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.
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Archaeology / | | Spanish term or phrase: cuadro real | For the UK.
Si Toledo es un símbolo de España, el Alcázar es el símbolo de Toledo. Para el arqueólogo y el sabio, la ciudad es el espectáculo de cien civilizaciones apiñadas, cuyos restos conviven en un **cuadro real** casi vivo e intacto donde cada piedra es una voz que habla al espíritu. |
| | | royal tableau | Explanation:
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest this means something completely different from what everyone else has read into it - you haven't indicated we're actually talking about a painting here, and from the context I think this makes much more sense.
Given the Alcazar of Toledo was the royal palace of Spain for a long time, I think the text is suggesting that the whole ensemble of buildings laid over each other represents a 'tableau' or 'scene' (both alternative meanings for cuadro) in a kind of palimpsest of civilizations.
This also fits with the use of 'espectáculo' in the previous line.
Hence "...the remains of which coexist in a royal tableau that appears to live on, almost intact, in which every stone speaks to us..." Or something along those lines.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2012-02-03 01:57:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I'm increasingly convinced that the structure of the sentence weighs strongly against it being read as 'real'. It makes much more sense to read the 'casi vivo y intacto' as defining a 'royal tableau' rather than a painting to which is applied the (almost pleonasmic) string of adjectives 'real casi vivo y intacto'. The (lack of) punctuation itself gives it away.
You could also use 'regal ensemble' or other variations as an alternative. |
| Selected response from:
  fionn
Mexico
Local time: 20:50
| Grading comment Thanks, Fionn - I think you're right here.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
| |
| Discussion entries: 0 |
|---|
Automatic update in 00:
|
10 mins confidence:  
44 mins confidence:
Return to KudoZ list
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | |
| KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases. See also: Search millions of term translations  |
The translation workplace 
