muy incierto

Spanish translation: nada seguro

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:very uncertain
Spanish translation:nada seguro
Entered by: JaneTranslates

22:08 Oct 22, 2016
English to Spanish translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / Psychometrics
English term or phrase: muy incierto
I'm evaluating a translation into Spanish of a short survey on weight loss. I'm not sure how best to express the response options. Participants are asked, “How certain are you that you could overcome the following barriers?” The response options are "(1) very uncertain, (2) rather uncertain, (3) rather certain, and (4) very certain." Participants are to choose one of those options in response to declarative sentences, such as "I can manage to stick to healthful foods, even if I need a long time to develop the necessary routines" or "I can manage to carry out my exercise intentions, even if I feel depressed."

The suggested translation of the initial question is, "¿Qué tan seguro está de que podría superar las siguientes barreras?" That looks fine to me. But then the suggested translation of the response options is: "(1) Muy incierto, (2) Algo incierto, (3) Algo cierto, (4) Muy cierto.

Dictionary definitions seem to support this translation, but I have two problems with it. First, the initial question uses "seguro," so I would think the response scale should use the same term. Second, it just doesn't sound right to me. "Estoy muy cierto que podré superar esta barrera"? I'm accustomed to hearing "cierto" applied to the veracity of the statement--"Eso es cierto"--rather than to the subjective degree of confidence that the speaker feels about his ability to accomplish a given task. Am I misunderstanding the usage of the term? The translator is a native speaker of Spanish; I am not. I don't want to correct his Spanish unless I'm sure I'm right!

I'm thinking of changing it to Muy inseguro, algo inseguro, algo seguro, muy seguro.

Which do you prefer? Which is more commonly used? Do you have a better suggestion? The translation is proposed for immediate use in Puerto Rico, but a phrase that is understood internationally would be ideal.

Thank you for any help that you can give me.
JaneTranslates
Puerto Rico
Local time: 10:32
(estoy) muy seguro
Explanation:
Y diría: (estoy) muy seguro, "very certain"; algo seguro, "rather certain"; poco seguro, "rather uncertain"; nada seguro, "" very uncertain". O: (estoy) totalmente de acuerdo, algo de acuerdo, poco de acuerdo y nada de acuerdo.

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Note added at 21 minutos (2016-10-22 22:29:59 GMT)
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Lo siento pero tu observación no estaba en el post todavía. Estoy de acuerdo.
Selected response from:

Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
Mexico
Local time: 09:32
Grading comment
Thank you, Juan. Your having posted this without having seen my own suggestion has boosted my confidence about this point.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5(estoy) muy seguro
Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
(estoy) muy seguro


Explanation:
Y diría: (estoy) muy seguro, "very certain"; algo seguro, "rather certain"; poco seguro, "rather uncertain"; nada seguro, "" very uncertain". O: (estoy) totalmente de acuerdo, algo de acuerdo, poco de acuerdo y nada de acuerdo.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 minutos (2016-10-22 22:29:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Lo siento pero tu observación no estaba en el post todavía. Estoy de acuerdo.

Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
Mexico
Local time: 09:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Thank you, Juan. Your having posted this without having seen my own suggestion has boosted my confidence about this point.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mónica Algazi
3 mins
  -> Gracias Mónica!

agree  Mariana Gutierrez: Me parece una buena opción.
2 hrs
  -> Gracias Mariana!

agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
10 hrs
  -> Gracias Beatriz!

agree  Emma Miliani
14 hrs
  -> Gracias Emma!

agree  Benigno Torres
15 hrs
  -> Gracias Benigno!
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