Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
fiscal de la reina
English translation:
queen's prosecutor
Added to glossary by
JaneTranslates
May 25, 2015 02:35
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
Puerto Rico
Quality and Integrity
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English, English to Spanish, and 1 more.
fiscal de la reina
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
History
Puerto Rico, Spanish Colonial period
I'm translating a scholarly article. In this section, the topic is the process by which an illegitimate son could be made legally legitimate by applying to the Crown under the Ley for a "cédula de gracias al sacar."
Here is the passage:
En la solicitud de legitimación que don XXX de [pueblo] presentó ante la Corona en 1856, el ** fiscal de la Reina** levanta una serie de objeciones que, según él, debían aclararse antes de tomar una decisión sobre el caso. Entre éstas, destaca que no se había oído testimonio ni ningún otro tipo de expresión de la madre del implorante… “a quien interesa hoy más que a nadie la legitimación”.
What do I call this "fiscal de la Reina"? Is he her "attorney general," as we usually translate "fiscal"? Is he a prosecutor? Is he an advisor? In such cases, I usually give a gloss in English followed by the Spanish term in parentheses, but I'm stuck on this one.
My placeholder translation:
When don XXX from [city] presented his petition for legitimation to the Crown in 1856, the Queen's attorney (fiscal) raised a number of objections that...
Can you help me do better? All suggestions appreciated. Thank you!
Puerto Rican author, translating into US English.
Here is the passage:
En la solicitud de legitimación que don XXX de [pueblo] presentó ante la Corona en 1856, el ** fiscal de la Reina** levanta una serie de objeciones que, según él, debían aclararse antes de tomar una decisión sobre el caso. Entre éstas, destaca que no se había oído testimonio ni ningún otro tipo de expresión de la madre del implorante… “a quien interesa hoy más que a nadie la legitimación”.
What do I call this "fiscal de la Reina"? Is he her "attorney general," as we usually translate "fiscal"? Is he a prosecutor? Is he an advisor? In such cases, I usually give a gloss in English followed by the Spanish term in parentheses, but I'm stuck on this one.
My placeholder translation:
When don XXX from [city] presented his petition for legitimation to the Crown in 1856, the Queen's attorney (fiscal) raised a number of objections that...
Can you help me do better? All suggestions appreciated. Thank you!
Puerto Rican author, translating into US English.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | Queen's Counsel |
David Hollywood
|
Change log
May 26, 2015 05:07: JaneTranslates Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
10 mins
David Hollywood
Native in English
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
68
Selected
Queen's Counsel
maybe ...
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Note added at 13 mins (2015-05-25 02:48:36 GMT)
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or: Senior Counsel
A UK term for a Barrister who, having practiced law for at least ten years, is given the honor on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor to earn the right to wear silk gown ('takes silk' as it is called) and take precedence over other Barristers in the court. A similar honor makes an attorney 'Senior Counsel' in British commonwealth countries.
In the US no such distinction is made or honor bestowed.
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Note added at 15 mins (2015-05-25 02:51:12 GMT)
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as we're talking 1856 I think this might be ok ....
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Note added at 35 mins (2015-05-25 03:10:29 GMT)
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I know the ref is modern but we have to get something to fit the period ...
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Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 11:49:28 GMT)
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how about: Queen's/Crown Prosecuting Counsel
The typical Crown Prosecutor, often a Queen's Counsel or Senior Counsel, will have extensive experience as defence counsel as well as prosecuting counsel.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 11:56:32 GMT)
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or maybe just "Crown Prosecutor" ... would fit the period and cover the function IMO
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Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 12:02:43 GMT)
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The more I think about it, the more I would go for "Crown Prosecutor"
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Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 12:04:40 GMT)
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couple of possible backups from roughly the same period:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Garling
Traducir esta página
Garling did not arrive in Sydney until 8 August 1815 ostensibly because of this. ... In 1830 he was appointed as a crown prosecutor and held this role until 1837.
Biography - Thomas Callaghan - Australian Dictionary of ...
adb.anu.edu.au/biography/callaghan-thomas-1867
Traducir esta página
Thomas Callaghan (1815-1863), judge, was born on 18 September 1815, the ... In 1845 he became a permanent crown prosecutor and, in that capacity, found a ...
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Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 12:13:16 GMT)
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but I would like to hear what you all think a "fiscal" would have been responsible for during the period in question
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2015-05-25 02:48:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or: Senior Counsel
A UK term for a Barrister who, having practiced law for at least ten years, is given the honor on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor to earn the right to wear silk gown ('takes silk' as it is called) and take precedence over other Barristers in the court. A similar honor makes an attorney 'Senior Counsel' in British commonwealth countries.
In the US no such distinction is made or honor bestowed.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2015-05-25 02:51:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
as we're talking 1856 I think this might be ok ....
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2015-05-25 03:10:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I know the ref is modern but we have to get something to fit the period ...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 11:49:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
how about: Queen's/Crown Prosecuting Counsel
The typical Crown Prosecutor, often a Queen's Counsel or Senior Counsel, will have extensive experience as defence counsel as well as prosecuting counsel.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 11:56:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or maybe just "Crown Prosecutor" ... would fit the period and cover the function IMO
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 12:02:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The more I think about it, the more I would go for "Crown Prosecutor"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 12:04:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
couple of possible backups from roughly the same period:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Garling
Traducir esta página
Garling did not arrive in Sydney until 8 August 1815 ostensibly because of this. ... In 1830 he was appointed as a crown prosecutor and held this role until 1837.
Biography - Thomas Callaghan - Australian Dictionary of ...
adb.anu.edu.au/biography/callaghan-thomas-1867
Traducir esta página
Thomas Callaghan (1815-1863), judge, was born on 18 September 1815, the ... In 1845 he became a permanent crown prosecutor and, in that capacity, found a ...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2015-05-25 12:13:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
but I would like to hear what you all think a "fiscal" would have been responsible for during the period in question
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Muriel Vasconcellos
: I like it!
1 hr
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thanks Muriel and I think we have to try to get closer to the "fiscal" component"
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| neutral |
Billh
: I know you want US but this is highly misleading to this Brit.....
6 hrs
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I agree it's not perfect but see my added suggestion and thanks Bill
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| agree |
EirTranslations
9 hrs
|
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thanks Aquamarine
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, David, for your excellent suggestions and all your research. It was very helpful. My British history-buff pal agrees with my concerns about sounding like UK instead of France. I've settled on "queen's prosecutor (fiscal)," with "fiscal" in italics. But I'm still thinking about it!"
Discussion