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Spanish to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Argentina
Spanish term or phrase:depósito municipal
Hello. Please help me understand what a depósito municipal is in Argentina--specifically, Buenos Aires.
I'm translating an article from Spanish to US English. The author is a geneticist from Argentina.
The article consists mainly of case studies. In an interview, the subject, a woman, is telling about her attempts to find a family that might know something about her past. She describes the incomplete directions someone gave her:
Si yo bajaba del colectivo en la parada de tal calle al 500 y caminaba derecho hasta la mitad de cuadra, iba a encontrarme con un pasillo. En alguna de las casas que daban a ese pasillo vivía Fulano. Es más, en esa misma cuadra había un ***depósito*** de la municipalidad de Tres de Febrero.
Later, when the woman describes actually going to the place, she says:
Tomamos el colectivo y bajamos en una zona bastante humilde. Averiguamos dónde quedaba el **depósito municipal** y llegamos al pasillo.
Can anyone tell me what this is and suggest a translation into English? I have tentatively written "municipal depository," but that will not be of much use to the university graduate students in the northern Midwest of the United States who are my target readership.
Explanation: Depósito municipal is the 'corralón' of Mexico; it is where the cars, that have committed a driving offence that requires it to be taken away, are taken.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 horas (2014-03-21 13:43:29 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Thank you, Judith, not only for your answer and refs but also for your discussion comments. For now, I've written "municipal storage facility" [depósito]. I'm grateful for your help. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
@philgoddard Conscientious? I suppose--but so are you guys, and it's not even your translation! Your comments have been very helpful. Thanks to AllegroTrans for your suggestions, too.
OK, thank you very much for letting us know. It was just a possibility. If you could only find somebody that knows that depósito!! haha I wish you good luck. If not, I am sure it will be understood with warehouse.
I've just reread the entire case file to confirm my impression that we're not talking about the time of the "desaparecidos" of the "last dictatorship." The woman in question was born in 1964--well before that time--and her search took place in the 2000s--well after it. I would guess that the depósito, whatever it is, is still there.
I'm looking for as neutral a term as I can find, in lieu of precise information. BTW, in US English, wouldn't a place where cars seized by the police are stored be an IMPOUND lot, not a "pound"?
I tried Google Earth but didn't get much help, since I don't know the name of the street or even in which direction it runs. I tried #500 of various streets in Tres de Febrero but found nothing helpful. I'm leaning toward the ambiguous "municipal warehouse," but I have taken note of Judith's comment about a roofed structure. I'll wait the full 24 hours to see whether anyone knows more. I think it would take someone who actually lives in or knows the area, who might combine the pasillo, 500, and depósito information and recognize the spot. I really appreciate everyone's help so far. I'm learning new stuff, and that's always a good thing!
Well, even in Argentina I doubt the city keeps a "depósito de basura" amidst a residential area. "Car pound" would sound very specific and limiting, while "Municipal warehouse " would in any case be appropiate, whether for cars or otherwise.
That's an excellent idea. I think it might be something around the end of the "dictadura" in Argentina, the 80's, because of the theme, trying to know something about her past, (the "desaparecidos" during the "dictadura). Just guessing, though.
I've found three different meanings, all from Argentina: car pound, municipal warehouse (where the city keeps its vehicles and equipment), and "deposito de basura".
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 hr confidence:
municipal warehouse
Explanation: Definitely my choice, in this context. Also as per Google hits: none for "Municipal Pond", numerous for "Municipal Warehouse"
Sergio Kot Israel Works in field Native speaker of: Hebrew, Spanish PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks so much for your help, and the link. "Warehouse" sounded really good to me until I read Judith's comment. If only I knew EXACTLY what that darn thing is... Thanks again for your interest and time. You helped me think it through.
42 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
Municipal pound
Explanation: Depósito municipal is the 'corralón' of Mexico; it is where the cars, that have committed a driving offence that requires it to be taken away, are taken.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 horas (2014-03-21 13:43:29 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Judith Armele Mexico Local time: 10:49 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Spanish PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Thank you, Judith, not only for your answer and refs but also for your discussion comments. For now, I've written "municipal storage facility" [depósito]. I'm grateful for your help.
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