Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
Interprete mi silencio
English translation:
No comment
Added to glossary by
Myriam1943
Sep 28, 2022 14:38
1 yr ago
52 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
Interprete mi silencio
Spanish to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
"Está de acuerdo con estas condiciones?" le preguntó el agente.
"Interprete mi silencio."
"Interprete mi silencio."
Proposed translations
(English)
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:
Non-PRO (1): Yvonne Gallagher
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Proposed translations
+6
1 hr
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
:
214
Selected
No comment
Depending on the context, this is probably what is meant, and would be said in a good many circumstances. It usually implies a negative response…
Example sentence:
Q: What do you think of it so far? A: No comment!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
9 mins
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Thanks, Phil!
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| neutral |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
: This interpretation doesn't seem (because of the "!') to give much of an opening for further or any real negotiations. And "no comment" is mostly an oft-used expression of individuals who have been advised to avoid responding to reporters' probes.
3 hrs
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(1) what exclamation mark? There’s none in the Answer box, (2) there are a good many valid circumstances in which this expression might be used, including the one you mention here. But we all know this isn’t the one in question!
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| agree |
Muriel Vasconcellos
5 hrs
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Thanks, Muriel!
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| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: idiomatic here and just as ambivalent.//absolutely perfect here now we have the context
17 hrs
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Thanks again, Yvonne!
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| agree |
Susan Andrew
: Seems the most likely option given the lack of context. Or "I'm saying nothing" as suggested by Phil in the discussion entries
20 hrs
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Thanks Susan! I also like Phil’s suggestion! (This is what I was trying to say when the system shut me out!)
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| agree |
Taña Dalglish
: Given the additional context provided by the Asker (last entry in discussion box), and given the conditions of 2 years, it would appear that it is a "WHATEVER!" response delivered in the same sarcastic tone as the person explaining the conditions of work.
1 day 1 hr
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Thanks, Taña! Definitely as negative or sarcastic as one might dare under such circumstances!
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| neutral |
O G V
: puede valer pero no dice "sin comentarios" y parece que el tono de desafío de la respuesta queda más suave. //puede percibirse así, pero la frase original queda muy "original" en español, no es idiomática como la expresión "sin comentarios"
1 day 1 hr
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“No comment” is probably as defiant as one might dare to be in such circumstances. Even that was probably extremely courageous of him
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| agree |
neilmac
: NOW that we have the context,this seems appropriate :-)
4 days
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Thanks neilmac:))
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I think the "No comment" phrase suits perfectly in this case. Many thanks to all who responded."
+1
20 mins
AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Sensible solutions
Native in: English (Variant: Wessexois)
Works in: French to English, English, English to French
Related KudoZ points
:
52
Interpret my silence
A very pointed (bordering on rude) answer, clearly a very lightly-coded NO
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Wilsonn Perez Reyes
: Literal translation in this case.
1 hr
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thanks
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| disagree |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
: Highly unlikely that anyone would express themselves, esp. in such a truncated, literal way, during the negotiation of an agreement./Books. plays, etc.? Really doubt it, since the speaker is identified, generically, as an agent. Have a good day.
3 hrs
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Well we simply don't know if this is a negotiation, it could be a line from a play, a book or a film, or just a particularly scratchy peron's response. Anyways, your own answer is not really very different so your disagree is unwarranted
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| neutral |
Yvonne Gallagher
: Doesn't look like something we'd say//Really? "You can interpret my silence as you like" perhaps but rather long-winded
18 hrs
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I might say this kind of thing if I'm feeling particularly fractious...
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| agree |
O G V
: una frase desconcertante en origen y en su traducción
1 day 2 hrs
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thanks
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38 mins
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
52
interpret my silence the way that you will
Could actually mean something like "I've read and heard what you just said, but it may be a good idea for me to think about it some more/weigh the pros and cons before I can make a final decision". Or it could also mean, "go ahead and try to convince me even more", depending to what extent the speaker may be favorably disposed towards accepting the terms and conditions in question (and perhaps to see if they can be modified, in her or his favor). It could also mean "what you are offering me is so bad/ridiculous that there is no reason to dignify it with a response". Depends on the entire context (very little of it was given here), and the actual scenario in which this verbal interaction developed.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Yvonne Gallagher
: Nope, not something we'd say//You're saying American translators don't use idiomatic English?
17 hrs
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Doesn't make any difference to me whether you over in Ireland say it that way or not. I'm an American translator.
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-1
48 mins
José Julián Díaz
Mexico
Mexico
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Mexico
Translation QA Specialist
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Latin American, Mexican, Standard-Spain)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish, and 3 more.
Interpret my silence
Attention: Interprete mi silencio puede tener varias asepciones: afirmativa, negativa, neutra y de otras índoles dependiendo del contexto. It is not, "Silence is golden", nor "Take my silence as a yes". Even in cases when there is not a direct translation, sometimes it is advisable not to look for secondary meanings besides the explicit meaning that a word does have. In absence of further factors to know precisely what the subject is, simply use the direct translation which is "to interpret the silence", an expression that makes up for a perfect example of my initial exposition. Why do you have to entangle the things when it is very simple to portray the meaning of a phrase?
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
: Highly unlikely that anyone would express themselves, esp. in such a truncated, literal way, during the negotiation of an agreement.
3 hrs
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| neutral |
Yvonne Gallagher
: 100% ? And a repeat of previous answer?
17 hrs
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3 hrs
silence gives consent
An option, if the answer is understood to be affirmative.
From the Latin: "Qui tacet consentire videtur" ("He who is silent seems to consent")
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-spanish...
From the Latin: "Qui tacet consentire videtur" ("He who is silent seems to consent")
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-spanish...
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
AllegroTrans
: I don't think a person would answer with such a philosophical and impersonal statement
27 mins
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Ah, but you never know, really.... without further context.
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| neutral |
Yvonne Gallagher
: Not something that fits this context (now we have it)
15 hrs
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Yep. Hindsight has 20-20 vision, or so they say....
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3 hrs
take that as a no/yes, silence is deafening, my face says it all
I agree it depends on context. It could be "take that as a 'no'" or "take that as a 'yes'", depending on whether it's a positive or negative proposition.
Another way of putting it in a negative context would be something along the lines of "my silence is deafening" or "my face says it all" (though this would be more informal)
Another way of putting it in a negative context would be something along the lines of "my silence is deafening" or "my face says it all" (though this would be more informal)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
AllegroTrans
: All of this may be implied but it's not what asker's text says
45 mins
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| neutral |
Yvonne Gallagher
: none of these work in this explicit context
15 hrs
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+1
5 hrs
I'll let you work that out
You either go literal, and sound like a bad translation of the Bible, or try to find something idiomatic.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: might actually be a bit too courageous to say this in the circumstances
12 hrs
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7 hrs
You'll have to guess my answer to that
What about something like this as a cover all? Though you have plenty suggestions!
14 hrs
Cristina Bufi Poecksteiner, M.A.
Austria
Austria
Works in field
Austria
Cristina Bufi Poecksteiner, M.A.
BDÜ Law Marketing Med Techn - since 1990
Native in: Italian
Works in: German to Italian, English to Italian, French to Italian, and 11 more.
my silence is my answer (or: there is a time for speaking)
interprete mi silencio = my silence is my answer, there is a time for speaking
An Historical and Critical Survey of the Literature of Germany (1863)
There is a time for speaking. Ipocras, being once asked to give his opinion about some wicked things, did not reply, and when asked the reason, said, "My silence is my answer." Having thus spoken of the wisdom of silence, he points out ist vices, and speaks of 'Taciturnitas mortalis'...
https://books.google.at/books?id=cusPAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA93&lp...
An Historical and Critical Survey of the Literature of Germany (1863)
There is a time for speaking. Ipocras, being once asked to give his opinion about some wicked things, did not reply, and when asked the reason, said, "My silence is my answer." Having thus spoken of the wisdom of silence, he points out ist vices, and speaks of 'Taciturnitas mortalis'...
https://books.google.at/books?id=cusPAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA93&lp...
1 day 2 hrs
Listen to my silence
Después de leer la estremecedora historia del padre de Myriam, que deja claro porque no se dice ni sí ni no (parece más seguro no responder por las consecuencias), se me ocurre esta forma de adaptar la respuesta como si fuera: Escuche mi silencio.
Se deja algo de lado el matiz de interpretar en el sentido de descubrir, indagar (como un piense y reflexione sobre mis palabras).
Pero se mantiene el tono desafiante y desconcertante de la respuesta, como si dijera:
Fíjese en mi silencio, en la falta de palabras si quiere saber si estoy de acuerdo
(porque no me dejan decir lo que quiero o no me conviene).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2022-09-29 17:26:43 GMT)
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que deja claro por qué (gajes del oficio)
Se deja algo de lado el matiz de interpretar en el sentido de descubrir, indagar (como un piense y reflexione sobre mis palabras).
Pero se mantiene el tono desafiante y desconcertante de la respuesta, como si dijera:
Fíjese en mi silencio, en la falta de palabras si quiere saber si estoy de acuerdo
(porque no me dejan decir lo que quiero o no me conviene).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2022-09-29 17:26:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
que deja claro por qué (gajes del oficio)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Taña Dalglish
: I disagree with yr interpretation "puede valer ... "sin comentarios" ... desafío ... más suave". In fact, I believe Carol's response of "No comment" suits the tone as it was as sarcastic as the delivery - similar to a child saying rudely "WHATEVER"!
1 hr
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puede valer como adaptación o explicación pero la frase original es muy "original", no es nada idiomática, no se dice habitualmente, y la expresión "sin comentarios" es frecuente, idiomática, reconocida y no es tan sorprendente ni desafiante
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1 day 3 hrs
Adrian MM.
Austria
Austria
Native in English
Austria
Retd.T&I, Barrister & Austro-Advokat
Native in: English (Variants: Scottish, British)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
15
read my lips, sealed as they are !
Res ipsa loquitur . the matter speaks for itself !
Discussion
Wow una frase muy usada por algunos pero en realidad que nos dicen con esto.
Podria sonar como: puedes pensar o creer lo que quieras, o podrias pensar o creer lo que mas te convenga, no?
Pero que es mas dificil.
Interpretar el silencio de una persona que nos dice esta frase?
https://ibermatica.com/interpretar-silencio/
No te reproduzco las ocho acepciones, porque solo quería quedarme con la idea de que interpretar puede ser una acción de quien recibe, pero también de quien emite (si se trata de una obra musical, al menos). En esos dos sentidos podemos interpretar el silencio.
A veces somos receptores del silencio. Y nos toca tratar de descubrir su significado, que puede ser muy diverso.
El silencio a veces nos quiere mostrar apoyo. Estoy de acuerdo con lo que acabas de decir, no tengo nada que añadir o que quitar, lo asumo plenamente. Otras veces indica duda. No sé muy bien cómo contestarte, así que guardo silencio, necesito tiempo para pensar.
Pero también puede ser que, no estando de acuerdo en todo o en parte, elijo no discutir contigo de este tema, al menos en este momento. Porque creo que no va a servir...
Después de dos meses de no recibir una respuesta, el presidente de la Cámara de Diputados interpretó el silencio como una negativa. dialogonacionalcuba.org
After two months of no response, the president of the Chamber of Deputies interpreted the silence as a negative response. dialogonacionalcuba.org
[...] gestión de pruebas, incluido el modo en que se interpreta el derecho al silencio en todos los Estados miembros y en los países en vías de adhesión. europarl.europa.eu
[...] handling of evidence, including how the right to silence is interpreted in all the Member States and in the acceding countries. europarl.europa.eu
[...] un «ordenamiento jurídico nacional en la materia» interprete el silencio de las autoridades ante las que se ha presentado [...] eur-lex.europa.eu
[...] Directive prohibit a 'relevant national legal system' from interpreting a failure to respond on the part of the authority to [...] eur-lex.europa.eu
Por ejemplo: Interprete mi silencio como...
una negativa, un sí, como le parezca mejor, como a usted le venga en gana.
Me preguntaba si no sería así, es decir, que la frase siguiera, supongo que es una anécdota transmitida oralmente, no sé si puedes aclararlo.
añado algunas coincidencias como curiosidad:
Respuesta | Opinión - EL PAÍShttps://elpais.com › Periódicos
26 dic 1997 — ... cuatro o cinco referencias a mi persona a las que me veo obligado a responder para que no se interprete mi silencio como aceptación.
Idioma - Wikisourcehttps://es.wikisource.org › wiki
8 ago 2018 — ... sino en lo accidental y efímero, ni me resigno á que nadie interprete mi silencio como una coincidencia de apreciaciones y de
La agenda de Zalabardohttps://agendazalabardo.blogspot.com › 2008/10 › propsit...
... por ello, precisamente, es por lo que estimo que debo responder, para que no se interprete mi silencio como aceptación.
Se me ha ocurrido adaptar la respuesta como si fuera "Escuche mi silencio".
Queda algo de lado el matiz de interpretar en el sentido de descubrir, indagar o traducir/decir con otras palabras u otro modo (es decir, "interprete" como un "piense y reflexione sobre mis palabras").
Y se mantiene el tono desafiante y desconcertante de la respuesta, como si dijera:
Fíjese en mi silencio, en la falta de palabras si quiere saber si estoy de acuerdo (porque no me dejan decir lo que quiero o no me conviene).
Lo paradójico del caso es que al decir "interprete mi silencio" está hablando pero lo que dice es que no va a responderle si está de acuerdo y que la respuesta está en su silencio (en que no respondo, no hablo, no puedo hablar, no quiero, no me conviene...)
De ahí mi intento con Listen to my silence. Dicho esto, creo que la mejor traducción es la que propone Allegro.
Impactante historia con una memorable y sagaz respuesta. Muy cinematográfica, de hecho, no me extrañaría nada que, en cosa de meses, la veamos en alguna película o serie de moda.
Myriam
Es un imperativo que se puede reelaborar como "dedúzcalo/deduzca la respuesta de mi silencio".
Suele decirse que quien calla, otorga, pero diría que no va por ahí, aunque es lógico pensar que el autor pretende que el lector lo relacione con el refrán o lo recuerde.
Pero probablemente el sentido no es ese y no se trata de un sí o un no ni de algo entre medias.
La "respuesta" (y su ausencia paradójica) sugiere indiferencia y falta de interés en decir qué piensa.
Tb diría que interpretar el silencio de esa persona no es suficiente para saber la respuesta, si es que la hay, y que hay que ver sus actos/dichos previos para saber "por dónde va".
Ah, ¿esto es de una serie archiconocida, icónica/mediática/de fama mundial?