dotadores e dotados

18:03 Feb 28, 2012 

No worries - I get really interested in these questions!

18:01 Feb 28, 2012 

Thank you for time. Your suggestion about changing the sentance structure was helpful. :)

17:55 Feb 28, 2012 

Interesting. Well, it seems there's no easy answer to this one!

17:52 Feb 28, 2012 

Sometimes there were non related benefactors or charitable institutions who would provide dowries for girls who were orphans or very poor.

17:25 Feb 28, 2012 

How interesting! So, there are people who provide dowries who are not family members at all? I always thought that they would be relatives, even if distant ones. Who are these non-family members who provide dowries?

17:12 Feb 28, 2012 

The problem is that it is more complicated than that, there are other people who provide the dowries, it is not just the parents of the bride and groom.

@Muriel: sorry about the typo :)

15:12 Feb 28, 2012 

receiver

13:56 Feb 28, 2012 

If it’s only about dowries, then use ‘bride’s family’ and ‘groom’s family.’

13:54 Feb 28, 2012 

Yes, it is all about dowries. I think I am going to use "provider of the dowry / dowry provider", and "reciever of the dowry". thanks

13:39 Feb 28, 2012 

Is it obvious if the whole text is ONLY speaking about either dowries or brideprices? This could simplify things.

13:16 Feb 28, 2012 

Hi, sorry for not having the chance to respond sooner.
Here a a couple of examples:
"Por vezes, existia uma relação de parentesco entre dotadores e dotados e essa circunstância poderia ser determinante não apenas na relação entre os futuros nubentes, como também na concessão do dote."

"...e o pagamento das dívidas dos dotadores também podiam constar dos compromissos que os dotados se obrigavam a respeitar."

00:02 Feb 28, 2012 

If the asker posts a full sentence, I will.

22:28 Feb 27, 2012 

Very well explained. You should post an answer!

13:34 Feb 27, 2012 

I think this is a case where there is no exact equivalent in English because the focus is on the noun for the payment; ‘dowry’ (paid to the groom’s family) or ‘brideprice’ (paid to the bride’s family). If you use a term such as ‘dowry-payer’ it will sound awkward. I would try to reword the sentences so as to change the structure to something natural and use the terms ‘dowry’ and/or ‘brideprice’. Otherwise, refer to the families involved; ‘groom’s family’ etc.