Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
vicisitudes
English translation:
ever-changing (circumstances/environment) (in context)
Added to glossary by
Taña Dalglish
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2010-02-10 01:54:11 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Feb 6, 2010 14:15
15 yrs ago
23 viewers *
Spanish term
Spain
A cut above the rest in translation...
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, US, UK) 
, Spanish (Variants: Latin American, Standard-Spain)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
vicisitudes
Spanish to English
Law/Patents
Law (general)
EU Food Safety Regulations
To me, the word "vicissitude" is somewhat literary in register in English. None of the synonyms, such as "ups and downs", "fluctuations", "variations", etc., are working for me either...
Given the context, I'm considering rendering the word out of the translation altogether, and would like your thoughts.
Here is the context:
"La finalidad última de estos registros en el ámbito de la seguridad alimentaria, de cualquier carácter territorial, es la protección de la salud a través de la información actualizada de las vicisitudes de las empresas que intervienen en el mercado de manera que se garantice una adecuada programación de los controles oficiales y, a su vez, constituya un elemento esencial para los servicios de inspección, asegurando la posibilidad de actuar con rapidez y eficacia en aquellos casos en que existe un peligro para la salud publica, sin que se obstaculice la libre circulación de mercancías."
And here is my attempt:
"With regards to food safety, the ultimate goal of these territorial registries is to safeguard public health through up-to-date information regarding the sanitary conditions of companies operating in the market,..."
Many thanks in advance (UK English)
Given the context, I'm considering rendering the word out of the translation altogether, and would like your thoughts.
Here is the context:
"La finalidad última de estos registros en el ámbito de la seguridad alimentaria, de cualquier carácter territorial, es la protección de la salud a través de la información actualizada de las vicisitudes de las empresas que intervienen en el mercado de manera que se garantice una adecuada programación de los controles oficiales y, a su vez, constituya un elemento esencial para los servicios de inspección, asegurando la posibilidad de actuar con rapidez y eficacia en aquellos casos en que existe un peligro para la salud publica, sin que se obstaculice la libre circulación de mercancías."
And here is my attempt:
"With regards to food safety, the ultimate goal of these territorial registries is to safeguard public health through up-to-date information regarding the sanitary conditions of companies operating in the market,..."
Many thanks in advance (UK English)
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Feb 10, 2010 02:45: Taña Dalglish changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/0">'s</a> old entry - "vicisitudes"" to ""ever-changing (circumstances/environment)""
Proposed translations
+2
28 mins
Taña Dalglish
Jamaica
Jamaica
Native in English
Specializes in field
Jamaica
Translating the Ideas Behind the Words
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
735
Selected
ever-changing (circumstances/environment)
This is what I understand it to mean, i.e. circumstances or similar synonym
[PDF] CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACION.p65Formato de archivo: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Vista rápida
uncertain and ever changing events, has remarkable consequences in the ..... se hace realidad concreta con sus vicisitudes sociales habituales. ...
www2.scielo.org.ve/pdf/rce/v17n30/art09.pdf -
[PDF] CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACION.p65Formato de archivo: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Vista rápida
uncertain and ever changing events, has remarkable consequences in the ..... se hace realidad concreta con sus vicisitudes sociales habituales. ...
www2.scielo.org.ve/pdf/rce/v17n30/art09.pdf -
Note from asker:
| Thanks Taña! Abrazos :)) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ruth Ramsey
: Yes, I think that it's good to use the word "changes/changing" here.
21 hrs
|
|
Thanks Ruth. With all that was said subseqent to posting, and to avoid the "negative" connotations, I took it to mean "a changing environment"; additionally, I read it as more than a one-off situation. Thanks again, Ruth - appreciate it. Buen domingo.
|
|
| agree |
eski
: Me three! eski
3 days 5 hrs
|
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Thank you, Dodge. Appreciate it. Un abrazo.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
15 mins
María Inés Talamás
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
United States
Highly skilled translator/interpreter
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
particulars
As an alternative to conditions, which sounds fine in context.
Note from asker:
| Thanks you! :) |
19 mins
Sebastian Wasserzug
Argentina
Argentina
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Argentina
Accurate, fluent & eloquent
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Latin American)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
3
circumstances
Another option:
“…through up-to-date information regarding the circumstances of the companies operating in the market…”
“…through up-to-date information regarding the circumstances of the companies operating in the market…”
Note from asker:
| Thanks you! :) |
+1
39 mins
vicissitudes/ ups and downs
Diccionario Espasa concise inglés-español © 2000 Espasa Calpe:
vicisitud f (usu pl)
1 (contrariedades) vicissitude, difficulty
2 (avatares, altibajos) ups and downs
vicisitud f (usu pl)
1 (contrariedades) vicissitude, difficulty
2 (avatares, altibajos) ups and downs
Note from asker:
| Thanks elgriego, I did refer to all my dictionaries/glossaries for the definition of the word before posting. The reason I posted this was to find a definition other than "vicissitudes/ups and downs", which do not work in English in this context, as I state in my original post. Thanks for your time anyway. |
1 hr
Christina Courtright
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
ATA-certified Spa > Eng legal translator
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
112
variability / volatility
another option
Note from asker:
| Thanks you! :) |
+1
7 hrs
Toni Castano
Spain
Spain
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
Spain
PER ASPERA AD ASTRA
Native in: Spanish
Works in: German to Spanish, Spanish to German, English to Spanish, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
127
incidents
I agree with you that “vicisitudes” is a strange word used in this context. In Spanish it is mostly used in a literary context, certainly not the case here. I would translate it as “incidents” (incidencias), a term that conveys a slightly negative connotation comprising unusual occurrences or events. This might be the case here: The authorities are setting up registries for reporting purposes as a part of an incident management policy to monitor and keep a record of the incidents (negative occurrences) afecting those food companies.
I really don´t think it refers only to “sanitary conditions”, I understand the term in a broader sense.
HTH y saludos,
Toni
I really don´t think it refers only to “sanitary conditions”, I understand the term in a broader sense.
HTH y saludos,
Toni
Note from asker:
| Hmmm... thanks for your thoughts Toni, much appreciated! I'm liking your suggestion. My biggest problem has been trying <u>not</u> to convey too many negative connotations towards these companies, and this solution may just work. Having the full context, I can determine they are just talking about “sanitary conditions” essentially, but in this particular case they’re referring to one-off “diversions” from the normally impeccable “sanitary conditions”, or "incidents", such as managing a salmonella outbreak from a bad batch of eggs, for example; but they also talks about how little this occurs in Spain, so I think they may have chosen "vicisitudes" for this very reason, to emphasise irregular and unusual “incidents”, i.e., it doesn’t happen often. The broader picture is that these “registries” are being set up to incorporate EU legislation on food policy and standards into Spanish law. There will be 17 regional registries, and 1 national one. Thanks for your help :) It was indeed helpful! |
44 mins
margaret caulfield
Native in Spanish
&
English
Accurate, natural and very hard-working
Native in: English , Spanish
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
155
difficulties
I'd keep it this simple. It makes sense in this text.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2010-02-06 23:23:16 GMT)
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OR:
changes
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Note added at 9 hrs (2010-02-06 23:23:16 GMT)
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OR:
changes
Note from asker:
| Thanks Margaret, this is a very good option, and one that I seriously considered. However, see my note to Toni RE: "trying not to convey too many negative connotations towards these companies"; somehow, "difficulties" doesn't imbue that sense of one-offness that I can grasp from the full context (which I obviously couldn't post, as it's too big!). Thanks a lot for your time and help :) |
+1
11 mins
the (prevailing) inconsistent standards
maybe a nuance is needed, i.e. the notion of the prevailing 'uneven' standards due to inadequate regulation etc. Mind you the 'ups & downs' could be interpreted here as either across the industry or one company providing an 'irregular' quality over time. Perhaps 'inconsistency' could be worked in somehow...
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Note added at 21 hrs (2010-02-07 11:17:41 GMT)
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just read your comments James - and appreciate your search for the right nuance. Sounds like you want to talk about 'the odd blimp' in a PC way.Which may bring you back to 'the odd incident' sort of wording. Good luck!
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Note added at 21 hrs (2010-02-07 11:17:41 GMT)
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just read your comments James - and appreciate your search for the right nuance. Sounds like you want to talk about 'the odd blimp' in a PC way.Which may bring you back to 'the odd incident' sort of wording. Good luck!
Note from asker:
| Thanks Ormiston, this was a very helpful suggestion, as I feel you totally got the right 'feel' or 'register' for the text (the same 'feel' I got anyway!). It is indeed talking about 'inconsistencies' in an, otherwise, perfect scenario... Your help is much appreciated - Regards :) |
Discussion
I feel 'changes' is too ambiguous for this context... Cheers.
My biggest problem has been trying not to convey too many negative connotations towards the companies they refer to. Having the full context, I can determine they are talking about “sanitary conditions” essentially (which is why I was considering using it), but in this particular case they’re referring to one-off “deviations” from the normally impeccable “sanitary conditions” - you could say "incidents" (they give an example of managing a salmonella outbreak from a bad batch of eggs); but they also talk about how little this occurs in Spain, so I think they may have chosen "vicisitudes" for this very reason, to emphasise irregular and unusual “incidents” - in other words., it doesn’t happen often.
Well as you can see, I’ve pretty much decided on “incidents” here, as this is “a term that conveys a slightly negative connotation comprising unusual occurrences or events” (to quote Toni), which is exactly my reading of this term.
Many thanks for your help again, and please feel free to comment!
SaludoZ :)