Aug 24, 2017 02:07
6 yrs ago
116 viewers *
Spanish term

Inhumación

FVA Not for points Spanish to English Other Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, CVs Burial Certificate
I have recently offered a comment on someone else's translation (nothing to do with Proz.com I hasten to add!). The translator had translated the Spanish "inhumación" as inhumation in English. Context: a Burial Certificate. Source language: South American Spanish. I forget from which country (it was some weeks ago but it has been lodged in the back of my mind ever since).

I have considerable professional experience of funerals, bereavement etc and would expect to translate this as 'burial' or, in certain cases, interment. Though 'burial' on such a certificate. To my knowledge, the English word 'inhumation' is archaic and/or used in an archaeological context.

I have two queries:
1) Does anyone else have a different experience?
2) Might there be occasions where this is different in US English? I am a UK English native speaker.

I would be grateful for your comments. Thank you.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 burial / interment

Discussion

Domini Lucas (asker) Aug 24, 2017:
Just the concept of juxtaposing Bubbles and Freddie with a Viking 'inhumation' is an absolute delight. Would that they had known they would reach such posthumous heights. Or even depths... :-))
Charles Davis Aug 24, 2017:
Merriam-Webster quotes a recent example of inhume from an article in Smithsonian entitled "Primary School Students in Scotland Gave Dead Goldfish a Viking Burial":

"Rather than inhume Bubbles and Freddy, Papdale students opted for a funeral at sea."
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhume

But I suppose a Viking burial counts as archaeology :)

Proposed translations

+4 (+3 )
8 mins
Selected

burial / interment

Totally in agreement with your reasoning, but I'm from the UK too.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much
Thank you so very much to you both.
Peer comment(s):

agree Charles Davis (meets criteria) : Me too, and although American officialese is relatively fond of learned words, I'm pretty sure it's the same in the US.
2 hrs
Thanks, Charles.
agree Rebecca Hendry (meets criteria) : Me three (UK).
8 hrs
Thanks, Rebecca.
agree neilmac : :)
12 hrs
Thanks, Neil.
agree Stephen D. Moore (meets criteria) : I'm in the USA, and I can't remember ever seeing "inhumation" used in any document, newspaper article, you name it.
1 day 9 hrs
Thanks, Stephen, neither can I.
Something went wrong...
Comment: "First validated answer (validated by peer agreement)"

Reference comments

7 mins
Reference:

We've had this before.

It means burial or interment. Inhumation does exust, but it's not in common use.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much. I did scroll around the glossary as best I could (I'm quite a newbie!) but didn't find those links. Thank you.
Peer comments on this reference comment:

agree Robert Carter : Yep.
0 min
agree Charles Davis (meets criteria) : To be fair, the question the asker raises wasn't explicitly addressed there. Inhumation is in common use in archaeology/anthropology, but not elsewhere.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search