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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

colonia industrial

English translation:

planned industrial community

Added to glossary by Comunican
Oct 24, 2009 11:32
14 yrs ago
7 viewers *
Spanish term

colonia industrial

Spanish to English Other History
"Las colonias industriales son un auténtico fenómeno social, económico y cultural, característico de la industrialización española con más de 150 años de historia, que se encuentran inmersas en un proceso de recuperación y de dignificación de su pasado para encarar con éxito su futuro.

Las colonias españolas constituyen un caso único en el mundo por la concentración de una gran cantidad de estos núcleos industriales, a la vez fábrica y pueblo, en las cuencas fluviales de los ríos españoles, en el caso de las colonias textiles, y al pie de la explotación de los recursos naturales en el caso de las agrícolas, mineras, metalúrgicas y químicas.

La localización industrial en la campiña hizo necesaria la construcción de la colonia obrera, es decir: un pueblo con todos los servicios, en continua transformación ante los retos de cada época."

I think "industrial colony" is probably OK, but just want to check.

Thanks!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +5 planned industrial community / district
3 +3 industrial colony
4 +2 industrial settlement
4 manufacturing centers

Discussion

Alejandro Alcaraz Sintes Oct 25, 2009:
colonias I'd like to write a few things about "colonia". I the north of the Andalusian province where I live (Jaén) there are a number of "Nuevas Poblaciones", also referrred to as "nuevas colonias" o "nuevos asentamientos" (La Carolina, Guarromán...) . They were all created at the end of the 18th c. and were connected to mining and agriculture. The "colonos" or "pobladores" (settlers) were Bavarian, Swiss, Flemish... These early "colonias" were followed by others in other parts of Spain, more clearly linked to industry, created for other purposes and in different contexts. Yet, I can't see why the word "colony" should not be used, especially if its meaning is made clear in the text itself. Another good option is "settlement" (mediamatrix's proposal), but to me this is more the translation of "poblaciones, asentamientos".
Jenni Lukac (X) Oct 25, 2009:
With all due respect to Alejandro, I strongly reject the literal translation here for the connotations that Charles mentions. These communities were planned to channel the workers' habits, activities, beliefs and lifestyle to conform to the owners' vision of a desirable, healthy and controllable community. They offered great benefits to many working people and their families but were not at all spontaneous. Among the motives for the philanthropy toward the workers were the objectives to control them, to keep them dependent and to keep them from organizing.
Muriel Vasconcellos Oct 24, 2009:
"Industrial colony" is also more common Generalized usage is an important criterion, too, and there are 47,800 hits for "industrial colony," followed closely by 37,800 for "industrial settllement." So 'industrial colony' has three arguments in its favor.
Muriel Vasconcellos Oct 24, 2009:
Appropriate for Spain If the location was in the US, I'd be inclined to call it a "settlement," but the word "colonia" has a long history in Spain (and Latin America) and I think it keeps the local flavor, and it's more recognizable, if you use 'colony' in English - as long as it's not misunderstood as a reference to colonialism.
Comunican (asker) Oct 24, 2009:
I found these Many thanks for your answers. I have just come across a reference in the text to other "colonias" including in New Lanark and in Lowell. I then found these sources which I think confirms pretty convincingly Jenni Lukac's proposed answer: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/429 http://scottishtextileheritage.org.uk/onlineResources/articl... http://www.amazon.com/Lowell-Industrial-National-Historical-... http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/massachusetts/lowell

Proposed translations

+5
29 mins
Selected

planned industrial community / district

An industrial colony is perfectly correct but may not be understandable to an English speaking audience. The idea sprung from the concept of "welfare capitalism" and was intended to avoid the social conditions documented by Jacob Riis and others as well as to consolidate worker loyalty and avoid the unionization of workers. In Spanish cities an example is the colonia Guell: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_Güell. My grandfather was director of a factory in a similar social - industrial experiment in the state of New York: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endicott_Johnson_Corporation. (visiting the "Tri Cities" from New York as a child, what I most remember were the wonderful carousels in the company (now public) parks. In Spain, the rural "colonies" lacked the amenities and social cohesion of the urban projects.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jim Tucker (X)
44 mins
Greetings and thanks Jim. I remember my grandfather telling me that the company kept the unions out but that he, personally, had to throw the KKK recruiters out the door...Sr. Guell didn't have the same luck keeping the Catalan anarquists under
agree Mónica Algazi
1 hr
Greetings and thanks, Mónica.
agree Coralia Polanco : Very interesting anecdote.
5 hrs
Good evening and thanks, Coralia.
neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : From the explanation in the text, it appears that these colonies or settlements rose up spontaneously.
8 hrs
Good morning Muriel. I disagree with the word "spontaneous". There were highly planned.
agree Charlesp : Thanks Jenni, for your good morning. Well I sort of know this from the fact that a friend lives in "Colonia Industrial" in D.F. (Mexico City).
18 hrs
Good morning and thanks, Charles.
agree GMac
1 day 3 hrs
Cheers and thanks, GMac.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks Jenni, and everyone else"
+3
6 mins

industrial colony

Yes, you're right in your choice.
:)
Peer comment(s):
agree Eileen Banks
13 mins
Gracias, Eileen. Alejandro
agree Barbara Cochran, MFA
1 hr
Gracias, femme. Alejandro
agree Muriel Vasconcellos : It makes sense to me, but I would have liked to see some support for your answer.
9 hrs
Thank you, Muriel. Alejandro
agree Wendy Petzall
13 hrs
Thank you. Alejandro
disagree Charlesp : Well, I can see how industrial colony is derived from "Colonia Industrial," but even if it is a more commonly used term, I still think it risks unclarity and misunderstanding, and would preferably be avoided in a translation. (At least that is my view.)
18 hrs
Thank you. Alejandro
Something went wrong...
+2
19 mins

industrial settlement

'settlement' is often preferred as a translation of 'colonia', because of the slightly negative connotation of 'colony' (at least, in some countries/cultures).

[PDF] Industrial Settlement on Coos Bay - [ Traducir esta página ]
Formato de archivo: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Vista rápida
Industrial Settlement on Coos Bay by Kenn Oberrecht. By 1903, the year North. Bend was incorporated, the bay was a busy place, with sternwheelers ...
www.oregon.gov/DSL/SSNERR/docs/.../EFS44industrysettle.pdf - Similares<product> <article-title>A Romano-British Industrial Settlement ... - [ Traducir esta página ]
an industrial settlement devoted mainly to the smelting of iron and lead, the furnaces and cupels of which have been disclosed, together with a tile-kiln ...
www.jstor.org/stable/296840 - Similares
Peer comment(s):
agree Maria Mastruzzo
9 mins
agree Charlesp : Hi Robin. Thinking about it, I've changed my neutral to Agree. This is a valid alternative, which could be the best one depending upon the context. (p.s. I agree with your comment: " slightly negative connotation of 'colony' "
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

manufacturing centers

I think this is what they would be called in English
Something went wrong...
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