Mar 25, 2008 14:56
16 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
esencializar
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
I've included quite a bit of context here. The word I'm interested in is near the beginning of the second paragraph. For the sentence it appears in, for the moment I have: "Citizenism treats the interests and needs of citizens and immigrants as characteristics that constitute part of their essence." It's not very clear to me, though, what is meant by "esencializa". Any thoughts?
Detrás de esta nueva retórica de la inmigración existe un ciudadanismo de izquierdas y un ciudadanismo de derechas. El resultado es el mismo: la instrumentalización política del concepto de ciudadanía; usar el concepto de ciudadanía no como finalidad, sino como un medio que esconde otras intenciones. El ciudadanismo es, de hecho, una democracia mal entendida. Pretende dirigirse al interés de la sociedad, pero en realidad se dirige a un sector de la sociedad (al inmigrante no ciudadano, por ejemplo) que se enfrenta a otro sector (al ciudadano votante, por ejemplo). El ciudadanismo no es un discurso vertebrador, sino que invertebra la sociedad. El discurso ciudadanista tiene una función reactiva para el discurso, puesto que construye sus argumentos centrándose en las quejas con el objetivo de que se traduzcan en acción social contra otros sectores de la sociedad, confundiendo la realidad y el ideal de la sociedad, sedando la responsabilidad social y política que requieren estos temas que tienen efectos inmediatos sobre la estabilidad y la cohesión sociales.
El ciudadanismo ***esencializa*** los intereses/necesidades del ciudadano y del inmigrante. Las necesidades se crean y son siempre resultado de un proceso. Por lo tanto, son cambiables. El debate sobre la inmigración y la ciudadanía necesita una teoría de las necesidades y de los intereses para poder orientar los discursos que se están dando. El interés del ciudadano o del inmigrante no tiene necesariamente el estatuto de verdad democrática. Usar el argumento de la ciudadanía para dar estatuto de legitimidad a una propuesta es una práctica discursiva ciudadanista. Construir argumentos hasta el extremo que las necesidades de unos (ciudadanos o inmigrantes) son incompatibles con las necesidades (sociales, culturales, económicas) de otros es también una forma de ciudadanismo.
Detrás de esta nueva retórica de la inmigración existe un ciudadanismo de izquierdas y un ciudadanismo de derechas. El resultado es el mismo: la instrumentalización política del concepto de ciudadanía; usar el concepto de ciudadanía no como finalidad, sino como un medio que esconde otras intenciones. El ciudadanismo es, de hecho, una democracia mal entendida. Pretende dirigirse al interés de la sociedad, pero en realidad se dirige a un sector de la sociedad (al inmigrante no ciudadano, por ejemplo) que se enfrenta a otro sector (al ciudadano votante, por ejemplo). El ciudadanismo no es un discurso vertebrador, sino que invertebra la sociedad. El discurso ciudadanista tiene una función reactiva para el discurso, puesto que construye sus argumentos centrándose en las quejas con el objetivo de que se traduzcan en acción social contra otros sectores de la sociedad, confundiendo la realidad y el ideal de la sociedad, sedando la responsabilidad social y política que requieren estos temas que tienen efectos inmediatos sobre la estabilidad y la cohesión sociales.
El ciudadanismo ***esencializa*** los intereses/necesidades del ciudadano y del inmigrante. Las necesidades se crean y son siempre resultado de un proceso. Por lo tanto, son cambiables. El debate sobre la inmigración y la ciudadanía necesita una teoría de las necesidades y de los intereses para poder orientar los discursos que se están dando. El interés del ciudadano o del inmigrante no tiene necesariamente el estatuto de verdad democrática. Usar el argumento de la ciudadanía para dar estatuto de legitimidad a una propuesta es una práctica discursiva ciudadanista. Construir argumentos hasta el extremo que las necesidades de unos (ciudadanos o inmigrantes) son incompatibles con las necesidades (sociales, culturales, económicas) de otros es también una forma de ciudadanismo.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
9 hrs
Phillip Berryman
Native in English
Specializes in field
An author's (6 books) care for language.
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
essentialize (pejorative)
The key element here is to make sure that both the ideology of "ciudadanismo" and "esencializar" have a pejorative connotation, i.e., the ideology of citizenship is being used to drive a wedge between two groups, citizens and immigrants.
Part of the problem lies in the fact that the author first makes a descriptive statement, namely that "ciudadanismo" "essentializes" the interests or needs of both groups, but then immediately shifts gears and begins to argue: all our needs come from a process and hence are changeable. The author says we need a good theory so we can understand; otherwise, we're at the mercy of those who brandish these terms.
Here is one example of an academic site that outlines a position and then uses the term "essentialize" in English:
http://www.unm.edu/~jka/courses/archive/power.html
Here are the relevant paragraphs:
Essentializing means attributing natural, essential characteristics to members of specific culturally defined (gender, age, ethnic, "racial", socioeconomic, linguistic...) groups. When we essentialize others, we assume that individual differences can be explained by inherent, biological, "natural" characteristics shared by members of a group. Essentializing results in thinking, speaking and acting in ways that promote stereotypical and inaccurate interpretations of individual differences. For example, feminists note that people essentialize women when they assume that girls and women are naturally emotional (versus rational), nurturant, docile, weak, vain, dependent (and so on).
Essentialist thinking is often anchored in dualistic (two-category, either this - or that) modes of thought. Classic and contemporary social theorists identify and challenge essentialist and dualistic ways of thinking about the social world (human/non-human; human/animal; human/machine; civilized/barbaric; masculine/feminine; intelligent/not intelligent; rich/poor; white/non-white; anglo/non-anglo; individual/group; psychological/cultural; leader/follower).
Some of the proposed translation solutions are valid insofar as they are understood pejoratively; however, I would suggest you consider "essentialize" since it is used in English at least in some circles.
The bigger problem is "ciudadanismo" for which there is no one-word English equivalent.
Part of the problem lies in the fact that the author first makes a descriptive statement, namely that "ciudadanismo" "essentializes" the interests or needs of both groups, but then immediately shifts gears and begins to argue: all our needs come from a process and hence are changeable. The author says we need a good theory so we can understand; otherwise, we're at the mercy of those who brandish these terms.
Here is one example of an academic site that outlines a position and then uses the term "essentialize" in English:
http://www.unm.edu/~jka/courses/archive/power.html
Here are the relevant paragraphs:
Essentializing means attributing natural, essential characteristics to members of specific culturally defined (gender, age, ethnic, "racial", socioeconomic, linguistic...) groups. When we essentialize others, we assume that individual differences can be explained by inherent, biological, "natural" characteristics shared by members of a group. Essentializing results in thinking, speaking and acting in ways that promote stereotypical and inaccurate interpretations of individual differences. For example, feminists note that people essentialize women when they assume that girls and women are naturally emotional (versus rational), nurturant, docile, weak, vain, dependent (and so on).
Essentialist thinking is often anchored in dualistic (two-category, either this - or that) modes of thought. Classic and contemporary social theorists identify and challenge essentialist and dualistic ways of thinking about the social world (human/non-human; human/animal; human/machine; civilized/barbaric; masculine/feminine; intelligent/not intelligent; rich/poor; white/non-white; anglo/non-anglo; individual/group; psychological/cultural; leader/follower).
Some of the proposed translation solutions are valid insofar as they are understood pejoratively; however, I would suggest you consider "essentialize" since it is used in English at least in some circles.
The bigger problem is "ciudadanismo" for which there is no one-word English equivalent.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Bubo Coroman (X)
: yes, the obvious answer
8 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
9 mins
Rocio Barrientos
Bolivia
Bolivia
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
Bolivia
Social Scientist, MBA - Ph.D.(c)
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
14
to turn them into a priority, to create a need, to make them an issue,
unas cuantas ideas... disculpas que no le pueda dar más vueltas al asunto...
ojalá por lo menos estas ideas sirvan para inspirar a otros a encontrar "la" palabra
SaludoZ
ojalá por lo menos estas ideas sirvan para inspirar a otros a encontrar "la" palabra
SaludoZ
10 mins
is a distillation of
Ross, very complex, but to obtain the essence of something one must distil. Hence my suggestion.
I understand the C word on the basis of " en realidad se dirige a un sector de la sociedad (al inmigrante no ciudadano, por ejemplo) que se enfrenta a otro sector (al ciudadano votante, por ejemplo). ... construye sus argumentos centrándose en las quejas con el objetivo de que se traduzcan en acción social contra otros sectores de la sociedad, ...."
So it's like a C that brings immigrant rights very much to the fore?
I understand the C word on the basis of " en realidad se dirige a un sector de la sociedad (al inmigrante no ciudadano, por ejemplo) que se enfrenta a otro sector (al ciudadano votante, por ejemplo). ... construye sus argumentos centrándose en las quejas con el objetivo de que se traduzcan en acción social contra otros sectores de la sociedad, ...."
So it's like a C that brings immigrant rights very much to the fore?
+2
11 mins
Jesús Cordero-Salvado
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
Environment & International Development
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
oversimplifies
Creo que esencializa ahí significa que convierte los intereses y necesidades de ambos actores en sus componentes esenciales, sin preocuparse por otros detalles, es decir, que pone todo en términos de "blanco y negro", cuando claramente es un tema de "escala de grises". Quizá oversimplifies no sea la mejor traducción, seguro otros colegas nativos o tu mismo puedes proponer una manera de traducir esto, pero estoy bastante seguro de que esto es lo que quiere decir esencializar en este contexto.
Note from asker:
| Maybe something like "reduces the needs and interests of ... to their bare bones" |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Rocio Barrientos
: super bien pensado :)
11 mins
|
|
Rocío, gracias. Veo que no se "puede estar en misa y repicando" como decimos en Castilla, ya veo que estás ocupada traduciendo, :)
|
|
| agree |
Egmont
1 hr
|
17 mins
get to the essence/cut to the chase
boy what a text. I have a headache just from reading it
Note from asker:
| Me too! |
34 mins
paints them as fixed characteristics
Having studied the context, I think you're on the right lines with your interpretation, Ross.
Perhaps something using the word 'fixed' could work here. For example:
paints the interests/needs of citizens and immigrants as fixed characteristics
In the next sentence the author argues that needs are not something fixed, but that they change [over time/dependent on circumstances]. Citizenism is therefore an oversimplification, as Jesús says, but using this word to translate 'esencializar' is perhaps straying away from the original meaning.
I have used 'paints' rather then a neutral word such as 'considers', as the '-ism' part of the word is, IMO, an attempt to liken the concept of citizenism to racism (i.e. reinforcing predjudices).
paints them as set characteristics/innate characteristics ( this one is perhaps going a bit too far ;)
good luck
Perhaps something using the word 'fixed' could work here. For example:
paints the interests/needs of citizens and immigrants as fixed characteristics
In the next sentence the author argues that needs are not something fixed, but that they change [over time/dependent on circumstances]. Citizenism is therefore an oversimplification, as Jesús says, but using this word to translate 'esencializar' is perhaps straying away from the original meaning.
I have used 'paints' rather then a neutral word such as 'considers', as the '-ism' part of the word is, IMO, an attempt to liken the concept of citizenism to racism (i.e. reinforcing predjudices).
paints them as set characteristics/innate characteristics ( this one is perhaps going a bit too far ;)
good luck
7 hrs
accentuates the differences between; segregates/compartmentalizes (divisive action)
"esencializar" relates to the philosophical concept of "Essentialism", as described here, first in English and then in Spanish:
Essentialism and society
Essentialist positions on gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or other group characteristics, consider these to be fixed traits, while not allowing for variations among individuals or over time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essentialism
El esencialismo tiende a reactualizar un debate que opone la naturaleza y la cultura. Él sirve de base ideológica para el segregacionismo, que, apoyándose en diferencias presuntas de "naturaleza" entre los hombres, divide la sociedad en entidades distintas, a menudo jerarquizadas entre ellas, y les atribuye características, aptitudes, un papel social o unos estatuto específicos. Según los criterios retenidos para establecer estas discriminaciones, hablaremos entonces de sexismo, de racismo, de homofobia.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esencialismo
In your context, it means that the interests and needs of citizens and immigrants are not viewed as a whole, but in a segregated, compartmentalized way.
Essentialism and society
Essentialist positions on gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or other group characteristics, consider these to be fixed traits, while not allowing for variations among individuals or over time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essentialism
El esencialismo tiende a reactualizar un debate que opone la naturaleza y la cultura. Él sirve de base ideológica para el segregacionismo, que, apoyándose en diferencias presuntas de "naturaleza" entre los hombres, divide la sociedad en entidades distintas, a menudo jerarquizadas entre ellas, y les atribuye características, aptitudes, un papel social o unos estatuto específicos. Según los criterios retenidos para establecer estas discriminaciones, hablaremos entonces de sexismo, de racismo, de homofobia.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esencialismo
In your context, it means that the interests and needs of citizens and immigrants are not viewed as a whole, but in a segregated, compartmentalized way.
11 hrs
Deborah Workman
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Telecom/new media tech, law, bus, mktg
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, French to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
essentialize (descriptive rather than pejorative)
I agree with Philip that "essentialize" is the correct term (social scientists do like to create such words!) and would even cite some of the same paragraphs he does, but I disagree that the *meaning* is pejorative. It is simply descriptive of the process. It may be true, however, that to essentialize may be unfair.
To essentialize means simply:
To express or extract the essential form of. (American Heritage Dictionary)
To express or extract the essential form of. (Merriam-Webster)
To concentrate on the essential meanings or aspects of (www.yourdictionary.com)
The words "essentialize" and "citizenship" are used together in much social science literature. You will find many legitimate hits by putting the two words together in a Google search. (You can also try variants of "essentialized" and "essentializing".) While one can find some references to "citizenism", they are very rare and suspect. I think "citizenship" is the term commonly used in this context. Again, you will find lots of references using "citizenship", "essentialize/ed/ing" and "immigration".
To essentialize means simply:
To express or extract the essential form of. (American Heritage Dictionary)
To express or extract the essential form of. (Merriam-Webster)
To concentrate on the essential meanings or aspects of (www.yourdictionary.com)
The words "essentialize" and "citizenship" are used together in much social science literature. You will find many legitimate hits by putting the two words together in a Google search. (You can also try variants of "essentialized" and "essentializing".) While one can find some references to "citizenism", they are very rare and suspect. I think "citizenship" is the term commonly used in this context. Again, you will find lots of references using "citizenship", "essentialize/ed/ing" and "immigration".
Discussion