Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
una metafísica dispensadora de un poco de certidumbre
English translation:
a brand of metaphysics which provides a little certitude / certainty
Added to glossary by
Alejandro Alcaraz Sintes
Nov 25, 2009 20:39
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
"una metafísica dispensadora de un poco de certidumbre"
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
lit crit (with political leanings)
Hi,
I am trying to decipher a phrase used by Mexican poet Cardoza y Aragon, in reference to Breton. He apparently had ideological disputes with Breton, but in one text makes a concession, saying "Soñador empedernido, Bretón asevera que sólo la imaginación hace reales a las cosas, cuando son las cosas las que hacen real a la imaginación. Lo complaceré: el materialismo es una "metafísica" dispensadora de un poco de certidumbre."
I feel like "una metafísica dispensadora de un poco de certidumbre" has a million possible interpretations and don't quite understand what he means. At the moment, I have , “materialism is a metaphysics that dispenses a little certainty”. But am very unsure about this, in particular "dispensadora" (dispenses? forgiving?) and the "un poco de" also throws me, as I feel it would be more logical if it said "dispensadora de POCO certidumbre".
Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance. xLisa
I am trying to decipher a phrase used by Mexican poet Cardoza y Aragon, in reference to Breton. He apparently had ideological disputes with Breton, but in one text makes a concession, saying "Soñador empedernido, Bretón asevera que sólo la imaginación hace reales a las cosas, cuando son las cosas las que hacen real a la imaginación. Lo complaceré: el materialismo es una "metafísica" dispensadora de un poco de certidumbre."
I feel like "una metafísica dispensadora de un poco de certidumbre" has a million possible interpretations and don't quite understand what he means. At the moment, I have , “materialism is a metaphysics that dispenses a little certainty”. But am very unsure about this, in particular "dispensadora" (dispenses? forgiving?) and the "un poco de" also throws me, as I feel it would be more logical if it said "dispensadora de POCO certidumbre".
Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance. xLisa
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +7 | "a (sort of) metaphysics which provides/offers a little certitude / certainty" |
Alejandro Alcaraz Sintes
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Change log
Nov 27, 2009 08:08: Alejandro Alcaraz Sintes Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+7
5 mins
Alejandro Alcaraz Sintes
Spain
Spain
Native in Spanish
Spain
Sworn & legal. Contracts & CVs. PhD
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
7
Selected
"a (sort of) metaphysics which provides/offers a little certitude / certainty"
.)
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Note added at 19 hrs (2009-11-26 15:53:24 GMT)
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Está claro que casi todos optan por incluir "a brand of". Buena, sugerencia, Ormiston.
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Note added at 19 hrs (2009-11-26 15:53:24 GMT)
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Está claro que casi todos optan por incluir "a brand of". Buena, sugerencia, Ormiston.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
2 mins
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Gracias. Alejandro
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| agree |
ormiston
: perhaps a 'brand' of metaphysics which offers a little certainty. I think the 'un poco de' implies the notion of 'at least a little' / with reference to Asker's question I mean it is positive vs. poco de (as in 'he has a few friends' vs. 'few friends'!)
4 mins
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Thank you, Ormiston. You may be right, but to me "un poco de" is simply "a little, some". Saludos.
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| agree |
Jenny Westwell
: Agree with Ormiston. Saludos :)
1 hr
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Gracias. Alejandro
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| agree |
Christine Walsh
: I like 'brand' too
1 hr
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Gracias, Chriswa. Alejandro
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| agree |
Wendy Petzall
: I also like "brand"
5 hrs
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Gracias. Alejandro
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| agree |
Evans (X)
12 hrs
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Gracias, Gilla. Alejandro
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| agree |
Thayenga
: "brand" is very fittting here. :)
18 hrs
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Gracias, Thayenga. Alejandro
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3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all so much. I do think "brand of" makes a lot of difference, and I also think that the addition of "at least a little" clarifies my misgivings about the "un poco de", which I was reading as pejorative and, in fact, I now think is indeed positive. I still feel like I am missing something (I have this nagging feeling that the "dispensadora" has religious overtones, or undertones, a la "dispensadora de todos los dones"), but undoubtedly what I am missing is more about the context of the Breton/Cardoza argument more than it is about the comments offered. Many thanks to all who responded! xLisa"
Discussion
xLisa
Best wishes.