This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
aúna en su enunciado continente y contenido
chulería tecnocrática

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

un regio retrasado mental

English translation:

a regal / royal dolt

Added to glossary by David Ronder
May 21, 2010 11:04
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

un regio retrasado mental

Spanish to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting Francisco de Goya
Y con ello la inteligencia progresista, que Goya y otros muchos representaban, pasó a ser traición afrancesada; al tiempo que la herrumbre medieval de una nobleza y una iglesia decadentes y tiránicas pasaban a ser “patria” bajo la gloriosa figura de un regio retrasado mental… Goya fue testigo lúcido y atormentado de uno de los peores momentos de nuestra historia, con aquella Guerra de la Independencia que, siendo expresión de nobles sentimientos de dignidad colectiva, sustanció nuestro orgullo y nuestra soberanía nacional en lo más oscuro de un medievo en decadencia.

My query is about how I should word this in order not to sound un-PC or offend anyone. Since there is a slightly bitter or sarcastic tone to the merits of this king, I want to pick something which balances the sentence, which doesn't sound too harsh in English. I don't think that "mentally handicapped" fits the tone or the historical classifications of mental illness, and I think "deficient" is not acceptable. I would really appreciate your input.
Thanks in advance. UK Eng preferred. Thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 a regal / royal dolt
3 +2 feeble-minded or weak-minded king
4 an inept monarch / monarchy
3 a monarch afflicted with slow wits
3 mentally retarded royal
Change log

Jun 5, 2010 19:46: David Ronder Created KOG entry

Proposed translations

+4
12 mins
Selected

a regal / royal dolt

An established phrase in historical discourse (not to be confused with Royal Doulton!):

TELEVISION / RADIO - TELEVISION / RADIO - Producer, Host, Prince ...In truth, Edward does seem to spend a depressingly large percentage of his time trying to prove that he is not a chinless royal dolt playing at having a job ...
www.nytimes.com/.../television-radio-producer-host-prince-a...

FinermanWorks » Blog Archive » December 7th: Valet Forge ...7 Dec 2008 ... Generals usually invested years of fawning sycophancy over some royal dolt or his favorite mistress. But America was a land of opportunities ...
finermanworks.com/your_rda_of.../december-7th-valet-forge/ - Cached







--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2010-05-21 11:18:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here's that second link:

http://finermanworks.com/your_rda_of_irony/2008/12/07/decemb...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2010-05-21 11:20:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

By the way, historians often take a robustly un-PC approach in describing the deficiencies of historical personages - the Hapsburgs as "slack-jawed dumplings" for instance (Andrew Marr).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2010-05-21 11:22:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Habsburg, of course: I always get that one wrong.
Note from asker:
Yep! Andrew Marr is a great case in point! Almost seems more acceptable to use something old-fashioned, which is really why I asked. It would not be OK to rubbish a modern monarch for mental deficiencies. I mean, I despise them all, but it's more of a general hatred ;D ;D
Peer comment(s):
agree liz askew : This suits the historical period. In fact Goya became mentally ill himself. /I wouldn't want a mentally-ill person/dolt in charge unless they always took the medication!!:)
37 mins
Thanks, Liz. Yes, mental illness does seem to thrive in royal and artistic circles.
agree Cinnamon Nolan
1 hr
Gracias, Canela :-)
agree neilmac : I love the sound of "dolt" too...
4 hrs
Thanks, Neil. Yes, it's somehow almost onomatopoeic, isn't it?
agree Lourdes Sanchez : royal dolt sounds great
15 hrs
Thanks, Lourdes
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
14 mins

feeble-minded or weak-minded king

In your historical context, this might work.
Note from asker:
Fab, Gilla. Thanks.
Peer comment(s):
agree amendozachisum : agree
1 hr
thanks, amendozachisum
agree neilmac : Classic
4 hrs
thanks, neilmac
Something went wrong...
1 hr

a monarch afflicted with slow wits

I added "afflicted" because it includes an element of compassion for the King's mental condition, given that it was surely not his fault
Peer comment(s):
neutral David Ronder : I blame the parents // Sorry, Deborah, I was being flippant and didn't mean to hurt or offend - "I blame the parents" is just a silly thing people say and I was mocking that if anything.// And think of poor George III's attempted "cures"!
28 mins
then I have to blame myself for my son's schizophrenia, dyslexia and stammer, unfortunately // thanks David! - it must have been terrible for mentally "different" people in those days when there were no Police to shield them from rotten eggs and worse.
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

an inept monarch / monarchy

Another option. If you want to keep the "retrasado" tone, you could say "backward and inept monarch / monarchy".
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

mentally retarded royal

just a guess..
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search