Robert Carter Mar 19, 2021:

Toni, that really was my only point, initially in response to Comunican's argument that the document is formal and well written, which I don't believe needs to be factored into the likelihood or otherwise of employing anglicisms.

For the rest, I certainly wouldn't begrudge you earning the points as you're a great contributor on here and you made a reasonable case for your suggestion as usual :-)

Comunican, you're right, initially my suggestion was a guess, but the more I looked into it, the more I became convinced that this was indeed the meaning.
You're also correct in saying that a "kink" is not the same as a "broken thread", but that's precisely my point; the text isn't saying that "quinque o coca" = "broken thread", it mentions that aspect afterward, i.e., "rotura de hebra". In other words, I believe you have to interpret it as distinguishing "rotura de hebras" and "hebras cortadas" from "quinques", otherwise, how else would you translate both ideas in your original sentence "Verificar ausencia de anormalidades tales como: hebras cortadas, quinques, abultamientos, corrosión, señales de arco..."?

¡Buen finde a todo mundo!

Comunican (asker) Mar 19, 2021:

@Robert Hi Robert. I appreciate that your suggestion got more agrees, and I was very tempted to start with. But Toni's suggestion resonated better with the text. And because there was no clear answer and, bearing in mind that this was a maintenance standard (ie important technical document for safety etc), I thought best to refer it back to the agency. They in turn asked the client (a multinational headquartered in the UK) and their response was "broken threads". I didn't really have much option but to select Toni's answer. A "kink" is not the same as a "broken thread". And bearing in mind also that you and those who agreed with you were guessing rather than actually knowing, I stand by my choice. Of course it could also mean "kinks", and there is no reason why the glossary can't have two different entries. And again, thank you for your help with it. It is much appreciated as always.

Toni Castano Mar 19, 2021:

@Robert Again: I believe your answer is closer to the truth than mine and "quinque" is most likely derived from "kink". BUT (big "but") do not ask me any further, not about the details about what is going on in the client´s mind, since we shall never know what the client really wants or rejects. This is beyond my understanding, I have experienced this issue many times before, much to my dismay. This text in particular is South American Spanish, and this is the only point I am really sure about. All the rest is subject to speculation to some extent, even though, I repeat, I believe your answer is closer to the probable meaning of the confusing source.
Don´t get disappointed. And about the glossary, well, we both know how this looks like.
Mis más cordiales saludos desde España.

Robert Carter Mar 19, 2021:

Hi Toni But wouldn't you also agree that "cut strands" is a translation of "rotura de hebras" rather than "quinques"?
Regardless of their client's instructions, I rather doubt that "quinques" means anything other than "kinks", and that they're simply conflating the meanings here (which isn't terribly helpful for the KudoZ glossary).
In fact, given that they're using both "quinques" and "cocas" as synonyms, there's really no need to use more than one term in the English here, especially as the source text then goes on to explain the real issue, i.e., the hazardous broken strands.

Toni Castano Mar 19, 2021:

@Robert I agree with you again. As I posted in my agree to your answer, this term, "quinque", is in all likelihood a loanword from the English counterpart "kink". I believe this is the origin of "quinque", a term unknown in Spain.
This being said, you already know the client´s answer Comunican received after conducting an inquiry. And we both know, and Comunican too, that the client is always right, don´t we?
Saludos.

Robert Carter Mar 19, 2021:

@Comunican It's actually quite common in Latin American Spanish to see loan words from English in technical material (which is why it occurred to me in the first place), even in what you'd consider as formal texts. Some of the most obvious examples are in computing, e.g., "computadora", "rúter" (which is even in the RAE, https://dle.rae.es/rúter ), "tablet", etc., but I can think of examples in the automotive industry, for example "rin"/"rines" (rim/rims), "bóster" (booster).

There's no reason to think that because of the level of formality of the document they wouldn't be using a loan word.
Moreover, where else do you think this word (which is so close to the both the meaning and sound of the English word "kink") could have come from, i.e., what is its etymology?

Check out this Tureng entry for "coca" (line 28):
https://tureng.com/tr/ispanyolca-ingilizce/coca

Comunican (asker) Mar 17, 2021:

Thanks all, I've asked the client Thanks all, I've asked the client, so will let you know....
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and suggestion - thank you!

Comunican (asker) Mar 16, 2021:

@Giovanni Unfortunately the text doesn't indicate a country or location and the company is international, operating in most continents, but doesn't mention Puerto Rico...

Décio Adams Mar 16, 2021:

I put the complete sentence in the Deepl and their apears this result: "cut strands, quintuples, bulges, corrosion, arc marks,..."
Make it sense?

Giovanni Rengifo Mar 16, 2021:

@comunican I think Jane and Robert are right here. I've never heard that word before. Do you know where the source text comes from? If it's a Latin American country close to the United States, "kinks" would make a lot of sense. Is this text from Puerto Rico?

Comunican (asker) Mar 16, 2021:

@Jane Indeed!

Jane Martin Mar 16, 2021:

@ Comunican And why would it - it's not even a Spanish word!

Comunican (asker) Mar 16, 2021:

Thanks Jane That's what Robert Carter has suggested too and it sounds highly viable... it never even occurred to me!

Jane Martin Mar 16, 2021:

@ Comunican Silly question probably but could it be referring to 'kinks'?