Sep 28, 2007 09:39
17 yrs ago
Spanish term
MA Spanish and Italian Translation.
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Italian to English
pluma galana
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
This is from a Spanish novel set in Barcelona in the 1970s. Salvador Vilella has just given a conference and he and his friends (all academics, writers, journalists) are celebrating afterwards with drinks etc. The narrator is attending but is not part of this set and finds them pretentious and is being ironic.
"-Salvador, saludos y enhorabuena -exclamó pluma galana desde una mesa próxima. Y Vilella, desde sus cerros de logomaquia, entonaba las gracias. "
In the RAE dictionary I found "pluma" could mean author and I thought "galan/a" meant elegant but this doesn't sound right. Someone suggested "pluma galana" might be a nickname (because there is no article) but I'm not sure about that either, this chracter is not mentioned again.
Thanks a lot in advance!
"-Salvador, saludos y enhorabuena -exclamó pluma galana desde una mesa próxima. Y Vilella, desde sus cerros de logomaquia, entonaba las gracias. "
In the RAE dictionary I found "pluma" could mean author and I thought "galan/a" meant elegant but this doesn't sound right. Someone suggested "pluma galana" might be a nickname (because there is no article) but I'm not sure about that either, this chracter is not mentioned again.
Thanks a lot in advance!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | flourishy pen |
neilmac
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| 3 +5 | Smartypants |
Carol Gullidge
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| 3 | what about "dandy" |
Alison Rodriguez
|
Proposed translations
49 mins
Selected
flourishy pen
Or flowery. The term "pluma" is used to describe outre effeminate gays (marica con mucha pluma), so there may be a hint of homophobic insult in there somewhere. Hard to express in English without offending someone.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
+5
51 mins
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
315
Smartypants
since the character isn't mentioned again, you can invent an ironic nickname that suits just this occasion only.
Smartypants ignores the "pluma" aspect to a certain extent, although it's slightly implied in that smartypants means someone who thinks he is rather clever/witty. There's also the allusion to dress, which in this case would be very ironic.
Other possibilities: Clever Clogs/Bigwit
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Note added at 53 mins (2007-09-28 10:33:26 GMT)
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Another possibliity:
PURPLE PATCH
for writing that is completely OTT, but no doubt considered very stylish by the writer.
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Note added at 55 mins (2007-09-28 10:34:44 GMT)
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Sorry: MR PURPLE PATCH
Smartypants ignores the "pluma" aspect to a certain extent, although it's slightly implied in that smartypants means someone who thinks he is rather clever/witty. There's also the allusion to dress, which in this case would be very ironic.
Other possibilities: Clever Clogs/Bigwit
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 53 mins (2007-09-28 10:33:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Another possibliity:
PURPLE PATCH
for writing that is completely OTT, but no doubt considered very stylish by the writer.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 55 mins (2007-09-28 10:34:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry: MR PURPLE PATCH
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Egmont
10 mins
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thanks, AVRVM!
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| agree |
Bubo Coroman (X)
: I would put, "exclaimed Pluma Galana (Purple Prose) ..." // with or without the gloss, "Purple Prose" is lovely!
18 mins
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Thanks, Deborah! I was trying to avoid having to gloss, as it rather gets in the way of the narrative - especially as this is the only mention, and it's fiction.//Sorry, I didn't notice your excellent suggestion of "purple prose", and credited Alvaro with
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| agree |
moken
: How about "purple prose"? (My agree is to the "purple" notion. I wouldn't go for smartypants). :O) :O)
19 mins
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thanks, Alvaro - great idea!
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| agree |
neilmac
: I like "Purple Prose" too
47 mins
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thanks, neilmac (also on behalf of Alvaro!)
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| agree |
Salloz
: I vote for Purple Prose! Post it, Deborah!
1 hr
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thanks, Salloz! (a bit too close to Purple Patch to make a separate answer on its own though...?
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2 hrs
Alison Rodriguez
Australia
Australia
Native in English
Works in field
Australia
Spot on. On time. Every time.
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
what about "dandy"
Much narrower, I admit, than the 'purple prose' (Gee, Deborah, how did you come through with that? You are officially on a roll....it's the kind of thing one stays up all night to stumble upon!)
and you'd have to consider how dated it may or may not feel.... just a thought.
and you'd have to consider how dated it may or may not feel.... just a thought.
Discussion
www.rae.es
galano, na.
4. adj. Dicho de una producción del ingenio: Elegante y gallarda. ***Discurso, estilo galano*** Comparación galana
www.rae.es
galano, na.
4. adj. Dicho de una producción del ingenio: Elegante y gallarda. ***Discurso, estilo galano*** Comparación galana