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membrete

English translation: front / figurehead


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:membrete
English translation:front / figurehead
Entered by: Charles Davis
Options:
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- Include in personal glossary

22:51 Oct 17, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / member of criminal group
Spanish term or phrase: membrete
Document from Mexico flagging someone as "Aparentes membretes" de [name of criminal group]
This is a well-written document; I wouldn't expect slang or gross misspellings.

Thanks!
wendy griswold
Local time: 01:31
front
Explanation:
Given that the real meaning of "membrete" is a letterhead, I think it's a fair guess that what they mean is a front: the official, visible and apparently respectable face of a criminal organisation.

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Note added at 14 mins (2011-10-17 23:05:44 GMT)
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Or perhaps, referring to people, "figurehead(s)".

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Note added at 2 hrs (2011-10-18 01:51:32 GMT)
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"Membretes" certainly implies that these people are in some way leading figures of an organisation: those whose names appear literally or metaphorically on the letterhead. But it is obviously unlikely they would openly advertise themselves as leaders of a crime syndicate. "Aparentes" seems to mean that it is apparent, though not explicitly acknowledged, that there is a criminal organisation behind them. This is really why I infer that the people in question are ostensibly respectable; they are the public face of the criminal group, but their connection with the criminal must be in some way concealed or at least not acknowledged.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2011-10-18 02:24:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Membrete" is used to express the idea of a false public image:

"es puro membrete esa presidencia en verdad no sirve para nada"
http://www.elsoldenayarit.mx/?tema=Poltica&id_nota=8554

"En este país se ha llegado al límite. El gobierno es solo un espejismo, un membrete tricolor."
http://tomografo.blogspot.com/2009/02/televisa-y-tvazteca-y-...

"Antes de ese programa, ya me había formado una imagen del PCC: más que una real organización es un membrete que sirve de identidad para la diversidad de pandillas de las favelas... Las bandas, supuestamente, alcanzaron algún nivel de organización bajo el membrete de Frente Popular juvenil... Mucho de pantalla y de tranzas entre líderes, más que real unión de bandas..."
http://www.latrinchera.org/foros/showthread.php?9628-Perded-...

In this last example it means something very like a front.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Local time: 07:31
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7frontCharles Davis


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
front


Explanation:
Given that the real meaning of "membrete" is a letterhead, I think it's a fair guess that what they mean is a front: the official, visible and apparently respectable face of a criminal organisation.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2011-10-17 23:05:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or perhaps, referring to people, "figurehead(s)".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2011-10-18 01:51:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Membretes" certainly implies that these people are in some way leading figures of an organisation: those whose names appear literally or metaphorically on the letterhead. But it is obviously unlikely they would openly advertise themselves as leaders of a crime syndicate. "Aparentes" seems to mean that it is apparent, though not explicitly acknowledged, that there is a criminal organisation behind them. This is really why I infer that the people in question are ostensibly respectable; they are the public face of the criminal group, but their connection with the criminal must be in some way concealed or at least not acknowledged.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2011-10-18 02:24:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Membrete" is used to express the idea of a false public image:

"es puro membrete esa presidencia en verdad no sirve para nada"
http://www.elsoldenayarit.mx/?tema=Poltica&id_nota=8554

"En este país se ha llegado al límite. El gobierno es solo un espejismo, un membrete tricolor."
http://tomografo.blogspot.com/2009/02/televisa-y-tvazteca-y-...

"Antes de ese programa, ya me había formado una imagen del PCC: más que una real organización es un membrete que sirve de identidad para la diversidad de pandillas de las favelas... Las bandas, supuestamente, alcanzaron algún nivel de organización bajo el membrete de Frente Popular juvenil... Mucho de pantalla y de tranzas entre líderes, más que real unión de bandas..."
http://www.latrinchera.org/foros/showthread.php?9628-Perded-...

In this last example it means something very like a front.

Charles Davis
Local time: 07:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: We don't have enough context, but I like "figureheads".
11 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil. I have found "membrete" used to refer to an apparently innocent or worthy name used by a not so innocent organisation. But I certainly agree more context would help.
agree  Deborah Lockett: "respectable faces of"? http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hpoaaB-4Z...
7 hrs
  -> Thank you, Deborah! That is very much what it suggests to me. Best regards :)
agree  Jenni Lukac
9 hrs
  -> Many thanks, Jenni :)
agree  Fatima Nunez
9 hrs
  -> Muchas gracias, Fátima :)
agree  James A. Walsh
11 hrs
  -> Cheers, James ;)
agree  Sarita Jannin
12 hrs
  -> Thank you, Sarita!
agree  Lesley Clarke
1 day7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Lesley :)
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Changes made by editors
Oct 23, 2011 - Changes made by Charles Davis:
Created KOG entryKudoZ term => KOG term


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