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  3. Education / Pedagogy

tratar temas impensables en la época.

English translation: boldly explored issues that at the time were [widely] considered taboo

16:49 Apr 8, 2016
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Education / Pedagogy
Spanish term or phrase: tratar temas impensables en la época.
Hola ¿cómo traduciríais esta expresión?
Percy Shelley se atrevía a tratar temas impensables en la época como el ateismo, el anarquismo o el amor libre.
No tengo más contexto.
Gracias
rosevelvet
Spain
Local time: 15:24
English translation:boldly explored issues that at the time were [widely] considered taboo
Explanation:
I agree with Dariusz that "explored" works well here (i.e., especially in the context of a creative artist rather than a social scientist). But I think "tackled" is overly informal here, and that "of his time" is rather awkward.
Selected response from:

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 09:24
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6boldly explored issues that at the time were [widely] considered taboo
Robert Forstag
3 +4tackled the taboo subjects of his time
Darius Saczuk
4 +2to address issues unthinkable at his time
Francois Boye
4broach sujects unthinkable at the time
neilmac


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
tackled the taboo subjects of his time


Explanation:
P

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Note added at 5 mins (2016-04-08 16:54:05 GMT)
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also: EXPLORED, etc.

Darius Saczuk
United States
Local time: 09:24
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 525

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  José Patrício: muse on unthinkable themes for the age
9 mins
  -> Thank you, Spielenschach1.
agree  liz askew
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Liz.
agree  philgoddard
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Phil.
agree  Lisa Jane: I was thinking explored the taboo subjects of his time
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Jane!
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
se atrevía a tratar temas impensables en la época
boldly explored issues that at the time were [widely] considered taboo


Explanation:
I agree with Dariusz that "explored" works well here (i.e., especially in the context of a creative artist rather than a social scientist). But I think "tackled" is overly informal here, and that "of his time" is rather awkward.

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 09:24
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 463
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Joss Heywood: nicely phrased!
23 mins
  -> Thanks, Joss!
agree  Michele Fauble
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Michele.
agree  Adoración Bodoque Martínez
1 hr
  -> Gracias, Adoración.
neutral  philgoddard: I don't agree that "tackled" is informal or "of his time" is awkward.
2 hrs
  -> I think "subjects of his time" rather clunky myself.
agree  Marcelo González: I prefer 'at the time' as well, also suggested in a note added by Francois to his (slightly more literal) proposal. As for tackled, I'd say more standard, formal options, including 'address', work just fine.
10 hrs
  -> Thank you, Marcelo.
agree  franglish
14 hrs
  -> Thank you, Franglish.
agree  Yvonne Gallagher
15 hrs
  -> Thank you, Gallagy.
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to address issues unthinkable at his time


Explanation:
my take

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Note added at 43 mins (2016-04-08 17:32:00 GMT)
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ERRATUM: 'THE' instead of 'his'

Francois Boye
United States
Local time: 09:24
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 66

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marcelo González: ...to address issues that, at the time, were unthinkable
2 hrs
agree  franglish
13 hrs
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
broach sujects unthinkable at the time


Explanation:
"... (dared to) broach/raise/tackle/deal with sujects unthinkable at the time"
broach1 (verb)
1. to raise (a difficult subject) for discussion.
"he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening"
synonyms: bring up, raise, introduce, talk about, mention, touch on, open, embark on, enter on, air, ventilate...

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Note added at 17 hrs (2016-04-09 09:57:13 GMT)
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NB: Am withholding my agree from Robert, as I disagree that "tackle" can really be considered all that informal nowadays.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2016-04-09 09:58:13 GMT)
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I also think "unmentionable" could work as an alternative to "unthinkable"...

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Note added at 17 hrs (2016-04-09 09:59:01 GMT)
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Unmentionable
plural noun: unmentionables -> a person or thing that is too shocking or embarrassing to be mentioned by name.
"wearing nothing but fig leaves over their unmentionables"

neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:24
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 527
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