predicarse

English translation: (can be) said to apply (to)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:predicarse
English translation:(can be) said to apply (to)
Entered by: Lucy Williams

09:33 Feb 17, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Philosophy / human rights
Spanish term or phrase: predicarse
Y si la situación producida por estas barreras puede **predicarse** en general en relación con todas las personas con discapacidad, es manifiesto que las personas con discapacidades originadas en deficiencias psíquicas y enfermedades mentales constituyen el grupo más discriminado, así como el más vulnerable.

How would you translate predicarse here?

thanks
Lucy Williams
Spain
Local time: 16:00
(can be) said to apply (to)
Explanation:
Or "can be said to be true of", or simply (though less precisely) "applies to", or (in context) "Although it can be said that the situation [...] applies to/is true of".

Predicar is being used here in the sense defined in the DRAE as:
"5. Fil. y Gram. Decir algo de una persona, de un animal o de una cosa."
http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltGUIBusUsual?TIPO_HTML=2&TIPO...

So it means to state something about something or someone.
In English, "predicate" (verb) has this meaning too:
"1 Grammar & Logic state, affirm, or assert (something) about the subject of a sentence or an argument of a proposition: a word which predicates something about its subject
declare or affirm (something) as true or existing; postulate or assert."
http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0656650#m_en...

So it would be correct to say "can be predicated of", as Bill suggests. However, I think relatively few people who have not studied Aristotelian philosophy would understand this. Indeed, that is the context in which "predicate" is normally used in this technical sense:

"Of all the things that exist,
1. Some may be predicated of a subject, but are in no subject; as man may be predicated of James or John, but is not in any subject.
2. Some are in a subject, but cannot be predicated of any subject. Thus a certain individual point of grammatical knowledge is in me as in a subject, but it cannot be predicated of any subject; because it is an individual thing." And so on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categories_(Aristotle)

Since this is not really a technical philosophical text, I think "predicate" would be unduly obscure here for most readers, and it would be better to find a paraphrase.
However, it is not accurate to say "can be applied to", because it is not a question of applying the situation but of recognising and stating that the situation applies (is applicable, is true). The speaker is saying that all disabled people suffer from the situation produced by these barriers. Perhaps "can be applied to" can be read loosely as saying the same thing, but only loosely, and the writer is using "predicar" quite precisely.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 16:00
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3can be applied to
David Hollywood
4 +2(can) be predicated
Bill Harrison (X)
4 +2(can be) said to apply (to)
Charles Davis


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
can be applied to


Explanation:
I would say ...

David Hollywood
Local time: 12:00
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Simon Bruni: this seems to be how the author is using the term (not sure if it's correct!)
9 mins

agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
21 mins

agree  franglish
48 mins

agree  MedTrans&More
1 hr

neutral  Bill Harrison (X): See Charles' answer.
2 hrs

disagree  Dr Trevor Stack: how can a situation be applied to something?
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(can) be predicated


Explanation:
I won't say ya. because Phil doesn't like it.

Bill Harrison (X)
Local time: 15:00
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: As I have commented in my own answer, this is certainly correct
2 hrs
  -> Yes, you are definitely a Gentleman.

agree  Dr Trevor Stack: Yes. "The situation can be predicated of all people with disabilities." Sounds clumsy in English but also in Spanish.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Trevor.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(can be) said to apply (to)


Explanation:
Or "can be said to be true of", or simply (though less precisely) "applies to", or (in context) "Although it can be said that the situation [...] applies to/is true of".

Predicar is being used here in the sense defined in the DRAE as:
"5. Fil. y Gram. Decir algo de una persona, de un animal o de una cosa."
http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltGUIBusUsual?TIPO_HTML=2&TIPO...

So it means to state something about something or someone.
In English, "predicate" (verb) has this meaning too:
"1 Grammar & Logic state, affirm, or assert (something) about the subject of a sentence or an argument of a proposition: a word which predicates something about its subject
declare or affirm (something) as true or existing; postulate or assert."
http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0656650#m_en...

So it would be correct to say "can be predicated of", as Bill suggests. However, I think relatively few people who have not studied Aristotelian philosophy would understand this. Indeed, that is the context in which "predicate" is normally used in this technical sense:

"Of all the things that exist,
1. Some may be predicated of a subject, but are in no subject; as man may be predicated of James or John, but is not in any subject.
2. Some are in a subject, but cannot be predicated of any subject. Thus a certain individual point of grammatical knowledge is in me as in a subject, but it cannot be predicated of any subject; because it is an individual thing." And so on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categories_(Aristotle)

Since this is not really a technical philosophical text, I think "predicate" would be unduly obscure here for most readers, and it would be better to find a paraphrase.
However, it is not accurate to say "can be applied to", because it is not a question of applying the situation but of recognising and stating that the situation applies (is applicable, is true). The speaker is saying that all disabled people suffer from the situation produced by these barriers. Perhaps "can be applied to" can be read loosely as saying the same thing, but only loosely, and the writer is using "predicar" quite precisely.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 16:00
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 56
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bill Harrison (X): Yes, this is the correct meaningh and may well be more appropriate for the less educated and erudite reader. :)
37 mins
  -> Thanks, Bill!

agree  Catherine Gilsenan
1 day 13 hrs
  -> Thanks, Catherine :)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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.

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.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search