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
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.

se perfila (perfilarse)

English translation: we see, we find, is, are, is made up of...

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:se perfila (perfilarse)
English translation:we see, we find, is, are, is made up of...
Entered by: Comunican

16:55 Sep 28, 2020
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / Report on migrant workers
Spanish term or phrase: se perfila (perfilarse)
"La hostelería es otro sector donde se perfila la población de origen migrante"

"la economía sumergida se perfila como el único empleo que estos pueden obtener"

I think I get what this means (associated with, typically found in,....) but I'm struggling to match that with dictionary definitions, so thought I'd better check.

Thanks for any thoughts
Comunican
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:07
a large number of / is
Explanation:
"La hostelería es otro sector donde se perfila la población de origen migrante"
A Spanish synonym here is 'componerse', English 'to be made up of'.

You could also say '...is another sector with a large number of workers with migrant backgrounds' or stick to '...is another sector made up of workers with migrant backgrounds'

"la economía sumergida se perfila como el único empleo que estos pueden obtener". Spanish synonyms are 'acicalarse', English 'to groom' and Spanish 'emperifollarse', English 'to dress up'. From that you could use 'emerged as' or 'become'.

Personally I would keep it simple and avoid the somewhat wordy Spanish here: 'the informal economy is their only chance of getting a job'.
Selected response from:

Tomas Brogan (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 05:07
Grading comment
Many thanks everyone for your help with this!
I found several more examples in the text (including "Sudáfrica se perfila como la tercera mayor economía de África tras Nigeria y Egipto") and I've concluded that it is simply a phrase that the author of the text likes to use, and basically means "we see", "we find", "is", "are", "is made up of", etc. Variants of those fit with every incidence in this particular text.
Many thanks again!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3shape up
Joshua Parker
4 +1a large number of / is
Tomas Brogan (X)
4 +1stands out
patinba
4in which the migrant population excel
David Hollywood
4appears more and more as the only employment ....
Francois Boye
3where profiling is carried out in relation to migrants
Barbara Cochran, MFA


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
shape up


Explanation:
1) "Hospitality is another sector where migrants come into their own"
2) "The underground economy is shaping up to be their only source of employment"

I don't think you can translate both occurrences in the same way. I'm sure about 2); for 1), I'd like to see more context (previous and following sentences), but my initial hunch is that this doesn't refer to "profiling".

Note definition of "perfilarse": "Empezar una cosa a tomar forma o cuerpo definido." Diccionario de la lengua española © 2005 Espasa-Calpe.


Joshua Parker
Mexico
Local time: 20:07
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
26 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil.
agree  Joss Heywood: 1) could be "...where the workers are mainly of migrant origin"
2 hrs
  -> Yes. My suggestion was based on the definition of "perfilarse", but your interpretation was my second choice (which was why I asked for more context) - initially I was going propose "sector favoured by...", but we could do with a bit more context here.
agree  Juan Mattei
3 hrs
agree  EirTranslations
12 hrs
disagree  Francois Boye: the underground economy has already a shape; it does not need to shape up
20 hrs
  -> It's a figure of speech and has nothing to do with an actual shape or lack thereof. And nobody said it "needed" to shape up.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
where profiling is carried out in relation to migrants


Explanation:
Certain attitudes that are held by others towards migrants (i.e., that they tend to work in the hotel industry as housekeepers, etc.)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2020-09-28 17:06:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Could be "racial profiling".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2020-09-28 17:09:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

People think that's the only kind of work they are able to do, perhaps because of a language barrier. It is usually considered menial work that the dominant population does not want to do, because of the low pay, and its low status.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2020-09-28 17:19:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or simply, "where profiling is targeted at migrants".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2020-09-28 17:26:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To be more specific, "migrant WORKERS".

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 23:07
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Barbara, but this is definitely not about "racial profiling"

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a large number of / is


Explanation:
"La hostelería es otro sector donde se perfila la población de origen migrante"
A Spanish synonym here is 'componerse', English 'to be made up of'.

You could also say '...is another sector with a large number of workers with migrant backgrounds' or stick to '...is another sector made up of workers with migrant backgrounds'

"la economía sumergida se perfila como el único empleo que estos pueden obtener". Spanish synonyms are 'acicalarse', English 'to groom' and Spanish 'emperifollarse', English 'to dress up'. From that you could use 'emerged as' or 'become'.

Personally I would keep it simple and avoid the somewhat wordy Spanish here: 'the informal economy is their only chance of getting a job'.

Tomas Brogan (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 05:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Many thanks everyone for your help with this!
I found several more examples in the text (including "Sudáfrica se perfila como la tercera mayor economía de África tras Nigeria y Egipto") and I've concluded that it is simply a phrase that the author of the text likes to use, and basically means "we see", "we find", "is", "are", "is made up of", etc. Variants of those fit with every incidence in this particular text.
Many thanks again!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Tomas, I totally agree that this is somewhat wordy and simplicity is always my policy. However, it always needs to be balanced with not over-simplifying and losing meaning... It is amazing to me that, after doing this full-time professionally for about 10 years, I'm still learning! Based on the client's definition of "empiezan a aparecer, a presentarse de una manera más clara", your "emerging" or "becoming" fit well. Thanks again.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marian Vieyra: I like the simplicity of this answer.
21 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
in which the migrant population excel


Explanation:
I would say

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2020-09-29 03:39:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"is a major factor" as another option

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2020-09-29 03:40:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and I prefer this option in your overall context


David Hollywood
Local time: 00:07
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 84
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
appears more and more as the only employment ....


Explanation:
my take

Francois Boye
United States
Local time: 23:07
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 24
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
stands out


Explanation:
"another sector in which migrant employment stands out"
"the underground economy stands out as one of the only areas where they can find work"


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 19 hrs (2020-09-30 12:09:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"is beginning to stand out" would certainly be a translation for your "empiezan a aparecer/presentarse de una manera más clara...."

patinba
Argentina
Local time: 00:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 68
Notes to answerer
Asker: Interesting, thanks.... perfilar = outline >> stand out. I hadn't thought of it like that. However, "destacar" is the very popular (in my experience) word for "stand out"...


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helena Chavarria: Definitely! I understand 'perfilar' as outline, i.e. stand out.
14 hrs
  -> Thank you, Helena!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search