referente

English translation: Role Model

23:08 Aug 29, 2015
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Media / Multimedia / Current events
Spanish term or phrase: referente
This is from an editorial in a Mexican newspaper about the shooting of two reporters on live TV in Virginia a couple of days ago; but also taking in the general subject of the weapons trade, & the First Conference of States Parties (CSP) to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), taking place coincidentally at the same time.
There are 2 occurrence of "referente in the piece:" one in the headline: "EU: violencia y **referente**"; & another in the last paragraph: "Por lo demás, la experiencia estadunidense debiera ser vista como **referente** negativo para naciones como la nuestra, en lo que se refiere a la proliferación de armas de fuego entre las poblaciones."
It's more common to see "referente" as an adjective, than as a noun, as in these two instances. I'm thinking maybe it would translate as "example" - although "United States: Violence and Example" doesn't work all that well as a headline. In the other instance, it could be translated as "the US experience would have to be seen as a bad/negative example/model"? Again, I'm just not finding much in my printed or online resources on the noun usage. It seems to be a linguistic term, meaning the objective referent, the thing in the "real world" to which a linguistic sign refers; that doesn't seem to be particularly useful here, though.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Tom
Thomas Walker
United States
Local time: 15:31
English translation:Role Model
Explanation:
While "Model" would be accurate, the best interpretation in this case would be "Role Model".
"Referente" as noun carries that meaning, something that we can look up to, that we model after. In english, while model is ok, it will be incomplete leaving the reader with a wondering mind. Adding the word "Role" will shed some light into the full meaning.
To verify, simply google "role model" and see the contexts for the search result. This is from Dictionary.com
ROLE MODEL
A person who serves as an example of the values, attitudes, and behaviors associated with a role. For example, a father is a role model for his sons.
Hope it helps!
Selected response from:

godson777
United States
Local time: 17:31
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for suggestions & discussion. Thanks, Godson - I used "role model" in the instance in the body of the piece. I used Phil's suggestion for the headline, but his wasn't an Answer, so wasn't eligible for award of points.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2paradigm / model
Charles Davis
4 +2Role Model
godson777
Summary of reference entries provided
From a search on Proz - benchmark
Ana Vozone
Here's the article
philgoddard

  

Answers


33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
paradigm / model


Explanation:
As Ana has already indicated there are many entries for "referente" as a noun in the Kudoz glossary, and a number of good suggestions for how to translate it. "Benchmark" comes up several times, though it doesn't seem quite right to me here; "point of reference" is the basic idea and will often work quite well; there are also standard, model, icon, and a number of others depending on the context.

In your case I think "paradigm" is probably a good choice, provided you don't think it's too highflown for the target readership; if so, "model" would do. "Example" seems less suitable to me; it doesn't convey so clearly the basic idea of something potentially to be imitated. For the second instance "a negative paradigm" seems right to me. In the headline, I don't think there's any noun that would work very well in "Violence and X", done literally (I don't think it works very well in Spanish either, frankly), and I would be inclined to take a liberty and say "a paradigm of violence" (or "a model of violence" if you prefer).

"Referente" as a noun is certainly very common in Spanish.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 23:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Andy Watkinson: Too common, unfortunately.... I'd have come up with "paradigm" if you'd given me a couple of weeks to think about it...
56 mins
  -> I know what you mean; it's one of those words that gives you a sinking feeling when it comes up. Cheers, Andy ;)

agree  neilmac: Benchmark works as "referente" in many contexts, but maybe "paradigm" is better here...
19 hrs
  -> I agree. Cheers, Neil :) In fact I use benchmark for referente just a few minutes ago in my current job!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Role Model


Explanation:
While "Model" would be accurate, the best interpretation in this case would be "Role Model".
"Referente" as noun carries that meaning, something that we can look up to, that we model after. In english, while model is ok, it will be incomplete leaving the reader with a wondering mind. Adding the word "Role" will shed some light into the full meaning.
To verify, simply google "role model" and see the contexts for the search result. This is from Dictionary.com
ROLE MODEL
A person who serves as an example of the values, attitudes, and behaviors associated with a role. For example, a father is a role model for his sons.
Hope it helps!

godson777
United States
Local time: 17:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for suggestions & discussion. Thanks, Godson - I used "role model" in the instance in the body of the piece. I used Phil's suggestion for the headline, but his wasn't an Answer, so wasn't eligible for award of points.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac: Works nicely for this particular text IMO.
17 hrs

agree  Yvonne Gallagher: this is best for second example and Phil's suggestion would work well for first: "US violence sets a bad example"
1 day 6 hrs
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Reference comments


22 mins
Reference: From a search on Proz - benchmark

Reference information:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/wine_oenology_v...


http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/international_o...

Ana Vozone
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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25 mins peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: Here's the article

Reference information:
You could say something like "US violence sets a bad example" as the headline.


    Reference: http://www.nssoaxaca.com/opinion/39-nacional/130546-eu-viole...
philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 23

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: like your headline
1 day 8 hrs
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