fechando uma abóbada

English translation: capping a dome/laying the capstone of a work/capping a work

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Portuguese term or phrase:	fechando uma abóbada
English translation:	capping a dome/laying the capstone of a work/capping a work

12:09 Jul 3, 2014

The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2014-07-07 10:54:11 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)

Portuguese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting

Portuguese term or phrase: fechando uma abóbada

The phrase is used in the sentence: O novo sítio Web que agora se disponibiliza ao público – com o apoio generoso da XYZ – complementa o investimento feito pelo ABC nas redes sociais, na inovação tecnológica e, em geral, na área da comunicação, fechando uma abóbada delineada em 2010 e implementada pela grande equipa que, dia a dia, faz o ABC museu.

The phrase 'fechando uma abóbada' is used in a formal announcement / PR piece written by a museum director. How should I translate it? The best I have come up with so far is "completing a vault" but that sounds so wrong. There must be a figurative meaning that I am unfamiliar with. I also considered "the final piece in a jigsaw" or "closing a gap" but essentially, I'm just guessing.

Does anyone know what it means and how best to translate it into English?

juliedawnfox KudoZ activity Questions: 2 (none open) Answers: 0 Portugal
Local time: 02:37

capping a dome/laying the capstone of a work/capping a work

Explanation:
Please see my discussion entry first.
The expression "fechar uma/a abóbada/cúpula" is usually translated as "to cap a/the dome", at least in Construction.
Using this expression the translation becomes: "..., capping a dome outlined in 2010...".
You can also translate to: "..., laying the capstone of a work outlined in 2010" (because "work" also has the sense of "building" and "job" and "effort" and "labour"); here, I think you can use "capping" instead of "laying the capstone", although this one really holds the metaphorical sense of the original phrase.

Selected response from:

Vitor Pinteus
Portugal
Local time: 02:37

Grading comment

Thanks, Vitor. I think your answer, combined with Mario Freitas' insights and suggestions, has enabled me to make a decision. I'm going with 'capping a dome'.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +1

capping a dome/laying the capstone of a work/capping a work

Vitor Pinteus

enclosing/consolidating/completing the dome

Mario Freitas

3 +1

completing a process

Richard Purdom

laying the keystone

Nick Taylor

Discussion entries: 9

Mario Freitas

Brazil

It doesn't really matter

13:04 Jul 4, 2014

If the author, in the sequence, mentions the arcs and other features of the dome, there aren't many options out of it. Plus, Julie has already decided to use "capping the dome" (see comment below).

Richard Purdom

Portugal

obscure 'biblical expresion'

07:57 Jul 4, 2014

This is about a website, not a religious epiphany.

And Google gives no results.

Vitor Pinteus

Portugal

02:19 Jul 4, 2014

I think this "close the vault" means / is the same as the biblical expression "to lay the capstone of the dome", so I think it is also well known in English.
This stone is the stone that "finishes off" or "crown" a building (in the metaphorical sense, as in this case, "the stone" finishes off "or" crown "a process");It is so much so that "capstone" also has the meaning of "high point, crowning achievement": look in any English dictionary the meaning of "capstone".
Nick Taylor is close with "keystone", but I prefer "capstone": "keystone" can have other meanings, and as such it is not as accurate.

Mario Freitas

Brazil

@ Julie,

19:32 Jul 3, 2014

As I said, it's not a common expression in PT either. The author must have had a reason to use the metaphor, and I think you should keep it.

juliedawnfox

Portugal

ASKER

19:04 Jul 3, 2014

Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions so far. The next sentence refers to the arc of the 'abóbada so if it would make sense to use 'completing the dome', that would fit with the flow of the paragraph better than 'final piece of the jigsaw' which, if I use that, means I'll have to change more of the original phraseology than I'd like to. Having said that, the phrase 'completing the dome' still sounds odd to me.

Mario Freitas

Brazil

You're right,

13:15 Jul 3, 2014

although it's not a common expression in PT either. The author made this up anyway.

Richard Purdom

Portugal

13:00 Jul 3, 2014

no, that is true, but 'abobada's are not well-known in the UK/US, nor the idea that the final piece is the most important of the entire structure, and it would be like literally translating a culturally-bound expression such as 'puxar a sardinha á sua brasa';

Mario Freitas

Brazil

12:40 Jul 3, 2014

But you're considering that a dome is restricted to Roman roofing techiques, which is not the case.

Richard Purdom

Portugal

12:28 Jul 3, 2014

Since Roman roofing techniques are virtually unknown in the UK (except in churches), unlike traditional PT architecture, the metaphor is virtually meaningless in English and I would forget it if if I was you.

Answers

14 mins confidence:

enclosing/consolidating/completing the dome

Explanation:
"Abóboda" (dome) is a metaphor here. IMO, the intent is to mention that the new site is the final touch to close or consolidate the structure of the entire enterprise or project.
You could use shelter, structure, cover or many other options, but I would keept the "dome" and the respective metaphor to keep the mood of the context.

Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 22:37
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 104

Notes to answerer

Asker: I agree, Mario. Especially because I need to refer to the arc in the following sentence. With your help and Vitor's, I've decided to go with 'capping the dome'. Much appreciated.

16 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

completing a process

Explanation:
...your jigsaw idea would be fine too imho.

Richard Purdom
Portugal
Local time: 02:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

7 hrs confidence:

laying the keystone

Explanation:
laying the keystone (quite literal but it fits IMO)

Nick Taylor
Local time: 02:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 91

16 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

capping a dome/laying the capstone of a work/capping a work

Vitor Pinteus
Portugal
Local time: 02:37
Native speaker of:

Portuguese
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks, Vitor. I think your answer, combined with Mario Freitas' insights and suggestions, has enabled me to make a decision. I'm going with 'capping a dome'.

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English translation: capping a dome/laying the capstone of a work/capping a work

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English translation: capping a dome/laying the capstone of a work/capping a work

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