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IQ: Amigdalectomizado
La Chilenidad con sus pelos y sus lanas
Nov 11, 2010 10:07
13 yrs ago
Spanish term

... ir desmontando el mecanismo "demoledor" de nuestra alma nacional

Spanish to English Social Sciences History History of Latin America - Chile
Dear colleagues,

I find myself translating passages from the Chilean website of Museum de Arte Virual as a part of my assignment. The text talks about the historical side of Santiago de Chile. During the translation process, I have found an expression that I comprehend but struggle finding an appropriate idiomatic counterpart in English. It is "ir desmontando" in the context of the following paragraph.

"Hoy día, Santiago es una ciudad que sufre los males del mal llamado "progreso", donde ver el maravilloso escenario de las montañas que la rodean, se ha convertido en un placer ocasional. Por esto, la serie de fotografías patrimoniales presentadas aquí, nos ponen en contacto con nuestro pasado y pueden ayudarnos a ir desmontando el mecanismo "demoledor" de nuestra alma nacional. "

Would you have any suggestions?

Thank you very much for your continuous support.

With my best wishes,

Myska
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 to gradually dismantle the machinery/process that is eating away at our nation's soul
4 to take apart apart a structure so devastating to our national soul
3 can help us steadily dismantle the "demolition machine" operating on our national soul

Discussion

myska (asker) Nov 21, 2010:
Thank so much for your lovely reply This is a real encouragement to me.
philgoddard Nov 13, 2010:
What a great answer! I withdraw my suspicious question, and you will clearly go far in the translation business :-)
myska (asker) Nov 13, 2010:
This means, that whenever I raise a question on this forum for the purpose of my homework/assignment, I always quote the asnwerers and provide link to the forum. Therefore, if I were to use the exact translation from a colleague posted on this site, it would be acknowledged as such. This is not cheating.
myska (asker) Nov 13, 2010:
Dear colleagues. I am glad that you brought this to my attention since I wasn't aware of that there was an option to highlight this was a question taken from a homework/assignment. I will tick this option in the future should the need to consult the professionals on this forum arise. However,this was not intended as cheating and wouldn't be viewed as such by my tutors. A translator has the option to consult his/her colleagues. Our course is designed to prepare us for the real-life profession and asking colleagues for their opinion when in need is an inherent part of the translators' life - therefore the existence of this forum. Moreover, I view the opinions presented on this forum as mere suggestions or pointers not a panacea. The final decision should always lie in the hands of the asker. I have asked several questions on this forum but have to say that, so far, I have never used the translations suggested in my work and I have always provided a link to my questions on this forum for other students and my tutors to see. Therefore, I use this forum occasionally as a point of reference. At the end, it comes down to the individual's professional integrity and I this is what I honour.
Simon Bruni Nov 11, 2010:
Good point Really you should post it with the 'This question was taken from a translation test (or from homework)' option ticked. Plus your teacher might see it as cheating!
philgoddard Nov 11, 2010:
Is this a student assignment? If so, should you be asking us for help?

Proposed translations

+3
14 mins
Selected

to gradually dismantle the machinery/process that is eating away at our nation's soul

I think 'eating away at' collocates well with 'soul'

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Note added at 16 mins (2010-11-11 10:24:11 GMT)
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mecanismo for process (Oxford Spanish):
2 (de un proceso, sistema) mechanism; el mecanismo administrativo the administrative mechanism; se espera encontrar soluciones aceptables a través de los mecanismos de negociación it is hoped that acceptable solutions will be found through the negotiating process; a través de otros mecanismos diferentes al de las armas by means other than the use of arms

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Note added at 17 mins (2010-11-11 10:24:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or 'to go about dismantling...'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 33 mins (2010-11-11 10:41:24 GMT)
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crushing maybe, crashing sounds odd :)
Note from asker:
Thank you, Simon. I was initially thinking about "crashing our national spirit". What do you think?
Oops:o) Thank you. I was thinking of the next bit of my translation already and this is the result, lack of attention to the spelling here. I wrote 'crushing' in my Word document though:o)
Peer comment(s):
agree Denise DeVries
3 hrs
Thanks, Denise :)
agree Steven Huddleston
14 hrs
Thanks, Steven :)
agree Catherine Gilsenan
1 day 40 mins
Thanks, Catherine :)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Simon. Once again, you have lend me a helping hand with your very prompt and thoughtful reply. Although it is often said that there is no such thing as a perfect translation, I think that your insight on the matter is closely approaching this "unattainable" ideal. Thank you!"
8 mins

to take apart apart a structure so devastating to our national soul

or
"take apart the apparatus that is destroying our national soul"

a couple of options
Note from asker:
Thank you, Gilla. A very nice translation indeed.
Something went wrong...
11 mins

can help us steadily dismantle the "demolition machine" operating on our national soul

I am not sure from the wording whether the national soul is being demolished or whether it is in fact the demolition machine, but the first seems to make more sense
Note from asker:
Hi Deborah. Thank you very much for your once again prompt reply :o) I read the original as referring to the national soul/spirit being demolished.
Something went wrong...
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