Jan 29, 2016 03:11
8 yrs ago
10 viewers *
Spanish term
Mexico
Translating full-time since 1998
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English
dignificación
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
Conference address (Mex>US)
"En 1916, en un ambiente todavía de lucha revolucionaria se celebró aquí en este recinto el Primer Congreso Feminista de México, de la mano del movimiento constitucionalista, se veía en la ley el camino para la dignificación de los mexicanos."
Aside from the fact that this sentence is grammatically challenged (unless someone can point out that it is in fact ok), does anyone have any ideas how to maintain the meaning here without it sounding awful?
So far I've got:
"In 1916, under somewhat revolutionary circumstances, the First Feminist Congress of Mexico was held here in this very building, with the aid of the constitutionalist movement, which saw the law as a pathway to dignification of the Mexican people."
All offers appreciated.
Aside from the fact that this sentence is grammatically challenged (unless someone can point out that it is in fact ok), does anyone have any ideas how to maintain the meaning here without it sounding awful?
So far I've got:
"In 1916, under somewhat revolutionary circumstances, the First Feminist Congress of Mexico was held here in this very building, with the aid of the constitutionalist movement, which saw the law as a pathway to dignification of the Mexican people."
All offers appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
5 hrs
Ross Andrew Parker
Native in English
An eye for detail
Native in: English
Works in: Catalan to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
a way for Mexicans to achieve greater dignity
el camino para la dignificación de los mexicanos > a way for Mexicans to achieve greater dignity
Perhaps another possibility to consider.
In the draft version you have, it would sound a bit better to me with a "the" before "dignification".
Perhaps another possibility to consider.
In the draft version you have, it would sound a bit better to me with a "the" before "dignification".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks a lot, Ross, I think your phrase had the biggest impact on my final wording."
+1
10 mins
Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Each translation a gem!
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
305
[toward(s) confirming the dignity
I also thought of 'reclaiming' (which implies that they lost it and are getting it back - which may be true, but maybe not the message here).
Note from asker:
| Thanks, Muriel, your comments were helpful here. |
+1
14 mins
Francois Boye
United States
United States
United States
An economic geek with social skills
Native in: French
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
to elevate the dignity/to glorify/ to aggrandize
my take
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Francois. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jacob Z. (X)
: I like "elevate the dignity".
1 hr
|
14 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
:
84
raise the prestige/preserve the dignity
maybe
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Note added at 21 mins (2016-01-29 03:33:20 GMT)
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"preserve" maybe not the best way to go ... but not that bad either when I think about it
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Note added at 21 mins (2016-01-29 03:33:20 GMT)
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"preserve" maybe not the best way to go ... but not that bad either when I think about it
Note from asker:
| Thanks, David. |
1 hr
Rosario Meriles
Argentina
Argentina
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Argentina
University translator
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Argentine)
Works in: English to Spanish
path/way that would ensure/guarantee all Mexican people their right to live in dignity
"...as the path/way that would ensure/guarantee all Mexican people their right to live in dignity."
"...as a way that would ensure/ guarantee all Mexicans a life of dignity."
Note from asker:
| Thank you Rosario, your "right to live in dignity" was most helpful in identifying the meaning here. |
8 hrs
Veronica Allievi
Native in Spanish
university studies in transl disciplines
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
the law outlined the path to dignify the mexicans
the law was a means to the mexicans' dignity
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Note added at 8 hrs (2016-01-29 11:18:19 GMT)
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or to "dignifying"
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Note added at 8 hrs (2016-01-29 11:18:19 GMT)
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or to "dignifying"
Note from asker:
| Thanks, Veronica. |
41 mins
Marcelo González
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
PhD in Translation Studies
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
91
Spanish term (edited):
camino para la dignificación de los mexicanos
path to making dignity a reality for all Mexicans
Another option might be something like '...as the way to ensuring the dignity of all Mexicans'
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Note added at 19 hrs (2016-01-29 22:33:34 GMT)
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Another option, consistent with Muriel's interpetation perhaps, would be '...the path/way to reaffirming the dignity of Mexicans' or 'to reaffirming Mexican dignity'.
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Note added at 20 hrs (2016-01-29 23:38:29 GMT)
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Though it is certainly possible that the speaker believes Mexicans have always had dignity (because all people do), perhaps he was saying something a bit more radical: that until then (i.e., the emergence of that particular law), they hadn't found the vehicle (or path) to attain true dignity. In other words, until then it had not existed, hence my suggestion of '...making dignity a reality for all Mexicans' or perhaps one of the following:
...path to making dignity a reality for (all) Mexicans
...way to making Mexican dignity a (true) reality
If the author's intent, however, is to underscore the notion that Mexicans (and all people) have always had a sense of dignity, then I suggest:
'...path/way to reaffirming the dignity of Mexicans/Mexican dignity'.
I hope this helps! Cheers from the Marianas :-)
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Note added at 22 hrs (2016-01-30 02:04:02 GMT)
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Or perhaps a slightly toned-down alternative---but still consistent with the until-then-there-was-no-dignity interpretation---may be: 'which saw the law as paving the way for Mexican dignity'.
se veía en la ley = saw/perceived the law as... // viewed in the law a means for paving the way to Mexican dignity
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Note added at 19 hrs (2016-01-29 22:33:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Another option, consistent with Muriel's interpetation perhaps, would be '...the path/way to reaffirming the dignity of Mexicans' or 'to reaffirming Mexican dignity'.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 hrs (2016-01-29 23:38:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Though it is certainly possible that the speaker believes Mexicans have always had dignity (because all people do), perhaps he was saying something a bit more radical: that until then (i.e., the emergence of that particular law), they hadn't found the vehicle (or path) to attain true dignity. In other words, until then it had not existed, hence my suggestion of '...making dignity a reality for all Mexicans' or perhaps one of the following:
...path to making dignity a reality for (all) Mexicans
...way to making Mexican dignity a (true) reality
If the author's intent, however, is to underscore the notion that Mexicans (and all people) have always had a sense of dignity, then I suggest:
'...path/way to reaffirming the dignity of Mexicans/Mexican dignity'.
I hope this helps! Cheers from the Marianas :-)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2016-01-30 02:04:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Or perhaps a slightly toned-down alternative---but still consistent with the until-then-there-was-no-dignity interpretation---may be: 'which saw the law as paving the way for Mexican dignity'.
se veía en la ley = saw/perceived the law as... // viewed in the law a means for paving the way to Mexican dignity
Note from asker:
| Thanks for the extended comments, Marcelo, helpful as always. |
Discussion
It's a hard one to translate as it seems to mean different things to each reader. My subsequent understanding, based on the context of the broader document, which essentially talks about consolidating equality between the sexes and helping women live fuller lives than they did in the past, was that this particular use of "dignificación" might refer to just that, leading fuller lives than that which was expected of those enduring the bondage and drudgery of involuntary servitude or other forms of oppression (particularly in rural areas) before the 1910 revolution.
Another point worth looking at is that "dignidad" or "digno" are quite vague terms in any case. What does anyone mean by "dignity" or having a "decent" life? It's all rather subjective. I do think I could perhaps have gone for a different perspective and translated it with wording, such as "free of exploitation" or "with respect for basic human rights/decency".