
In botany, a diaspore is a plant dispersal unit consisting of a seed or spore plus any additional tissues that assist dispersal. In some seed plants, the diaspore is a seed and fruit together, or a seed and elaiosome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspore_(botany)
In any case, it does have the benefit of being a legitimate translation of "diáspora".
Discussion