Nov 8, 2009 08:36
14 yrs ago
Spanish term
dotes sexuales
Spanish to English
Law/Patents
Law: Contract(s)
Marriage Law
This is an excerpt from a supplement to a Mexican marriage certificate, a long essay on the moral basis for marriage and the obligations of each contracting party. I am at a loss for an appropriate way to phrase this term in English.
Here is the context: "El hombre, cuyas dotes suxuales, son principalmente el valor y la fuerza, debe dar y dará a la mujer protección...."
Here is the context: "El hombre, cuyas dotes suxuales, son principalmente el valor y la fuerza, debe dar y dará a la mujer protección...."
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
5 hrs
Jennifer Levey
Chile
Chile
Native in English
Chile
Human-scale Globalization
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
175
Selected
who brings to the partnership
It would be helpful to see what the text says about the woman's contribution, so as to establish a proper linguistic balance between the two phrases. It's a clearly a rather old text, so any attempt to make it PC with terms such as 'gender' is quite pout of place.
In any case, to avoid raising a laugh amongst English-speaking readers, the whole thing would best be rephrased. For example:
El hombre, cuyas dotes suxuales, son principalmente el valor y la fuerza,...
-->
The man, who brings to the partnership valor and strength, shall (protect the woman...)
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Note added at 7 hrs (2009-11-08 16:16:03 GMT)
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Re Asker's note below: Wow! Things ain't what they used to be! :)
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Note added at 8 hrs (2009-11-08 17:13:23 GMT)
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@Carolyn: Just out of curiosity, when was this marriage certificate issued? Sometime around the Mexican Revolution?
In any case, to avoid raising a laugh amongst English-speaking readers, the whole thing would best be rephrased. For example:
El hombre, cuyas dotes suxuales, son principalmente el valor y la fuerza,...
-->
The man, who brings to the partnership valor and strength, shall (protect the woman...)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2009-11-08 16:16:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Re Asker's note below: Wow! Things ain't what they used to be! :)
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Note added at 8 hrs (2009-11-08 17:13:23 GMT)
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@Carolyn: Just out of curiosity, when was this marriage certificate issued? Sometime around the Mexican Revolution?
Note from asker:
| a continuación- "...la mujer, cuyas principales dotes son, la abnegación, la belleza, la compasión, la perspicacia y ternura, debe dar y dará al marido obediencia, agrado, ..." |
| Yeah. Very interesting text indeed. Even more than the required birth cert. descriptions of old like "légitimo, mestizo, de religión católica" !!! |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I think that this means of rephrasing the section in question is very fluid, keeping with the prose style of the whole text, more so than any of the more literal translation options, though the suggestion of "attributes" was a close second. Thank you.
P.S. As for the date of the certificate, 1994! Though this text is an addendum to the certificate, and is clearly labeled as a decree concerning marriage issued in 1859 and modified in 1936. "
29 mins
gender gifts
An idea.
:-)
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Note added at 33 mins (2009-11-08 09:09:59 GMT)
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You can also see if any of these synonyms for gifts works better:
talent, aptitude, ability, accomplishment, acquirement, aptness, attainment, attribute, bent, capability, capacity, endowment, faculty, flair, forte, genius, head*, instinct, knack, leaning, nose*, numen, power, propensity, set, specialty, turn
And "gender" can also be "male", or the like.
:-)
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Note added at 37 mins (2009-11-08 09:14:01 GMT)
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Or... "The man, whose gender was gifted mainly with valor and strength, must ...
:-)
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Note added at 33 mins (2009-11-08 09:09:59 GMT)
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You can also see if any of these synonyms for gifts works better:
talent, aptitude, ability, accomplishment, acquirement, aptness, attainment, attribute, bent, capability, capacity, endowment, faculty, flair, forte, genius, head*, instinct, knack, leaning, nose*, numen, power, propensity, set, specialty, turn
And "gender" can also be "male", or the like.
:-)
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Note added at 37 mins (2009-11-08 09:14:01 GMT)
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Or... "The man, whose gender was gifted mainly with valor and strength, must ...
+4
1 hr
male attributes
I checked this on a hunch - it can also aply to non-physical characteristics! And I think 'male' here sounds more natural.
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-08 09:44:32 GMT)
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Home : Positive Male Attributes - [ Traduire cette page ]4 Nov 2004 ... Positive Male Attributes locked. Enjoy this list of things that are good about men. Relationship. Men teach and learn from others ...
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-08 09:44:32 GMT)
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Home : Positive Male Attributes - [ Traduire cette page ]4 Nov 2004 ... Positive Male Attributes locked. Enjoy this list of things that are good about men. Relationship. Men teach and learn from others ...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Simon Harris
12 mins
|
| agree |
Audra deFalco (X)
: this is the most plausible and least offensive (hehe)
33 mins
|
| agree |
coolbrowne
: Good call, given that the word "sex" and derivations thereof have become so attached to sexual relations as to force the word "gender" into popular usage.
10 hrs
|
| agree |
Cecilia Welsh
17 hrs
|
53 mins
gender characteristics
The other answerer is quite right that dote means gift or talent in English
sexual talents, though, is too strong in English
I think gender characteristics is the intended idea
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-08 09:55:55 GMT)
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ormiston's suggestion is better!
sexual talents, though, is too strong in English
I think gender characteristics is the intended idea
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-08 09:55:55 GMT)
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ormiston's suggestion is better!
1 day 5 hrs
Richard Boulter
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
USA English; a decade of experience.
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
52
the attributes of whose gender (in this context)
The Query phrase, in this context of gender attributes defined as being 'strenth and courage' ( I would reverse the order for reasons of English idea progression and for rhythm of expression), requires rephrasing and delicate euphemism; and I'd avoid the word 'sex'.
In U.S. English, at least, sexual gifts/prowess/attributes imply the 'genitalia', I'm afraid.
In U.S. English, at least, sexual gifts/prowess/attributes imply the 'genitalia', I'm afraid.
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