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Explanation: Yes, "corte" certainly derives from absolute monarchies and the expression "to hold court" derived therof. However, trying to use logic to conclude that, since the verbal expression is in common use, so would be the related noun "court" is a slippery slope indeed (many a translation attempt has been derailed by such daring maneuvers). The word we need here is "retinue".(*)
Next, a good equivalent for "bajular" in this context is to fawn. However, we again need to refrain from the siren song of Logic (mind you, that is coming from a mathematician) and avoid the tempation to force the word "fawner". Just as a kind of "menção honrosa", if I may, the verb "to flatter" is close but not as derogatory as "bajular" in this specific context. Hence "flatterer", which is a common enough word ,turns out not to be such a good fit. On the other hand, when taken out of context, a "sycophant" is not exactly a "bajulador", but it happens to work quite well in this case.
Finally, in spite of the the definite article used in "..veio da corte de bajuladores, nacionais e estrangeiros, que acreditam...", I believe the indefinite article will flow better in English: "...came from a retinue of sycophants, domestic as well as foreign, which think...". And yes, I did consider the alternative "retinue of domestic and foreign sycophants" but concluded that it would be better not to wedge that qualifier between "retinue" and "sycophants"
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(*) Just for fun, it occurs to me that, were the contex American and juvenile, the word "posse" would fit. Once again, it's all about the context.
Thanks Rick and everyone else for your suggestions and comments. All answers are correct in my opinion but Rick's suggestion fits perfectly in this particular context. Thumbs up! :) 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Many thanks coolbrowne (sorry to ask but I wonder what's your real name? I don't even know if you're a woman or a man.. LOL), Gilmar and all the others for your valuable comments and suggestions. :)
This is great. Shows tone, style and gives some insight on word choices, all so valuable when pursuing a careful translation. I have lost count of the times when askers expound on how they know that the requested information is not useful to somebody about whose background, education, experience, etc., they know next to nothing and who (graciously, if I may) is willing to put time and effort in order to help.
Asker: Hi Gilmar! I was surprised when I saw the website you provided. This is actually a translation test sent by a "potential client" :)
BTW: I am quite familiar with the kind of political rhetoric and European PT spoken in Angola and Mozambique. I was born in Mozambique when it was still a Portuguese colony and lived my early childhood there until 1975, afterwards immigrated to the U.S. with my family (where I lived for 25-30 years, going back and forth to Brazil, my new passion :) I've lived in Belo Horizonte for the past 7-8 years, always coming back to NY for a few months every year. So I'm fully bilingual and versatile in both Br(Pt) and PT(pt).
Bootlickers is the term used in a derrogatory political context in my opinion....obviously there are others such as brownosers, even more demeaning. It depends on what Mary would like to use. Only she can make that call on what would be proper to present to her client.
Sorry coolbrowne, I've been working non-stop and forgot to provide a context. Anyhow, here it is:
A excepção honrosa de aplausos à continuidade de XXX apenas veio da corte de bajuladoress, nacionais e estrangeiros que acreditam ser normal, em democracia, a concentração excessiva de poder, a nebulosidade de gestão da coisa pública que beneficia que uns poucos fiquem com os milhões de dólares, dos milhões de autóctones votados a miséria, desemprego e indigência.
Thanks Mary Palmer, for your kind words. I am sure it was an oversight, but you did not supply the surrounding text. Without that, if I may loosely refer to Muriel Vasconcellos, I'm afraid we will get mostly tilting at windmills, as people, instinctively, try to supply the missing context from their own minds. By contrast, having the actual context will help to narrow down the wild guesses (at least, so one hopes). In any event, that alone is worth the effort (thank you). Yes, suggestions may be good, but the ones that are educated by a proper context are (at least) one notch above.
Thanks everyone for your comments. Coolbrowne, I agree with you 100%. This is exactly why I sometimes ask for "suggestions" so that I can later choose the term that best fits the context :)
You already have the answer and just need confirmation: /sycophants/ (and there are already enough of them at any point in history, so why have them breed more, i.e. no need for groups, or bands or tribes of them).
Even when one might find one or two good possibilities for the expression by itself, it is often the case that the surrounding text would better fit a third (or fourth) possibility, or rather, that the surrounding text could bring to mind some expression that is a much better fit. In particular, that will lead to a better decision on whether for forgo "corte de", as has been suggested. Right now even that decision is not clear.
Thanks
------------------- AHA! While I was struggling with the darn keyboard, already Muriel Vasconcellos was mentioning the context.
There are so many different ways of saying this. It can run the gamut from 'court of admirers' to the unprintable. Sometimes "court" alone is sufficient.
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Answers
17 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
bootlickers
Explanation: I would just use it in plural, rather that a "group of....."
"corte" alludes to a group sucking up to someone in power....maybe a president ?
From Michaelis Dictionary:
bootlicker
boot.lick.er
n sl bajulador, puxa-saco
Gilmar Fernandes United States Local time: 01:05 Works in field Native speaker of: Portuguese, English PRO pts in category: 12
...court of (national and international/domestic and foreign) sycophants/ interests...
If they must breed, so be it. Take close note of the tone of the passage. Within the context (now available), the author's choice of the word /court/ implies that he/she believes that the world should have changed, but has actually changed little since the time of Alexander the Great (or Restoration drama).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2012-02-08 02:57:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
A final thought: If you prefer to tone it down, /interest groups/ would do.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 hrs (2012-02-08 05:54:23 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Or, at 03:50, a final toner-downer: /swarm of interest groups/
Sheryle Oliver Brazil Local time: 02:05 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
Explanation: Yes, "corte" certainly derives from absolute monarchies and the expression "to hold court" derived therof. However, trying to use logic to conclude that, since the verbal expression is in common use, so would be the related noun "court" is a slippery slope indeed (many a translation attempt has been derailed by such daring maneuvers). The word we need here is "retinue".(*)
Next, a good equivalent for "bajular" in this context is to fawn. However, we again need to refrain from the siren song of Logic (mind you, that is coming from a mathematician) and avoid the tempation to force the word "fawner". Just as a kind of "menção honrosa", if I may, the verb "to flatter" is close but not as derogatory as "bajular" in this specific context. Hence "flatterer", which is a common enough word ,turns out not to be such a good fit. On the other hand, when taken out of context, a "sycophant" is not exactly a "bajulador", but it happens to work quite well in this case.
Finally, in spite of the the definite article used in "..veio da corte de bajuladores, nacionais e estrangeiros, que acreditam...", I believe the indefinite article will flow better in English: "...came from a retinue of sycophants, domestic as well as foreign, which think...". And yes, I did consider the alternative "retinue of domestic and foreign sycophants" but concluded that it would be better not to wedge that qualifier between "retinue" and "sycophants"
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(*) Just for fun, it occurs to me that, were the contex American and juvenile, the word "posse" would fit. Once again, it's all about the context.
coolbrowne United States Local time: 01:05 Native speaker of: English, Portuguese PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks Rick and everyone else for your suggestions and comments. All answers are correct in my opinion but Rick's suggestion fits perfectly in this particular context. Thumbs up! :)
The translation workplace 
