May 21, 2010 10:16
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

sinrazón

Spanish to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting Francisco de Goya
El Goya negro fue sin duda el Goya más lúcido y descarnado en la denuncia de la sinrazón, la brutalidad y el disparate.

Now, I believe that "sinrazón" can mean both injustice and madness, and I'm not sure which in this context, given that both are themes in Goya's work. What's the verdict?
I'd really appreciate your input, so thanks in advance.
Kate

Discussion

Lourdes Sanchez May 22, 2010:
from Don Quijote

"La razón de la sinrazón que a mi razón se hace, de tal manera mi razón enflaquece, que con razón me quejo de la vuestra fermosura"

"the reason of the unreason (irrationality)
with which my reason is afflicted so weakens my reason that with reason I murmur at your beauty"

irrationality my comment

Cinnamon Nolan May 21, 2010:
Disparate? Not being sure about "sinrazón" probably makes the translation of "disparate" equally difficult - what are your thoughts there?
Evans (X) May 21, 2010:
Just a thought you may have already decided on the translation of this, but I wondered whether you might translate "en la denuncia de" as "when railing against" as this might help in your choice of the subsequent wording.
James A. Walsh May 21, 2010:
Tough call! Not that you need me to tell you! :) "...all things wrong" just crossed my mind, which could be a good generic, or safe option... Just a thought. Might be a bit lame though...
Kate Major Patience (asker) May 21, 2010:
Just as I thought! Hmmm, you're both bringing up the issues that stopped me in my tracks: my instinct is "madness" but then this does not sit very well, perhaps, with "denuncia"... Thanks for helping me out, people! I'm still unsure :S

Proposed translations

+5
4 mins
Selected

injustice

My verdict! I was toying with the absurd, which it could mean, but your context points v strongly to injustice (otherwise why denuncia?).

;-)

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Note added at 5 hrs (2010-05-21 15:23:00 GMT)
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Ooh, just read Cinnamon's Merriam-Webster ref below and I rather like the idea of *wrongs* ...
Peer comment(s):

agree Constantinos Faridis (X) : sí...acción injusta
10 mins
Gracias
agree franglish
2 hrs
Thank you
agree Cinnamon Nolan
2 hrs
Thanks Cinn
agree Cecilia Rey
2 hrs
Gracias Cecilia
agree eski : Yep! Saludos: eski
11 hrs
Thanks eski. Have a gd w/e
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
11 mins

madness

It's a difficult choice, but Goya had a great fear of madness and his black paintings in the Quinta del Sordo are often seen as an expression of this. Insanity was a great preoccupation of his. I translated a (rather controversial) book about his black paintings a few years ago, and I think the theme of these is very much more madness than injustice. He of course equated injustice with madness, and they are closely tied in the word "sinrazón"!
Peer comment(s):

agree Jessica Noyes : yes, the madness of war
4 hrs
thanks, Jessica
agree Lourdes Sanchez : madness of the system is creating the injustices
16 hrs
thanks, Lourdes
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43 mins

nonsense

In this context I think sin razon refers more to something unjust and non logical.
Example sentence:

La guerra de Afganistan existe debido a la sinrazon de los politicos mundiales.

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+1
1 hr

iniquity

sinrazón.

1. f. Acción hecha contra justicia y fuera de lo razonable o debido.

I think it definitely refers to injustice. Could be subjective, but I prefer iniquity.
wordreference.com:

1 injustice, unfairness, iniquity
an unjust act
2 evil, immorality, wickedness, iniquity
morally objectionable behavior
3. iniquity, wickedness, darkness, dark
absence of moral or spiritual values; "the powers of darkness"
Peer comment(s):

agree amendozachisum : agree
2 hrs
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1 day 9 hrs

irrationality

the irrationality of the system brings out the madness of injustice

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Reference comments

9 mins
Reference:

sinrazón (Diccionario de María Moliner)

Atropello, dasafuero, injusticia. Acción injusta cometida por alguien abusando de su poder.
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2 hrs
Reference:

Definición RAE

sinrazón.
1. f. Acción hecha contra justicia y fuera de lo razonable o debido.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2010-05-21 13:02:16 GMT)
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sinrazon - Definition from Merriam-Webster's Spanish-English ...Inflected Form(s): plural sinrazones. Language: Spanish. : wrong, injustice. Learn more ... at Britannica.com ...
www.aolsvc.merriam-webster.aol.com/spanish/sinrazon
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