Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Jan 8, 2007 21:01
17 yrs ago
English term
puny
English to Spanish
Social Sciences
Anthropology
En la frase "a physically puny lot" refiriéndose a los humanos primitivos. He encontrado: débil, enclenque, raquítico, ruiz. Si alguien puede aclararme el sentido en este contexto. Gracias.
Proposed translations
(Spanish)
| 4 +2 | un conjunto/grupo de seres débiles y canijos |
patricia scott
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| 4 +3 | menudos (o pequeños) y poco musculosos |
Steven Capsuto
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| 4 | (un sujeto físicamente) débil/enclenque |
Miguel Fuentes
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Proposed translations
+2
11 mins
Selected
un conjunto/grupo de seres débiles y canijos
otra opción por incluir "lot"
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Note added at 41 mins (2007-01-08 21:42:23 GMT)
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se me ocurrió "rebaño" - I agree with David, it is a collective noun - and am I mistaken in thinking it is generally slightly, just slilghtly pejorative? un poco como "bunch" - ya sé, bunch of flowers....
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-01-08 22:40:42 GMT)
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Alan, I'm just guessing, but I bet neither of you are small and spinky?
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Note added at 3 days11 hrs (2007-01-12 08:16:22 GMT) Post-grading
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Muchas gracias!
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Note added at 41 mins (2007-01-08 21:42:23 GMT)
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se me ocurrió "rebaño" - I agree with David, it is a collective noun - and am I mistaken in thinking it is generally slightly, just slilghtly pejorative? un poco como "bunch" - ya sé, bunch of flowers....
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-01-08 22:40:42 GMT)
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Alan, I'm just guessing, but I bet neither of you are small and spinky?
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Note added at 3 days11 hrs (2007-01-12 08:16:22 GMT) Post-grading
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Muchas gracias!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alan R King
: Thanks for the convincing clarification, Patricia. I've even changed my vote! :-) (BTW, my wife from El Salvador didn't know "canijo" means that either) Cheers!
1 hr
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I know puny is pejorative- I was talking of "lot" Canijo:raquítico y enfermizo (María Moliner) - it is often translated as puny
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| agree |
Miguel Fuentes
: Patricia's got it right! Let me suggest "Un magro rebaño", which is elegant wording and kin to the field.
1 hr
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Genial!! El resultado de la inteligencia colectiva!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Muchas gracias por la ayuda. Muy buena solución."
+3
5 mins
Steven Capsuto
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
3 ATA certifications. Human translation.
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Catalan to English, Portuguese to English, and 2 more.
menudos (o pequeños) y poco musculosos
That's what the original conveys. Maybe there's a more concise way to say it in Spanish.
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Note added at 6 mins (2007-01-08 21:08:09 GMT)
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In other words, it's not just about weakness. You wouldn't normally refer to a six-foot-tall person as puny, no matter how lanky he might be. It calls to mind someone of average to short stature with is skinny and weak.
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Note added at 8 mins (2007-01-08 21:09:25 GMT)
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*WHO* is, not "with is". I need a nap. :-)
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Note added at 6 mins (2007-01-08 21:08:09 GMT)
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In other words, it's not just about weakness. You wouldn't normally refer to a six-foot-tall person as puny, no matter how lanky he might be. It calls to mind someone of average to short stature with is skinny and weak.
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Note added at 8 mins (2007-01-08 21:09:25 GMT)
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*WHO* is, not "with is". I need a nap. :-)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alan R King
: I totally agree with your comments, Steven. "Puny" definitely conveys smallness of stature together with "skinny and weak".
1 hr
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| agree |
Patricia Baldwin
: menudos
1 hr
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| agree |
Silvia Brandon-Pérez
14 hrs
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4 mins
Miguel Fuentes
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
Spanish
Mexico
Native in: Spanish 
, English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish, and 3 more.
(un sujeto físicamente) débil/enclenque
De acuerdo contigo.
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Note added at 1 hora (2007-01-08 23:00:58 GMT)
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BELLA-SERA:
AFTER SEEING PATRICIA'S ANSWER, I SUGGEST "UN MAGRO REBAÑO" WILL DO THE TRICK. PLEASE GIVE THE K-POINTS TO PATRICIA.
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Note added at 1 hora (2007-01-08 23:00:58 GMT)
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BELLA-SERA:
AFTER SEEING PATRICIA'S ANSWER, I SUGGEST "UN MAGRO REBAÑO" WILL DO THE TRICK. PLEASE GIVE THE K-POINTS TO PATRICIA.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Alan R King
: Miguel, regarding your comment above: I agree with David that in this context, "lot" refers to a group of people collectively, like "bunch" would (but "bunch" is more colloquial); it doesn't mean "suerte"
1 hr
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Anthropology texts do use flourished wording, so I took the figurative sense of "Lot" as an individual. Made sense when modified by a pejorative adjective, but the group's points are sound, so I won't stubborn against a "good flow".
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Discussion