Glossary entry

Portuguese term or phrase:

mulecagem

English translation:

(engages) in dirty tricks

Added to glossary by Kathryn Litherland
Jul 8, 2012 15:31
11 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Portuguese term

mulecagem

Portuguese to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
This term appears on a Facebook page accusing someone of harassment:
Paranóia FORJADA e PAGA pelo Dr. XXXX XXXXXXX – vote na cassação da licença profissional desse artista da vida (que faz MULECAGEM) que PAGA para torturar mentalmente a própria Irmã

Discussion

Daniel Tavares Jul 9, 2012:
Ok, vemos que o contexto exigiria uma palavra bem mais "forte" que molecagem, mas, como foi exatamente essa a palavra que o autor original disse (e talvez não a que ele quis dizer), não vejo erro em traduzí-la como childish things ou algo parecido. Infelizmente o texto original é ruim e isso é um fato. Melhorá-lo é possível e pode ser recomendável, mas o preço é a alteração da mensagem, fazendo com que o tradutor deixe de ser um simples veículo e passe a ser um co-autor.
Nick Taylor Jul 8, 2012:
Molecagem The answer to this depends on the "severity" of the molecagem surely...It could just be horseplay, high jinks, a bit of a laff, or being a bit of a lad (or ladette) on the other hand it could be slanderous, libelous, calumny, character defamation, bad mouthing etc.
Que conste que a escrita correta é molecagem, com o. Talvez isto ajude os demais a darem uma sugestão.

Proposed translations

3 hrs
Selected

(engages) in deceptive/crooked activities


Sorry, I had not read the full context provided.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2012-07-08 19:13:20 GMT)
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WHO ENGAGES IN CROOKED/DECEPTIVE ACTIVITIES
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3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I think this is the answer that is closest in meaning to what I ultimately decided to use, which is "(does) dirty tricks"--the overall tone of the text is very informal, as is often the case on Facebook."
4 mins

childish things

Sugg.
Peer comment(s):

disagree Catherine Howard : IMO, context of questioner's phrase -- harassment, mental torture -- is too serious for "childish things"
3 hrs
Thanks, Catherine.
agree Daniel Tavares : Yes, the context is, of course, too serious for only "Childish Things". However, this is exactly what the author of the text says. Bad original text, really bad.
1 day 36 mins
Grato, Daniel!
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7 mins

mischief, tomfoolery

.
Peer comment(s):

disagree Catherine Howard : these terms might work if the context were light-hearted, accusing someone of playing pranks, committing minor offenses, but they don't really work in the given context charging s.o. with harassment
3 hrs
agree Daniel Tavares : For the reasons stated above in discussion forum.
1 day 39 mins
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+3
33 mins

knavery; low behavior

The same as "molecagem".

The meaning has changed with time and nowadays can denote knavery; low behavior. Not necessarily done by children.

books.google.com.br/books?isbn=0804704805...James Lumpkin Taylor, Priscilla Clark Martin - 1970 - Foreign Language Study - 655 páginas
young negro girl, molecada (/.) a group of MOLEQUES. molecagem (/.) knavery; low behavior, molecao, molecote (m.) a strapping young urchin, molecar (t'.i.) ...
Peer comment(s):

agree T o b i a s : Agree with meaning. How about 'total knave' http://neilschaeffer.com/sade/letters/07-7905.htm
9 mins
Thanks!
neutral Nick Taylor : Why! Good Sir Knight ist said scurvy knave guilty of calumny!! Gadzooks!
3 hrs
agree e_marisa
3 hrs
Obrigado!
agree Daniel Tavares
1 day 1 hr
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+1
41 mins
Portuguese term (edited): (que faz MULECAGEM)

(a complete HOODLUM)

Given the context, 'mulecagem' is an understatement. An adequate translation also has to segue into the following 'que'.

Peer comment(s):

agree Catherine Howard : good linguistic & cultural translation: captures seriousness of accusation, illegality of harassment, even the implication in both languages of being a J.D.; also, your phrase "a complete hoodlum" (variant: "a total hoodlum") is idiomatic as an insult
2 hrs
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3 hrs

completely underhand/ a lowlife/

completely underhand/ a lowlife/
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4 hrs

used to harass

What about this wording with reference to context (as understood by myself)?

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Note added at 4 hrs (2012-07-08 20:00:56 GMT)
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Thanks for explanation right now!
So forget my suggestion ->> too serious for this
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+2
7 hrs

irresponsible behaviour

a escrita correta e molecagem , mulecagem e um regionalismo. Ha varias interpretacoes para a palvra sendo algumas negativas, outras neutraas e em certos casos ate mesmo positiva. Se aplica a criancas, malandros,mulheres, comerciantes de honestidade duvidosa etc
Peer comment(s):

agree Daniel Tavares
20 hrs
agree Spiridon : Yes
1 day 10 hrs
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9 hrs

a wicked trouble-maker

Agree with much of what has been said - molecagem comes from the term 'moleque', which is originally a naughty kid/street urchin etc. But in this case it's connoting something much more evil and sinister.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2012-07-09 01:11:00 GMT)
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*FOR THIS CONTEXT, where in brackets you might say "who is a wicked trouble-maker". But as a noun, and for purposes of Kudoz glossary, perhaps need to search for a comparable part of speech, so perhaps "trouble-making"
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1 day 13 hrs

shenanigan

I would add a footnote, N.T., and explain that the literal translation of the term is 'slums children's typical act'. I could not find a perfect equivalent. I would think that the aborigines in AU are the equivalent to the slums kids in Brazil, therefore I would like to find a term that refers to them in a depreciative manner, meaning action with intent of injuring but that comes disguised as something not so bad, something like that.
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