This site uses cookies.
Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site,
while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.
For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Spanish to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Tourism & Travel / Description of Burgos, Spain
Spanish term or phrase:vocación universalista
The full sentence is:
Una ciudad cosmopolita con vocación universalista (no en vano fue uno de los centros comerciales más importantes de Europa), que ha sabido preservar su herencia histórica y cultural sin renunciar a la modernidad.
My attempt: A cosmopolitan city with a universal calling (it was not one of Europe’s most important commercial centers for no reason), that has known how to preserve its historical ancestry and culture without renouncing modernity.
I know that "vocación" can be translated different ways and I am not finding anything but a type of religion for "universalista." Help!
Wow, I've been so immersed in this project that I am just now looking at all of your responses. You have quite a conversation going. "Outward looking" what? I like that description, but what is it describing? The cit, of course, but just "outward looking" does not fit here. Thoughts?
was the historic capital of Castile, a major stopping point on the Camino de Santiago and the principal crossroads of northern Spain. I wouldn't be so sceptical about these claims to its historic importance.
finding an appropriate translation for vocación universalista (from these nice suggestions), as for the part in brackets. "Was one of the most important commercial (or trade) centres in Europe"?? Seriously?? Was it really even ever in the top 10? I agree with David that our job is to translate text, not our own opinions, but maybe Tom has a point...!!
But we're quite far from that sort of territory here. It's not even a "Balham, gateway to the south!" sort of claim.
Adrian MM. (X)
Translator's brief
10:56 Oct 13, 2013
Misleading claims could be flagged (sic.) There comes a point where the puff becomes so ludicrous or dangerous that it would be irresponsible for the translator to let it go: e.g. 'try Afghanistan or Syria for a peaceful and serene holiday break.'
Exactly. Evacuating the accuracy of the claim is anyway beyond the translator's brief. For all I know, Burgos is a provincial, monocultural backwater. But knowing or thinking that should not affect the way I translate this phrase.
Adrian MM. (X)
Non-Middlesex Monks/ey Island business
10:22 Oct 13, 2013
Indeed, Ormiston. But if the only patch available were a tip for empty lager cans, then the plausibility of the claim would need to be flagged in the translation.
he is perfectly entitled to write it and it deserves to be translated as such (!)
Adrian MM. (X)
What Burgos is or isn't
10:13 Oct 13, 2013
Does matter and is NOT irrelevant, in the same way as if San Antonio on Ibiza were claimed to be an ideal place for quiet, contemplative pontifical prayer.
are not synonyms here: the former reflects the city's composition, the latter its attitude to the world. These two aspects of the city are probably mutually reinforcing, but I don't see any tautology in using them together.
And btw the question of whether Burgos really is either of these things strikes me as pretty irrelevant. The claim is being made, and that is what needs to be translated.
Adrian MM. (X)
My non-visitor status
09:42 Oct 13, 2013
No. I have never been to Burgos, so am not claiming to be better-qualified: rather the opposite, though I have known narrow-minded, Catholic law professors from the unversity there. But you, Simon, have - so arguably are. I was just making an enquiry.
if this is indeed about the city's attitude to the
09:39 Oct 13, 2013
world and not the world's attitude to the city, then Darius would be correct in pointing out that cosmopolista and universalista would be tautologous. Rightly or wrongly, I prefer to give the author the benefit of the doubt...
Tom, are you saying that because you know Burgos personally you are more qualified to translate "vocación universalista"? I have been to Burgos and it's not a particularly cosmopolitan city compared to say Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia, so inside knowledge is kind of irrelevant. This is pure marketing.
Adrian MM. (X)
Talking from hands-on experience
09:22 Oct 13, 2013
I wonder whether any of the commentators or contributors hitherto has or have actually been to Burgos to soak up the universalistic flavo(u)r and let the magic flow all over them or are speculating in an all-comers' vacuum.
agree with Lorena, and would have posted this myself had she not already suggested it above. Don't agree totally with Darius that cosmopolitan and universal are synonymous, although they do overlap.
I opted not to put any adjective in front of the city and instead suggested placing "cosmopolitan" in front of "appeal".
frapo (X)
Spain
worldview
21:50 Oct 12, 2013
I think "cosmopolitan appeal " is fine but than you have to change the very beginning of your sentence. If not it would sound redundant: "a cosmopolitan city with a cosmopolitan appeal".. I think "worldview"suggests the idea of universalism without repetitions. It is like "open-minded aptitude" but refered to things and not to people.. I hope it helps.
used by Dariusz but cosmopolitan is already part of the description in Spanish, (una ciudad cosmopolita con vocación universalista) couldn't you say something like a cosmopolitan city with a universal appeal? (universal appeal = appealing to everyone). See here for example: "[...] The biggest reason is that Bombay has an universal appeal. It is the quintessential cosmopolitan city," he added. http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2011/jan/210111-Salaam-Bomb...
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
2 hrs confidence:
worldview
Explanation: I think "cosmopolitan appeal " is fine but than you have to change the very beginning of your sentence. If not it would sound redundant: "a cosmopolitan city with a cosmopolitan appeal".. I think "worldview" (or world view) suggests the idea of universalism without repetitions. It is like "open-minded aptitude" but refered to things and not to people.. I hope it helps.
