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Italian to English translations [PRO]
Government / Politics | | Italian term or phrase: Qualunquismo | | Hello everybody, I am translating an old speech (1991) by an Italian Finance Minister who says: "Ringrazio gli elettori che hanno espresso il loro voto liberamente, senza dar credito al qualunquismo dilagante e allo scandalismo di certi giornali". My first solution was "political indifference", but doing some research about the movement of the Uomo Qualunque I found out the connotation is (maybe) different...? Thanks in advance for your help. |
| | | political apathy | Explanation:
It is certainly a reference to the "movimento dell'Uomo qualunque", but I don't think he means any more here than "political apathy".
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualunquismo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_apathy
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Note added at 28 mins (2011-02-22 12:04:25 GMT)
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The best solution here will depend on the target readership of the translation.
While "Qualunquismo" would be instantly understood by an Italian audience, it would mean nothing to an English-speaking reader of the translated speech. Furthermore, the "movimento dell'Uomo qualunque" was an immediate post-war phenomenon and already "historical" at the time of this speech (1991).
Depending on the target readership, you may need something that conveys what is at the core of Qualunquismo, but is at the same time readily comprehensible in English. In which case, if you are looking for something succinct, I believe "political apathy" is the simplest solution.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for a more detailed gloss, then Ellen's answer could be the right solution.
However, if the context is an academic paper for a readership well versed in Italian politics, then Desila's "Qualunquismo" (possibly with a footnote or brief bracketed explanation) might be appropriate.
As always, context is everything! |
| Selected response from:
Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 12:12
| Grading comment Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Summary of reference entries provided | | |
| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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5 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +3 political apathy
Explanation:
It is certainly a reference to the "movimento dell'Uomo qualunque", but I don't think he means any more here than "political apathy".
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualunquismo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_apathy
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2011-02-22 12:04:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The best solution here will depend on the target readership of the translation.
While "Qualunquismo" would be instantly understood by an Italian audience, it would mean nothing to an English-speaking reader of the translated speech. Furthermore, the "movimento dell'Uomo qualunque" was an immediate post-war phenomenon and already "historical" at the time of this speech (1991).
Depending on the target readership, you may need something that conveys what is at the core of Qualunquismo, but is at the same time readily comprehensible in English. In which case, if you are looking for something succinct, I believe "political apathy" is the simplest solution.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for a more detailed gloss, then Ellen's answer could be the right solution.
However, if the context is an academic paper for a readership well versed in Italian politics, then Desila's "Qualunquismo" (possibly with a footnote or brief bracketed explanation) might be appropriate.
As always, context is everything!
| Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 12:12
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in category: 8
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| | Grading comment | Selected automatically based on peer agreement. |
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The translation workplace 
