KudoZ home » Spanish to English » General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

excesos en el lenguaje

English translation: inappropriate language

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.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Spanish term or phrase:	excesos en el lenguaje
English translation:	inappropriate language
Entered by:	AllegroTrans

Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

01:00 Feb 2, 2012

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

Spanish term or phrase: excesos en el lenguaje

This is in a document establishing internal policies for admittance of union organizers into a workplace. "Excesos en el lenguaje" appears to be a fairly common set phrase, but I'm having a hard time getting a bead on what it actually encompasses.

"El ingreso de que trata el presente Procedimiento debe llevarse a cabo pacíficamente conforme lo establecen los referidos Convenios de la OIT, y absteniéndose además de excesos en el lenguaje."

Kathryn Litherland KudoZ activity Questions: 192 (none open) (14 closed without grading) Answers: 1277 United States
Local time: 22:25

inappropriate language

Explanation:
A very "PC" way of sdaying it, widely used

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2012-02-02 12:34:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Inappropriate language?
There's always been a debate about what is and isn't acceptable on TV news programmes, and now that we have blogs, forums and podcasts it's only getting more ...
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/09/inappropriate... - Cached
[PDF]
APPROPRIATE / INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE
Adobe PDF
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST Request Number: F-2009-03060 Keyword: Human Resources Subject: APPROPRIATE / INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE Request and Answer: Question Under ...
www.psni.police.uk/appropriate_inappropriate_language.pdf
inappropriate: Definition, Synonyms from Answers.com
inappropriate adj. Unsuitable or improper. inappropriately in ' appro ' priately adv ... If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here. To select your ...
www.answers.com/topic/inappropriate - Cached

Selected response from:

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:25

Grading comment

I like the vagueness of this one. Charles' comments in the reference note are very helpful also!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

inappropriate language

AllegroTrans

3 +4

profanities

rich.

4 +2

using swear words / swearing

Sarah Frutos Bamberry

3 +3

excessive language

TranslatorJames

expletives

JudyK

excess foul language

eski

bad language/foul language

Andrew Nimmo

always maintaining decorum in the choice of words

Deborah Lockett

excess in language

Erika Di Dio

Summary of reference entries provided
"exceso" and excess	Charles Davis

Answers

9 mins confidence:

bad language/foul language

Explanation:
Although bad language would appear to have a wide meaning, I think in the context you mention it would be clear that it would refer to swearing and the like; foul language would also be another viable option.

Andrew Nimmo
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:25
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

17 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

excessive language

Explanation:
I am fairly sure that the phrase is more or less literal.

It simply means 'excessive language'. Please see the definitions below.

Reference: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/excessive
Reference: http://www.audioenglish.net/dictionary/excessive.htm

TranslatorJames
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

profanities

Explanation:
Perhaps!

Profanity also known as swearing, cursing, foul speech, and cussing, is a show of disrespect, a desecration or debasement of someone or something, or just the act of expressing intense emotions. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, obnoxious, foul, desecrating or other forms.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2012-02-02 01:16:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I stick by my original answer but offer these references in case you feel they better fit your context:

Periphrasis
Definition:
The term ‘periphrasis’ refers to the use of **excessive language** and surplus words to convey a meaning that could otherwise be conveyed with fewer words and in more direct a manner. The use of this literary device can be to embellish a sentence, to create a grander effect, to beat around the bush and to draw attention away from the crux of the message being conveyed.
Example:
Instead of simply saying “I am displeased with your behavior”, one can say, “the manner in which you have conducted yourself in my presence of late has caused me to feel uncomfortable and has resulted in my feeling disgruntled and disappointed with you”.
Gossip and Nonsense: Excessive Language in Renaissance France

Dr Emily Butterworth is Co-Investigator on this AHRC-funded project, which will examine the more demotic and marginal aspects of Renaissance copiousness. She is collaborating with Dr Hugh Roberts (Exeter), and will work on the strand on gossip and its uses and representations in literature.
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/ahri/projects/gossip.aspx

non•sense
n.
1. Words or signs having no intelligible meaning: a message that was nonsense until decoded.
2. Subject matter, behavior, or language that is foolish or absurd.
3. Extravagant foolishness or frivolity: a clown's exuberant nonsense.
4. Matter of little or no importance or usefulness: a chatty letter full of gossip and nonsense.
5. Insolent talk or behavior; impudence: wouldn't take any nonsense from the children.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nonsense

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2012-02-02 03:37:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

AS AN AFTER THOUGHT, all the above related terms, 'excessive language' and 'profanities'/'foul language', are right, so it depends on what you reckon from your text and if there were any doubt that it's not referring to the unionists' liking for a good cuss-word, then if you say 'excessive language', although it may be vaguer, it's also broader; broad enough to include gossip, nonsense, surplus and unnecessary words and, of course %#&(´¿{.-{+* :)

rich.
Mexico
Local time: 21:25
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 24

6 hrs confidence:

excess foul language

Explanation:
www.minecraftforum.net/.../901008-worlds-apar... - Traducir esta página
Haz hecho público que te gusta. Deshacer
1 Jan 2012 – Refrain from excess foul language. 8. No stealing. 9. Cut all of the tree down when gathering logs. Replace cut trees with saplings (we value an ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2012-02-02 07:40:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

eski :))

eski
Mexico
Local time: 21:25
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 8

7 hrs confidence:

always maintaining decorum in the choice of words

Explanation:
in wide sense, generally keeping one's language nice and not likely to cause offence

Deborah Lockett
Local time: 03:25
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 306

8 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

using swear words / swearing

Explanation:
Another option

Sarah Frutos Bamberry
Local time: 04:25
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

11 hrs confidence:

excess in language

Explanation:
a possibility

Erika Di Dio
Local time: 04:25
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Italian

11 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

inappropriate language

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 24

Grading comment

I like the vagueness of this one. Charles' comments in the reference note are very helpful also!

13 hrs confidence:

expletives

Explanation:
another option that comes to mind

JudyK
Local time: 03:25
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

Reference comments

11 hrs

Reference: "exceso" and excess

Reference information:
Having withdrawn my answer ("inappropriate/offensive language") on finding that AllegroTrans had just suggested the same phrase, may I offer two considerations in support of it.

First, I think anything with "excess" or "excessive" here is a mistranslation. "Excessive language" implies using too many words. "Exceso" here has one of the following two senses, as defined in the DRAE:

"2. m. Cosa que sale en cualquier línea de los límites de lo ordinario o de lo lícito [...]
4. m. Abuso, delito o crimen. U. m. en pl."
http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltGUIBusUsual?TIPO_HTML=2&TIPO...

It therefore means language beyond the bounds of decency or acceptability.

Second, although it probably refers primarily to profanity, it is not necessarily confined to that. Language can be offensive and unacceptable without actually involving swearing. Moreover, in this context it should not be expressed like that anyway. We should emulate that element of euphemism or indirectness in the original (PC, as AllegroTrans calls it).

Here is an amusing and, I think, telling reference I posted in my answer:

"Whoever was manning Chrysler's official Twitter account on Wednesday morning apparently sucked down too much #TigerBlood before work. "I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to fucking drive," the brand tweeted, much to the surprise of its nearly 8,000 followers [...] Chrysler later apologized, saying: "Chrysler Group and its brands do not tolerate inappropriate language or behavior, and apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this communication."
http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/chrysler-throws-down-f-bomb-tw...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2012-02-02 14:07:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It's not inconceivable to have a rule against talking too much at work, but it is inconceivable (in my opinion) that this should be called "excesos en el lenguaje".

Charles Davis
Spain
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 94

Note to reference poster

Asker: Thanks, Charles. Very well thought-out and explained.

Return to KudoZ list

Changes made by editors

Feb 11 - Changes made by AllegroTrans:
Created KOG entry	KudoZ term => KOG term

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

Overview

Latest translation questions

Ask a translation question

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

excesos en el lenguaje

English translation: inappropriate language

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

Answers

Reference comments

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

excesos en el lenguaje

English translation: inappropriate language

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

Answers

Reference comments

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

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.

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.