May 16, 2017 11:38
7 yrs ago
12 viewers *
Spanish term
vientre de alquiler
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Education / Pedagogy
Family diversity
SPAIN. From an article on family diversity and education. The problem is that I need something which isn't too offensive or irreverent (like rent-a-womb) and doesn't repeat "surrogate/surrogacy", which appears in "regulación de la subrogación".
"Actualmente, el colectivo de gais, entre otros grupos, viene reivindicando la regulación de la subrogación -vientre de alquiler- en nuestro país."
"Actualmente, el colectivo de gais, entre otros grupos, viene reivindicando la regulación de la subrogación -vientre de alquiler- en nuestro país."
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +6 | [leave it out] | Charles Davis |
4 | womb for hire | Simon Bruni |
4 | gestational carrier/rent-a-uterus | Marie Wilson |
3 | host uterus | 12316323 (X) |
Proposed translations
+6
1 hr
Selected
[leave it out]
I think it is best to omit this expression because it has no equivalent in English. "Vientre de alquiler" is an absolutely standard expression in Spanish for surrogacy. It is almost inevitably mentioned when the subject comes up. Most Spaniards, I suggest, wouldn't have a clue what you were talking about if you called it "subrogación". English speakers, on the other hand, know the phenomenon as surrogacy, or surrogate mothers, and don't call it anything else, in my experience. So no expression of the "womb for hire" kind can be regarded as a translation equivalent of "vientre de alquiler", because it's impossible to use any such expression in English without it sounding jocular and/or pejorative, which is not the case with the Spanish expression.
So if you put surrogacy, nothing else is needed in English, whereas if you put "subrogación", something else (namely the everyday term "vientre de alquiler") is needed in Spanish. And anything else you put in English will inject an inappropriate note that is not present in the Spanish. Unless you put a formal synonym like "commissioned pregnancy", and what's the point of doing that?
Of course, if you follow my advice you may want to add a note to the client explaining why.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-16 13:47:02 GMT)
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Sorry to labour the point, but the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this is insoluble.
The author has added "vientre de alquiler" because although he may be writing for specialists who would understand "subrogación", he/she and they are aware that most people wouldn't. So he's effectively saying:
"subrogación, or vientre de alquiler, as people usually call it"
But in English it's commonly known as surrogacy, so in
"surrogacy, or X, as people usually call it"
there is no possible value for X: there is no other expression for this that is common, let alone more common than surrogacy. Anything you put, and certainly any of the suggestions here, will be contrary to the author's intentions.
So if you put surrogacy, nothing else is needed in English, whereas if you put "subrogación", something else (namely the everyday term "vientre de alquiler") is needed in Spanish. And anything else you put in English will inject an inappropriate note that is not present in the Spanish. Unless you put a formal synonym like "commissioned pregnancy", and what's the point of doing that?
Of course, if you follow my advice you may want to add a note to the client explaining why.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-16 13:47:02 GMT)
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Sorry to labour the point, but the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this is insoluble.
The author has added "vientre de alquiler" because although he may be writing for specialists who would understand "subrogación", he/she and they are aware that most people wouldn't. So he's effectively saying:
"subrogación, or vientre de alquiler, as people usually call it"
But in English it's commonly known as surrogacy, so in
"surrogacy, or X, as people usually call it"
there is no possible value for X: there is no other expression for this that is common, let alone more common than surrogacy. Anything you put, and certainly any of the suggestions here, will be contrary to the author's intentions.
Note from asker:
I might end up doing this. I've just been offered a proofing job and if I take it, I'll be "parking" this translation until I proof the other thing... |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Simon Bruni
33 mins
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Thanks, Simon!
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neutral |
12316323 (X)
: I read this as a clarification of which type it is. -I'm sorry; you're absolutely right, Charles. Still, while surrogacy is THE term, I don't think a brief explanation/reminder would be unappreciated/unused by most.
1 hr
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I don't think that can be the point, Kathryn. "Vientre de alquiler" doesn't clarify which kind it is because it applies to both kinds. Both involve a "womb for hire" (unless it's lent by a friend); the difference is purely the fertilisation technique.
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agree |
peter jackson
6 hrs
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Thanks, Peter :)
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agree |
Robert Carter
: Seems to me as though the Spanish is, as you say, giving this as an explanation for the sense of "subrogación", which has another specific legal meaning regarding rights, which isn't the case in English (subrogation).
6 hrs
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Aha! There speaks the legal translator :) Quite true. Thanks, Robert!
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agree |
Marcelo González
7 hrs
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Thanks, Marcelo!
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agree |
Marie Wilson
: Very convincing.
17 hrs
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Thanks very much, Marie :)
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agree |
Martin Harvey
4 days
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Thank you, Martin!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Client/author agreed with me that "when in doubt, leave it out"... Thanks again to everyone for chipping in."
5 mins
womb for hire
18,300 hits for "womb for hire", must also be "a thing" :)
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Note added at 9 mins (2017-05-16 11:47:12 GMT)
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Surely it's no less dodgy than the Spanish?
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Note added at 9 mins (2017-05-16 11:47:12 GMT)
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Surely it's no less dodgy than the Spanish?
Note from asker:
I actually just tried to post a similar comment in the discussion section, but it hasn't uploaded. I've pencilled this in, but I would like something less tongue in cheek. Cheers Simon :) |
15 mins
gestational carrier/rent-a-uterus
More options.
If you base it on google hits "rent-a-uterus" is the most popular term.
Gestational carrier is another way of saying it.
If you base it on google hits "rent-a-uterus" is the most popular term.
Gestational carrier is another way of saying it.
3 hrs
host uterus
Another option, and one that's less crass, in my opinion, with no references to money/commerce (renting, hire).
(I've given it further thought and while wombs for rent and womb renting is common in journalism, it's perhaps not the most appropriate tone to strike here.)
I also like Marie's gestational carrier, but I think host uterus is clearer.
(I've given it further thought and while wombs for rent and womb renting is common in journalism, it's perhaps not the most appropriate tone to strike here.)
I also like Marie's gestational carrier, but I think host uterus is clearer.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Charles Davis
: Change of comment; just read yours :) The thing is that I don't think this clarifies it at all; British readers, at least, will understand "surrogacy" more easily than "host uterus".
15 mins
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Your point is completely valid and true. I just think that in addition to providing the common, everyday name for it, it also serves as a simple explanation/reminder of the who/what. Anyway, just trying to avoid the rent-a-cop/rent-a-wreck association.
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Discussion