This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
2 DQ
por reserva consignada

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

Doctor en Letras

English translation:

Doctor/PhD (UK)/Ph.D. (US) in Language and Literature/in Literature and Linguistics

Added to glossary by Priscila Libutzki
Sep 28, 2016 02:41
7 yrs ago
6 viewers *
Spanish term

Doctor en Letras

Spanish to English Social Sciences Education / Pedagogy doctorado
I'm translating an Argentinian university diploma and I'm having doubts regarding the use of "Ph.D. in..." Does it mean "doctor en...", "doctorado en..." or both?

The context is as follows: "El Presidente de la Universidad y el Decano de la Facultad (...) le expiden el presente título de Doctora en Letras." Would "the degree of Ph. D. in Language and Literature" be a good option here?
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 Ph.D. in Literature
4 PHD in Humanities
3 Doctor of Letters

Discussion

Priscila Libutzki (asker) Sep 29, 2016:
Thank you, Charles and Marina. Your answers have been really helpful!
Charles Davis Sep 28, 2016:
"Literature and Linguistics" is good; it's accurate and the order of the two elements is appropriate. "Language and Literature" is a familiar traditional term, at least in the UK.
MarinaM Sep 28, 2016:
Ph.D. in Literature and Linguistics De acuerdo con Charles. Soy egresada de la carrera de Letras y utilizo "Literature and Linguistics" para describir el título.
Charles Davis Sep 28, 2016:
I forgot to say: if you go for "doctor/doctorate" rather than "Ph.D.", you would say "the degree of Doctor in Language and Literature", not "the degree of doctorate". (My choice would be "language and literature" rather than just "literature" because in Argentina this degree apparently embraces the fields of "Filología, Poética, Lingüística, Crítica e Historia Literarias", and "literature" alone doesn't cover all of that.)
Charles Davis Sep 28, 2016:
@Priscila I think you could put either "Ph.D." or "doctorate". It's a matter of personal practice. Many people do the first, and it's not misleading. Personally I do the second; I prefer not to use degree titles from the English-speaking world to translate foreign degree titles. I think it's better to translate them descriptively (same with "bachelor's degree" and "master's degree" rather than B.A. or M.A., for example).

By the way, if you do use Ph.D., note that it is written like that, with points, in American English but without points (PhD) in British English.

Proposed translations

+3
19 mins
Selected

Ph.D. in Literature

With a PhD in Literature from the Université Paul-Valéry, she has been President of the National University of Costa Rica [...]

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 25 mins (2016-09-28 03:06:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or: Doctor of Letters

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2016-09-28 03:08:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

but I prefer Ph.D. in Literature
Peer comment(s):
agree Seth Phillips : That's the way it would be worded for the US
4 mins
thanks Seth
agree Vidya Thatte : Agree
2 hrs
thanks Vidya
agree Charles Davis : Since it can be in linguistics, I think "PhD/Doctorate in Language and Literature" might be better. But not Doctor of Letters.
2 hrs
thanks Charles and "Language" wouldn't hurt
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks."
3 mins

Doctor of Letters

Doctor of Letters (Latin: Litterarum doctor; D.Litt., Litt.D., D. Lit., or Lit. D.) is an academic degree, a higher doctorate which, in some countries, may be considered to be beyond the Ph.D. and equal to the Doctor of Science (Sc.D. or D.Sc.). It is awarded in many countries by universities and learned bodies in recognition of achievement in the humanities, original contribution to the creative arts or scholarship and other merits. When awarded without an application by the conferee, it is awarded as an honorary degree.
Note from asker:
I agree with Charles. Doctor en Letras is an ordinary PhD, not an honorary degree.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Charles Davis : Not suitable here, I think, because Doctor en Letras is apparently an ordinary research doctorate, but "Doctor of Letters" is the title of a higher or honorary doctorate in English-speaking countries, so it is liable to be misunderstood.
3 hrs
Now I see. Thanks, Charles.
neutral neilmac : Sounds like "men of letters" from Supernatural (http://supernatural.wikia.com/wiki/Men_of_Letters)
6 hrs
:-). Now I see.
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

PHD in Humanities

according to google, exists in many universities, and it is a more precise translation

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2016-09-28 14:04:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

definition from Vocabulary. com:
he humanities are studies about human culture, such as literature, philosophy, and history.
I think this is what we call LETRAS in Spanish

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2016-09-28 14:14:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

LETRAS includes art, history and philosophy, at least in Spain:

http://www.educaweb.com/contenidos/educativos/bachillerato/e...

Note from asker:
I disagree. Humanities includes a variety of fields like history, art, and philosophy, which a "letras" doesn't cover. "Letras" includes only literature, linguistics and, often, Latin and Greek. At least this is the case in Argentina.
Anahí, I don't see the term "letras" in the website you shared.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search