huellas y expresiones

English translation: discussion on pivotal points (in History)

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Spanish term or phrase:	huellas y expresiones
English translation:	discussion on pivotal points (in History)
Entered by:	Yvonne Gallagher

00:37 Feb 8, 2013

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Education / Pedagogy / history textbook

Spanish term or phrase: huellas y expresiones

In a high-school history textbook, some units end with a section called "Huellas y expresiones." In this section the student is presented with a historical document, excerpts from important legislation, a poem, a famous speech, an incident of civil disobedience, etc. The text presented is followed by discussion questions to help the student react to, or even interact with, the text. In most cases, the topic is (or was, in its time) controversial.

How can I translate this title? For "huellas" I've thought of the obvious "footprints," as well as "milestones" and "bench marks." I was leaning very much toward "bench marks" until I realized, from dictionary definitions, that the term has too positive a connotation for some of the chosen texts. I wish I could list the specific items chosen, but I fear that would overstep the bounds of confidentiality. Some highlight high points in the country's history; some are clearly intended to be seen as low points.

Any ideas?

JaneTranslates KudoZ activity Questions: 152 (none open) (4 closed without grading) Answers: 505 Puerto Rico
Local time: 04:49

discussion topics/questions

Explanation:
what they are usually called in High school history text books

http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=9658

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Note added at 13 mins (2013-02-08 00:51:02 GMT)
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you could say

discussion on significant moments in History

or
pivotal points in History

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Note added at 14 mins (2013-02-08 00:52:12 GMT)
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http://www.hippocampus.org/History & Government

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Note added at 15 mins (2013-02-08 00:53:07 GMT)
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http://www.routledge.com/cw/goucher-9780415670005/

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Note added at 1 day10 hrs (2013-02-09 11:25:39 GMT) Post-grading
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glad to have helped.
I actually taught some History, and books had discussion topics at the end of each chapter, so pivotal points and key/significant moments in History were the most important concepts to have the student grasp. (Any History teachers out there? Try having them make illustrated timelines to put up on the walls!)

Selected response from:

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 09:49

Grading comment

I liked your alliterative "Pivotal Points in History," and found it very appropriate for the specific material included. Thanks very much for your help, gallagy2.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

keynotes

David Ronder

4 +2

impressions and expressions

neilmac

case studies

philgoddard

Cultural Topics for Discussion

Guadalupe Lynch

Influences and expressions

James A. Walsh

discussion topics/questions

Yvonne Gallagher

contemporary records and testimonials

patinba

Apply what you've learned

Tim Friese

Answers

14 mins confidence:

case studies

Explanation:
I think you have to forget the literal meaning and find something that summarises what they all have in common. They're examples that focus on one particular issue and bring it to life, so here's my suggestion.

Another possibility is "testimonies".

Example sentence(s):

En numerosos lugares encontramos huellas y expresiones concretas de la riqueza cultural indígena americana.
There are abundant examples of Latin America's rich indigenous cultural heritage.

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 259

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, Phil. I especially like your example sentences--very nice illustration of being more faithful by being less literal. Thanks for your help.

1 hr confidence:

Cultural Topics for Discussion

Explanation:

The phrase Cultural Topics would encompass all areas of our heritage, such as the arts, scientific accomplishments etc. that we are proud of as well as our blunders and failures of the past.
It is also a heading very commonly used in school textbooks.

Guadalupe Lynch
Local time: 03:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Notes to answerer

Asker: I strongly considered "Topics for Discussion," without the "cultural," since I would expect "cultural topics" to cover a broader variety of material (these tended to me primarily political). Thanks for your time and your contribution.

9 hrs confidence:

Huellas y expresiones Influences and expressions

Explanation:
I don't see anything wrong with this literal translation.

See sense 2 for "huella" from Oxford Spanish-English:

huella femenino

1 (pisada — de una persona) footprint, footstep; (— de un animal) pawprint (o hoofmark etc); siguieron las huellas del animal they followed the animal's tracks o pawprints (o hoofmarks etc)

2 (vestigio) mark; la huella islámica en la literatura española the Islamic influence on Spanish literature;
__________________

So I'm thinking "[cultural or historical] influences and expressions", in other words, how the topic covered in each unit influenced society culturally or historically, and how that influence then manifested (expressed itself) in society. In fact, I was going to suggest "manifestations" for "expresiones ", but I think "espressions" would work better in a high-school context.

Makes sense to me anyway :)

Browse the hits via the link below.

Cheers.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/a7wb8kj

James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 10:49
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 87

Notes to answerer

Asker: Very nice option, and well supported. Despite having looked up "huella" in my own well-worn copy of Oxford Sp-Eng, it didn't occur to me to use "influences." Thanks much, James.

11 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

impressions and expressions

Explanation:
Huella is basically the mark a foot or finger (etc) leaves when it makes an impression, so this could work too...

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Note added at 11 hrs (2013-02-08 12:34:00 GMT)
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Although I prefer "keynotes" ... and am not keen on too many "-sions" one after the other.

neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:49
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 527

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, neilmac. Actually, I didn't mind the rhyme--rather liked it, in fact. Three or four -sions, now, that WOULD be "too many"! Thanks for your time and for a very tempting option.

13 hrs confidence:

contemporary records and testimonials

Explanation:
looking for something that covers most of the contents of the section that you have described.

patinba
Argentina
Local time: 05:49
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 176

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, patinba. Indeed, your suggestion covers the content very well. I appreciate your help.

15 hrs confidence:

Apply what you've learned

Explanation:
For the record, my teaching background is in ESL. There, textbooks often have sections titles made up of nice-sounding commands. "Apply what you've learned" could be an option, as could be a simple "Authentic documents", "History in Context", etc.

Overall I think there's a lot of room here to pick something that really resonates with the English reader.

Tim Friese
United States
Local time: 03:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

Notes to answerer

Asker: I agree, Tim--imperatives work very well in textbooks, I think--things like "Find out more." I also like your "History in Context." Thanks so much for your suggestions.

11 mins confidence:

discussion topics/questions

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 09:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 110

Grading comment

I liked your alliterative "Pivotal Points in History," and found it very appropriate for the specific material included. Thanks very much for your help, gallagy2.

28 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

keynotes

Explanation:
Another idea. They somehow define or set the tone for the era.

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Note added at 1 day8 hrs (2013-02-09 09:07:56 GMT) Post-grading
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Jane, if the actual examples tend to be more tangential than central, why did you go with "Pivotal Points"? Surely not just for their alliterative value?

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Note added at 1 day22 hrs (2013-02-09 22:41:03 GMT) Post-grading
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Pivot = central or rotational point. Nothing tangential about it. I don't mind that you didn't choose my answer. But it doesn't sound as though you chose the right one from many good options.

David Ronder
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 28

Notes to answerer

Asker: I like "keynotes"; in fact, it's what I was trying to think of when I came up with "bench marks." Ultimately I moved away from it, since the actual examples (which I couldn't share with you) tend to be more tangential than central. Thanks for your thoughtful contribution.

Asker: I don't know, David; somehow "keynote" seemed (to me, on a Friday), more profound and, well, "KEY" than a pivotal point, which merely sends you off at a different angle. It wasn't easy to pick one "most helpful answer." Thanks again.

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