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lo que menos importa

English translation: as if it even matters

00:39 Mar 16, 2013
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Government / Politics
Spanish term or phrase: lo que menos importa
Seems like a strange thing to say in the context, unless it's said with irony, and if so if I say something like "less importantly", is the irony also lost or do I need to add something?

Cuando la institucionalidad se derrumbó, quedo al descubierto la artimaña de los Estados,
“crear impunidad, no combatirla” lo que nos lleva a preguntarnos ¿cuantos casos por
crímenes de odio se han resuelto en nuestros países?, ¿en cuantos países son considerados
como crímenes de odio?, ¿a cuantas legislaciones, decretos o leyes hemos apelado?,
¿Cuántas leyes hemos creado?, ¿Cuánto tiempo se ha perdido?, o lo que menos importa
¿Cuántas vidas hemos perdido?

http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session9/HN/RLC_...
Richard Hill
Mexico
Local time: 11:31
English translation:as if it even matters
Explanation:
or like it even matters

To make the irony more evident.
Selected response from:

Ray Ables
United States
Local time: 11:31
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3as if it even matters
Ray Ables
4 +2what seems to matter least (of all)
Cinnamon Nolan
4 +2last, and apparently least
James A. Walsh
4 +1a final small consideration
David Ronder
5what matters least
Henry Hinds
4what’s even less important
Sandro Tomasi
4...or what seems to be disregarded even further...
Maria-Teresa Zenteno
4or, what is less important,
Ellen Kraus
4what is least important
liz askew
4or, least importantly, how many....?
Sean Mitchell
4not to (even) mention
Jenni Lukac (X)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
as if it even matters


Explanation:
or like it even matters

To make the irony more evident.

Ray Ables
United States
Local time: 11:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: nice y me gusta
50 mins
  -> Thank you
agree  Anthony Ottey
58 mins
  -> Thank you
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: a good equivalent for irony
59 mins
  -> Thank you
agree  Andy Watkinson: Nicely put.
2 hrs
  -> Thank you
disagree  liz askew: oooh, I think this is too strong here and conveys too much sarcasm/irony; or even disrespect for human life, which is not what this means IMHO, also "like it even matters" is far too colloquial
9 hrs
  -> Yea, because hate crimes are SO respectful of human life. Thanks alot LIZ!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
what’s even less important


Explanation:
I think that “menos” is part of the person’s irony in that people’s lives are what’s most important.

Sandro Tomasi
Local time: 12:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
...or what seems to be disregarded even further...


Explanation:
Es lo que yo usaría en este contexto. Más que irónica, creo que la expresión del autor del texto es de derrota frente a la situación que expone....

Maria-Teresa Zenteno
Canada
Local time: 12:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
what seems to matter least (of all)


Explanation:
Putting "seems" makes the author's disgust evident.

GRIEVANCE RESULTING FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION ...
www.pdfio.com › Free
Mar 1, 2013
As the 2010 Appeals Panel Decision notes, the home and away scheduling model has been
promised since 2008/2009. It is now 2011 and we are no closer to a resolution of this matter
than we were three years ago. WDDOA, CAYSA and now, sadly, AAYSA have coerced
STYSA’s EC into abdicating its responsibility to the rest of the District. The playing rules don’t
matter. Constitutions don’t matter. By Laws don’t matter. Grievances and Appeals don’t
matter. ***What seems to matter least of all*** is any concept of fairness or equality of opportunity.
http://www.pdfio.com/k-3112769.html

Cinnamon Nolan
Spain
Local time: 18:31
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  liz askew
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Liz. Buen finde!
agree  Wendy Streitparth
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Wendy. Have a great wknd!
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
or, what is less important,


Explanation:
I think we shouldnt overinterpret the author by underlining what is OUR opinion. without any seems, even and such like. the phrase is very clear and needs no .......

Ellen Kraus
Austria
Local time: 18:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 12
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
what is least important


Explanation:
,

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2013-03-16 10:20:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or

what matters even less

liz askew
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 167
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a final small consideration


Explanation:
I think you need to do something like that to get the tone in English.

David Ronder
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 44

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: I have just tried saying all the answers to myself, and this is the one for me. I don't know whether it's a particularly British way of putting it, but the tone seems just right.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks very much, Charles
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
what matters least


Explanation:
Ya

Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 10:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 661
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20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
or, least importantly, how many....?


Explanation:
Not very different from a couple of other suggestions. I just wanted to agree with Ellen that there is no need to interpret and mold the sentence in order to make the assumed irony clear. If the original writer had wanted to make the irony clear in Spanish they could have done so very easily. The ambiguity exists in the original and should be maintained in the translation.

Sean Mitchell
Mexico
Local time: 10:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
lo que menos importa
last, and apparently least


Explanation:
This play on "last but not least" may be worth considering.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day21 hrs (2013-03-17 22:30:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I reckon the "last/least" thing conveys the irony rather better than the Spanish, actually. But I do beleive this was the intended message.

Example sentence(s):
  • …o lo que menos importa, ¿Cuántas vidas hemos perdido?
  • ...and last, and apparently least: How many lives have we lost?

    Reference: http://tinyurl.com/cap5kwv
James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 18:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 100

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cinnamon Nolan: Oh, I like this!
5 hrs
  -> Cheers, Cinnamon! :)
agree  Charles Davis: Very nice: deserves an agree!
22 hrs
  -> Thank you kindly, sir ;-)
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2 days 9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
not to (even) mention


Explanation:
Late, but a thought!
www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/society/FilmSoc/ -
... learning how to organise film screenings and collaborations with other societies and cinemas and not to even mention helping develop the programme for the ...
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mention -
not to mention. : not even yet counting or considering : and notably in addition <a proposal that's risky and expensive, not to mention unethical> ...

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 18:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 120
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