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discreto (in this context)

English translation: inconspicuous

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:discreto
English translation:inconspicuous
Entered by: Comunican

09:39 Oct 19, 2009
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Tourism & Travel
Spanish term or phrase: discreto (in this context)
This is for a woman describing her work in group bookings for a hotel.

"Como que principalmente la atención es telefónica y hablo con la gente mi trabajo es muy variado. Aunque siempre esté atiendo las reservas de grupos, cada caso es distinto. Ya hace tiempo que trabajo en XX, llevo desde su inicio, y he pasado por distintos departamentos; al principio estaba en el Departamento de Operaciones donde la atención al cliente es directa, y prefiero el trato por teléfono, es más discreto."

How do others understand "discreto" in this context? I don't feel "discreet" fits well.

Many thanks
Comunican
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:50
inconspicuous
Explanation:
or even "low profile"

another couple of possibilities
Selected response from:

Evans (X)
Local time: 05:50
Grading comment
many thanks to everyone on this.
Much appreciated
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6inconspicuous
Evans (X)
4 +5less exposed / more withdrawn/sheltered
HugoSteckel
4 +1confidential
anna purna
4unobtrusive
bcsantos
4It's easier
Julia Cameron (X)
4more tactful
Margarita Ezquerra (Smart Translators, S.L.)
4less upfront
ormiston
3arm's-length
David Ronder


  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
unobtrusive


Explanation:
..

bcsantos
Gibraltar
Local time: 06:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 36
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
confidential


Explanation:
Another suggestion.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2009-10-19 09:56:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"...where the work is of a more confidential nature" or "where client/customer relations are more confidential".

anna purna
France
Local time: 06:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jenny Westwell
12 hrs
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
inconspicuous


Explanation:
or even "low profile"

another couple of possibilities

Evans (X)
Local time: 05:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 60
Grading comment
many thanks to everyone on this.
Much appreciated

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  HugoSteckel: apologies, I've just seen that you'd put "low profile" as an option. I like this as a more neutral alternative to my own.
15 mins
  -> thanks, I think I prefer low profile to inconspicuous really
agree  Maria Mastruzzo
29 mins
  -> thank you Maria
agree  kathryn davies: low profile fits well
1 hr
  -> thanks Kathryn
agree  Monique Rojkind: I really like "low profile".
1 hr
  -> thanks Monique
agree  De Novi: low profile
2 hrs
  -> thanks Zanne
agree  Wendy Petzall
17 hrs
  -> thanks wmpetzall
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
arm's-length


Explanation:
= avoiding intimacy or close contact (Oxford)

I think it's 'discreto' meaning 'discrete' rather than 'discreet' = Que consta de partes separadas o diferenciadas (Diccionario Clave)



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2009-10-19 09:59:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A couple of examples:

Telephone skills - Google Books Resultby Patrick Forsyth - 2000 - Reference - 96 pages
A telephone 'handshake' Overall, most of us do not like to deal at arm's length. We like to get to know people, especially if we are to deal with them ...
books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=0852928653...

Using telephones in primary careReading the literature, it often feels as if the main purpose of the telephone is to keep patients at arm's length, its use assessed by its impact on ...
www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1123203 - Similar
by PD Toon - 2002 - Cited by 21 - Related articles - All 5 versions


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2009-10-19 10:01:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, here's that first link again - it's from a book on telephone skills by the Institute of Pesonnel and Development:

Using telephones in primary careReading the literature, it often feels as if the main purpose of the telephone is to keep patients at arm's length, its use assessed by its impact on ...
www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1123203 - Similar
by PD Toon - 2002 - Cited by 21 - Related articles - All 5 versions


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2009-10-19 10:02:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

No! I mean this one:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xgeOLHqviyoC&pg=PT24&lpg=...


David Ronder
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
It's easier


Explanation:
This woman finds it easier to do say what she has to say over the telephone, rather than directly.

Julia Cameron (X)
Spain
Local time: 06:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
more tactful


Explanation:
Otra opción. Saludos

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 minutos (2009-10-19 10:03:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

more tactful approach

Margarita Ezquerra (Smart Translators, S.L.)
Spain
Local time: 06:50
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 64
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
less exposed / more withdrawn/sheltered


Explanation:
This is the way I understand it, that she's not as exposed to the public.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2009-10-19 09:59:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I understand. Perhaps "lower profile" could work? Although I think that "less exposed" shouldn't cause too many problems.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 25 mins (2009-10-19 10:05:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I wonder also whether you could say something like "it allows me to keep my head down", though maybe this is going too far.

HugoSteckel
Switzerland
Local time: 06:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi there. Less exposed is a good suggestion, thank you. The only thing is, this will be seen by the public, in a newsletter, so I have to be careful to get the tone right (ie so that it doesn't appear as if she doesn't want to deal with the public - even though, that does appear to be what she is saying!)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alejandro Alcaraz Sintes: No conseguía pensar en nada. "Less exposed" transmite perfectamente el significado del "discreto" en este contexto. Mejor seguido de "to the public", para que no queden dudas. Saludos. Alejandro
4 mins
  -> gracias, alejandro. de acuerdo con la necesidad de añadir "to the public", para no dar una imagen de una persona introvertida
agree  Jenni Lukac (X): As Alejandro says, with the caveat that it makes the person seem a bit withdrawn. If the job has little or no contact with the public, it is generally referred to as "back office" work.
12 mins
  -> thanks, jenni. totally agree
agree  MPGS: :)
1 hr
agree  Cecilia Welsh
12 hrs
agree  Silvia Killian Özler
23 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
less upfront


Explanation:
although there are plenty suggestions (esp low profile) it might be good to put it the other way round so as not to make it sound like she dislikes 'in your face' type confrontation with her clientele. I take it to mean she enjoys the polite distance (yes, almost 'discretion').

ormiston
Local time: 06:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 32
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