Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
de pequeñez, mezquindad
English translation:
of narrow-minded pettiness
Added to glossary by
Marian Martin (X)
Apr 4, 2008 21:22
16 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
servicios para autores académicos
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
de pequeñez, mezquindad
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Government / Politics
Mexico
Incluso algunos comentaristas postulaban que el país se encontraba ante una excelente oportunidad
histórica de generar una nueva etapa de prosperidad. Un editorialista llegó a escribir que no aceptarlo era “señal de pequeñez, mezquindad”.
histórica de generar una nueva etapa de prosperidad. Un editorialista llegó a escribir que no aceptarlo era “señal de pequeñez, mezquindad”.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Apr 9, 2008 15:38: Marian Martin (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
23 mins
Selected
of narrow-minded pettiness
Although not a literal translation, I think it conveys the intended meaning of the source term.Good luck!
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Note added at 4 days (2008-04-09 15:38:27 GMT) Post-grading
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Thank you Patricia.Regards.
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Note added at 4 days (2008-04-09 15:38:27 GMT) Post-grading
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Thank you Patricia.Regards.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Every answer was good, but I'm going to give the points to m_martin. Thanks for everybody for the help and ideas!!"
+2
23 mins
Kathryn Litherland
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Versatile technical translator/editor
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
of miserliness and small-minded thinking
There are a lot of ways you can interpret this and express that interpretation. I think interpreting pequeñez to mean "small-minded" here makes a lot of sense (missing an opportunity due to thinking small), and I flipped the two concepts in my offering just because I think it sounds better in English to put the shorter term first.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Marianela Melleda
35 mins
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| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: because we're talking about "una nueva etapa de prosperidad", perhaps the idea of miserliness should feature somewhere
12 hrs
|
30 mins
of pettiness, avarice / miserliness
were the mark / evidence / of pettiness, avarice / miserliness
7 hrs
John O'Shea
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
Works in field
Mexico
Sworn translator, law, humanities
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
mediocrity and narrow-mindedness
I think that "pettiness" doesn't quite translate as "pequeñez". In English, it means something rather childish, whereas the idea in Spanish implicates a lack of ambition - a certain small-town mentality in this case, which is why I propose mediocrity (although "meanness" would be a better but 19th-century-flavored translation). The same with "mezquindad": in terms of attitude, it carries a sense of "mean-spirited", but narrow-minded would seem to fit the bill here well enough, because the author is really just playing with synonyms rather than distinct terms.
Note from asker:
| John: Thanks for your thoughtful answer. I think that what you propose works, but after looking up "petty," I find that Carol's right on the money (at least for US readers: petty = small-minded). I also checked the definition of mediocrity, and I think that the author's intention was to be harsher than what mediocrity implies. I wish I could split the points because I still think your solution is very good! Thank you! |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: no argument with with what you propose, but I have to take issue with yr interpretation of "pettiness" as necessarily meaning "childish". It also means small minded, mean.... Collins: pequeñez = pettiness, small mindedness
17 hrs
|
+1
13 hrs
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
84
era “señal de pequeñez, mezquindad => smacked of parsimonious pettiness
nothing like a little alliteration for effect!
And I agree with Kathryn and Sandra that the "miserly"/money element should be expressed somehow, to retain the "prosperidad" lexical field - hence "parsimonious", but also for the alliteration
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Note added at 3 days12 hrs (2008-04-08 09:47:20 GMT) Post-grading
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no probs, any time! Hope you're Ok!
And I agree with Kathryn and Sandra that the "miserly"/money element should be expressed somehow, to retain the "prosperidad" lexical field - hence "parsimonious", but also for the alliteration
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Note added at 3 days12 hrs (2008-04-08 09:47:20 GMT) Post-grading
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no probs, any time! Hope you're Ok!
Note from asker:
| Carol, I wish I could split the points. The alliteration at the front end mimics the back end alliteration of the original! However, I finally decided that that parsimonious (excessively frugal) doesn't quite work as a modifer of pettiness. Hope all is well with you! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Janine Libbey
: Superb suggestion (love the alliteration)!
9 hrs
|
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many thanks, viva madrid! :)
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