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Sample translations submitted: 3
Spanish to English: A description of Columbus from "La Evolución de México" General field: Art/Literary Detailed field: History
Source text - Spanish Para contemplar el verdadero estado de. aquel entonces, oigamos la hermosa explicación del Profesor Prieto:
"Al hablar del descubrimiento del Nuevo Mundo, ocupa nuestra imaginación, gigantesca, luminosa, la figura de Cristóbal Colón..."
"¿Quién fue este Cristóbal Colón? Lo vamos a saber con una poca de paciencia y atención..."
"Cerca del pequeño puerto de Palos - dice el señor García Icazbalceta, de quien he tomado gran parte de estos apuntes - junto a Moguer, en Andalucía, existe un convento llamado Santa María de la Rábida. A la puerta de este convento ocupado entonces por frailes de la Orden de San Francisco, llegó cierto día un extranjero a pie, conduciendo de la mano a un niño, y pidió un poco de pan y agua para su hijo. Aquel extranjero que se presentaba en tan triste estado era Cristóbal Colón, y el niño su hijo Diego.
"Iba Colón a Huelva en busca de un cuñado suyo.
"El aspecto de aquel extranjero, la compañía del niño y tal vez alguna circunstancia especial de que no se ocupa la historia, llamaron la atención del guardián de aquel convento, que era Fr. Pérez de Marchena, que entabló plática con Colón, le hizo entrar y le hospedó afectuoso, recayendo la conversación, como era natural, sobre la idea que preocupaba constantemente el ánimo del inmortal navegante.
"Aunque muy ilustrado el Padre Marchena, sorprendió le el maravilloso raciocinio del huésped, y desconfiando de sus talentos mandó llamar a su amigo García Fernández, vecino del cercano pueblo de Palos, y ambos se convencieron de la certeza de los cálculos del marino y se formalizó su empresa. Participó de este entusiasmo después de varias conferencias con experimentados filósofos. Martín Alonso Pinzón, marino acomodado de Palos, quien se ofreció a ayudar a Colón con su persona y bienes.
"El padre Marchena, como hemos dicho, entusiasta por el proyecto de Colón, le invitó para que pasase a Castilla a proponer a los soberanos la empresa; le favoreció y le dio cartas para Fr. Hernando de Talavera, confesor de la reina doña Isabel, para que lograse al punto una audiencia. Pinzón ofreció y aprontó los dineros necesarios para el viaje, y el guardián, por último, se hizo cargo del niño Diego, quien debía quedar en el convento. Arregladas así las cosas, partió Colón en 1486 de la Rábida para Córdoba, donde a la sazón se encontraba la corte.
"Fatal era la oportunidad del emprendedor a su llegada a Córdoba: Los reyes se ocupaban en los preparativos de la. guerra de Granada; el Padre Talavera hizo muy poco caso de cumplimientos y recomendaciones, y durante mucho tiempo los proyectos del genovés no llegaron a noticia de los soberanos.
"Oscuro, abandonado y en la miseria, Colón ganaba su vida de hacer planos; su humilde traje, su aspecto y sus proyectos gigantescos no comprendidos del vulgo, le valieron el título de loco..."
"Apenas vio el Padre Marchena a Colón, pobre y abatido, apenas oyó de sus labios la relación de sus amargos desengaños, y se penetró de la resolución del marino de abandonar a España para dotar can la gloria de su empresa a países extranjeros, se inflamó su espíritu, se exaltó su patriotismo, llamó al médico García Fernández y al Piloto Pinzón, y de aquella conferencia resultó que el Padre Marchena escribiese a la reina una carta, de tal manera persuasiva y elocuente, que vamos a ver los efectos.
"El portador del mensaje para la reina, fue Sebastián Rodríguez, y éste se dio tal prisa y tales mañas para lograr su intento, que a los catorce días estaba ufanísimo en la Rábida con la respuesta.
"La reina daba las gracias al Padre Marchena por su celo patriótico y le ordenaba fuese a su presencia.
"El ilustre fraile no se hizo esperar: a la medianoche montó en su mula y se dirigió violentamente a la Corte.
"Nunca, dice nuestro paisano García Icazbalceta, tuvo Colón defensor más elocuente que el Padre Marchena; sus vigorosas raciocinios eran apoyados por la célebre ¡Marquesa de Moya; pero más que todo por la inteligencia y el corazón privilegiado de la reina Isabel..."
"Quintanilla y la marquesa de Moya; todos razonaban, instaban y se apasionaban, de manera que inflamando el ánimo de la reina por una inspiración súbita y como después de haber medido con su poderoso genio la magnitud de la empresa, exclamó:
"Tomo el negocio por mi cuenta, y si no hay dinero en las arcas, tómese el necesario sobre las joyas de mi cámara".
"Apenas pronunciadas tan decisivas palabras, no corría sino volaba un mensajero en busca de Colón, quien de fijo no hubiera vuelto, temiendo sufrir nuevos desengaños, a no ser por la fe que tenía en la no desmentida probidad de la reina Isabel.
"La poderosa voluntad de la reina allanó incontrastable todas las dificultades, y a los pocos días, con todos los elementos necesarios, estaba Colón con sus queridos frailes ya amigos de la Rábida, quienes lo recibieron locos de contento, en tren de realizar su empresa."
Translation - English In order to better understand what was going on back then, let's listen to the beautiful explanation Professor Prieto gives us:
"When one speaks of the discovery of the New World, our imaginations conjure up an imposing, luminous figure—Christopher Columbus..."
"Who was this Christopher Columbus? We shall find out with a little patience and care..."
"According to Garcia Icazbalceta, from whom I have taken a great deal of these notes, there is a friary named Santa Maria de la Rabida near the little port of Palos next to Moguer in Andalusia. At the door of the convent, which at the time was inhabited by friars of the San Franciscan Order, a stranger arrived a certain day on foot, leading a child by the hand; he asked for some bread and water for his son. That foreigner, who was then presenting himself in such a poor state, was Christopher Columbus with his child and son, Diego.
"Columbus was looking for Huelva, one of his brothers in law.
"The appearance of this stranger, his young boy at his side, and perhaps some other special circumstance that history has not kept, caught the attention of the convent's guardian, Friar Perez de Marchena, who struck up a conversation with Columbus. He had him enter and warmly allowed him to stay; as would be expected, their conversation eventually fell upon the idea that constantly occupied the immortal navigator's spirits.
"Although very educated himself, Father Marchena, was surprised at his guest's wonderful reasoning; not trusting his own intellect he sent for his friend Garcia Fernandez, a resident of the nearby town of Palos. Both became convinced of the accuracy of this seaman's calculations and so Columbus's business became a more formal matter. Martin Alonso Pinzon, a well-off mariner from Palos, shared his enthusiasm after several meetings with experienced philosophers and offered to help Columbus with his property and presence.
"Father Marchena, as we have already mentioned, was enthusiastic about Columbus's project and invited him to head up to Castile to propose his endeavor to the king and queen; he helped him by giving him letters for Friar Hernando de Talavera, to whom Queen Doña Isabel confessed her sins, so that he could get an audience with her as soon as possible. Pinzon offered and prepared the money needed to make the trip, and, lastly, the guardian took charge over the child, Diego, who was to remain in the convent. Everything was set, and Columbus left la Rabida for Cordoba in 1486, where the court was at the time.
"The entrepreneur's luck did not hold as he arrived to Cordoba; the king and queen were busy making their preparations for war in Granada ; Father Talavera paid little heed to his recommendations, and for a long time the designs of this dreamer from Genoa failed to reach the ears of the king or queen
"Gloomy, abandoned, and destitute, Columbus made a living making maps; his humble clothing, his appearance, and his massive projects, which were utterly unfulfilled, earned him the title of madman..."
"The moment Father Marchena saw Columbus, poor and dispirited; the instant he heard from his lips the account of his bitter disappointments; as soon as he knew of the seaman's resolution to abandon Spain and gift another country with the glory of his endeavor, his spirit was filled with compassion and his patriotism burned within his breast; he sent for doctor Garcia Fernandez and Piloto Pinzon. That meeting resulted in a persuasive and eloquent letter, which Father Marchena wrote to the queen; we shall see what it led to:
"The message bearer was Sebastian Rodriguez, and he left in such a rush to fulfill his calling and with such skill, that fourteen days later he was back at la Rabida with the answer.
"The queen thanked Father Marchena for his zealous patriotism and ordered him to come to her presence.
"This illustrious friar didn't wait; at midnight, he mounted his mule and left galloping to the Court.
"In the words of Garcia Icazbalceta, "Columbus never had a more eloquent advocate than Father Marchena"; his vigorous reasoning was aided by the renowned Marquess of Moya, but also, more importantly, by Queen Isabel herself, who was very wise and had an extraordinary heart..."
"Quintanilla and the Marquess of Moya all reasoned, urged, and pleaded so zealously that they ignited the queen's passion; in a sudden burst of inspiration and after having weighed out the magnitude of such an endeavor in the powerful balance of her mind, she said:
“I will see that this business is taken care of on my own account, and if there is no money in the coffers, take the necessary jewels from my chambers."
"The moment these decisive words left her mouth, a messenger was sent running, or perhaps better said, flying in search of Columbus, who certainly would not have come back for fear of more letdowns were it not for his faith in Queen Isabel's integrity.
"The Queen's might leveled every difficulty with incomparable speed; a few days later, Columbus had everything he needed and was back with his beloved friars of La Rabida, who by now had become his close friends and who were deliriously happy to see him on his way to beginning his great project..."
Spanish to English: Newpaper article: el nacional (DR) General field: Social Sciences Detailed field: Government / Politics
Source text - Spanish Mauricia y Conway
Nada tiene que ver nuestra versión de los Estados Unidos con sus pueblecitos del interior, donde se refugia la gentileza y la cultura. Es lo que sucede con Conway, a cuatro horas y media de New York, donde las casas datan del 1700 y es, en otoño, lugar obligado del turismo interno.
En el centro de la ciudad, los mercados y tiendas parecen salidos del cuento de Hansel y Gretel. Las casas parecen bordadas y tienen los mas bellos jardines. Situado entre montañas, cruza el poblado un río limpio y esplendoroso, donde dos puentes compiten por la primicia en lo surrealmente bello. Uno, peatonall, ha sido convertido en un jardin y es sorprendente encontrar ya en octubre, enormes rosas, dalias multicolores y lo que en Dominicana llamamos pompopones, con todos los matices de las hojas que ya empiezan a enrojecer haciendo honor a su reputacion como el espectáculo otoñal mas bello del mundo.
Por todas partes abundan los turistas japoneses y los fotografos, deslumbrados por esta fiesta nacional que es un bálsamo. Conway esta de fiesta porque ha arribado una hada madrina que se llama Mauricia Alvarez Tavarez, hermana de Julia Alvarez, una psicoterapeututa que fundó, en alianza con Harvard, la clinica mas importante y exitosa de apoyo psicologico a la comunidad latina.
Digo hada, porque eso parece con su vestimenta de los años 60, collares y abalorios y su trenza de pelo blanco. Nada hay de inocente en esta entrenada observadora de la gente y el mundo, cuya generosidad desborda y puede confundir a espiritus poco acostumbrados a la exquisitez y buena educacion. Mauricia ha creado una Fundacion que se llama Siempre Unidas, en honor a sus padres, el Dr. Eduardo Alvarez y a su madre, la pionera de los programas de envejecientes de la ONU, Doña Julia Alvarez.
Con esta Fundación Mauricia espera apoyar a artistas de todos los litorales en Suramérica, Centroamérica y el Caribe, donde puedan retroalimentar o recuper sus sueños.
También están felices los ancianos, que se alimentarán de sus hortalizas, las mujeres, que vivirán de sus artesanías (ya Mauricia tiene en sus fincas 16 alpacas y ovejas), los estuadiantes de concina y chefes de Conway y las zonas aledañas, con la cadena de restaurantes comunitarios que ha de crear.
He venido a aportar mis ladrillos para este edificio y el puente con la República Dominicana, por donde habrá de transitar la alegre e inagotable creatividad de nuestra America.
Translation - English Mauricia and Conway
The way we usually think of the United States is very different from how the small towns in its interior actually are, where courtesy and good manners seem to abound. This is precisely the way things are in Conway, just four and a half hours outside of New York. The homes here date back to the 1700s; in autumn, it is a must see for local tourists.
In the city's center, the markets and shops seem to come straight out of a Hansel and Gretel fairytale, while the houses have the most beautiful gardens and look almost embroidered. Surrounded by mountains, a dazzling crystal-clear river meanders through the town, and its two bridges compete to outdo each other's surreal beauty. One of them, untouched by automobiles, has been turned into a garden. Surprisingly, even in October one can find enormous roses, multicolored dahlias that look like a cheerleader's pompoms, and leaves turning every color, each of these honoring the town’s reputation for having the most beautiful autumn show in the world.
Everywhere there are Japanese tourists and photographers, dazzled by this national celebration — a truly soothing event. Conway is celebrating because a Fairy Godmother has just pulled into town. Her name is Mauricia Alvarez Tavarez, Julia Alvarez's sister. She’s also a psychotherapist, who founded, in partnership with Harvard, the most important and successful clinic for psychological help to the Latino community.
I say Fairy Godmother because she sure looks the part ,with her clothing from the ‘60s, her necklaces and beads, and her braided white hair. But there is nothing naive about this trained people watcher, whose generosity knows no bounds and who often amazes those unaccustomed to excellence and good manners. Mauricia has started the Siempre Unidas Foundation (Always United Foundation), in honor of her parents, Dr. Eduardo Alvarez and her mother, the pioneer of the U.N.'s Program on Aging, Mrs. Julia Alvarez.
With this foundation, Mauricia hopes to support artists from all the coastal regions in South and Central America and the Caribbean, where they can recover and revive their dreams.
The elderly are also pleased as they will be able live off of her green vegetables, as well as the women who will live off of her crafts (Mauricia already has 16 alpacas and sheep on her farms). The cooking students and chefs in Conway and surrounding areas will have work with the restaurant chain she is about to create for the community.
I have come with my bricks to help build her bridge with the Dominican Republic, where the cheerful and inexhaustible creativity of our America is sure to travel.
Spanish to English: Newspaper article: El observador (Uruguay) General field: Social Sciences Detailed field: Government / Politics
Source text - Spanish Giro realista del Frente Amplio
Vázquez, Mujica y los Estados Unidos. Una relación cordial
La actitud del Frente Amplio hacia Estados Unidos ha tenido un vuelco saludable desde el fiasco de hace ocho años, cuando el entonces presidente Tabaré Vázquez primero aceptó y luego rechazó el tratado de libre comercio que nos ofrecía esa nación. Algunos sectores de la alianza de izquierda todavía cargan con la mentalidad de guerra fría, época en que la militancia ideológica incluía, como un deber, demonizar a Washington en todos los campos. Pero los dirigentes principales reconocen y aceptan desde hace tiempo la conveniencia, y hasta la necesidad, de mantener con esa potencia las más estrechas relaciones posibles.
Los resultados de este cambio de actitud se han confirmado con la orden del vicepresidente Joseph Biden a sus asistentes, por instrucción de su jefe el presidente Barack Obama, de acelerar medidas prácticas de acercamiento con Uruguay. Esta política, a la cual han contribuido en gran medida los buenos oficios de la embajadora Julissa Reynoso y su cordial relación con el gobierno frenteamplista, tomó vuelo después de una conversación telefónica de Biden con el presidente José Mujica en agosto. The New York Times aseguró que la llamada de Biden fue para presionar a Mujica para que apresurara la venida a Uruguay de los seis presos de Guantánamo que nuestro gobierno ha aceptado recibir. La versión del diario fue negada por la oficina de Biden, por la embajadora Reynoso y por el propio Mujica. El presidente afirmó categóricamente que la fecha de venida de los presos es una decisión que tomará cuando lo considere pertinente, sin intervención de nadie más. Corresponde recordar que, cuando el gobierno informó sobre los presos, Mujica aclaró que el acuerdo no sería gratis para Estados Unidos porque le pasaría “la boleta” a Obama.
Es secundario si los anuncios de Biden de mayor asistencia a Uruguay forman o no parte de la boleta presidencial. Lo primordial es la concreción del giro político del Frente Amplio hacia Estados Unidos, país que desde mucho antes del tema de los presos ha dado señales de respaldo a nuestro país, independientemente de que la izquierda lo gobierne desde hace casi una década. Primero fue el tratado de libre comercio ofrecido por el entonces presidente George Bush en 2006. Vázquez y los demás dirigentes más sensatos del Frente Amplio lo aceptaron, pero se dio marcha atrás ante la presión combinada de los sectores conservadores de esa fuerza y de los socios mayores del Mercosur. El propio Vázquez reveló hace algún tiempo que hasta le había pedido ayuda a Bush cuando la hostilidad kirchnerista le hizo temer una intervención directa de Argentina en nuestro país.
La reunión de Mujica con Obama en mayo le dio renovado impulso al acercamiento con Washington, reflejado ahora en la revelación de que Biden timonea ampliar las exportaciones uruguayas a ese mercado, eliminar la exigencia de visa para entrar a Estados Unidos, intensificar las becas para que uruguayos viajen a estudiar y otras medidas a favor de nuestro país. El más elemental realismo exige estrechar relaciones con una democracia que no solo es la primera potencia del mundo, sino también su mayor mercado comercial. La aceptación de la mayoría frenteamplista de esta obvia ventaja finalmente extiende a todo nuestro sistema partidario una posición que debe ser política constante de Estado y no un oscilante jugueteo ideológico inducido por quienes viven en el siglo pasado.
Translation - English The Broad Front’s Sensible Turnaround
Vazquez, Mujica and the United States: A Friendly Relationship
The Frente Amplio's (Broad Front’s) attitude toward the United States has had a healthy improvement since the fiasco eight years ago, when President Tabare Vazquez initially accepted but later rejected the free trade agreement the U.S. offered to us. A few among the left alliance still harbor a Cold War mentality, which was a time when ideological militancy, as a duty, meant demonizing Washington in everything. Yet the Frente Amplio’s main leaders have recognized and accepted, for some time now, the convenience, and even the necessity, of maintaining as close a relationship as possible with this world power.
When Vice President Joseph Biden gave the order to speed up practical attempts at getting closer to Uruguay, which ultimately came from his boss, Barack Obama, he essentially confirmed the effects that this change in attitude will have. This policy really took off after a telephone conversation that Biden had with President Jose Mujica in August and is due in large part to the excellent ambassadorship of Julissa Reynoso and her cordial relationship with the Frente Amplio government. The New York Times claimed that Biden’s phone call was to pressure Mujica into expediting the arrival of six Guantanamo prisoners who our government has agreed to receive. This version of the story given by the newspaper was denied by Biden's office, Ambassador Reynoso and Mujica himself. The president definitively stated that exactly when the prisoners arrive is something he'll decide when appropriate — without interference from anyone else. It should be noted that when the government reported about the prisoners, Mujica mentioned that this agreement would not be without consequence for the United States since he would then send Obama his "bill of sale."
Whether Biden’s announcement that Uruguay would be receiving additional aid will be part of the presidential tab or not is of less importance. The bottom line is that the Frente Amplio has solidified its political turn toward the United States; the U.S. has shown signs of support for our nation long before these prisoners were ever discussed, and regardless of the fact that the left has governed our country for nearly a decade. This change began when President George W. Bush offered us the free trade agreement in 2006. Vazquez and other sound leaders of the Frente Amplio accepted it, but this was reversed when faced with the combined forces of the Frente [Amplio]’s more conservative parties, in addition to Mercosur's senior members. Even Vazquez said some time ago that he had asked Bush for help when Kirchner's hostility made him afraid that Argentina would attempt a direct intervention on our soil.
Mujica's meeting with Obama in May rekindled his desire for a close relationship with Washington, which is now especially evident in light of the fact that Biden is planning to expand Uruguayan exports to the U.S. market, to remove the visa requirement needed to enter the United States, and to bolster scholarships so Uruguayans can travel there and study, among many other benefits for our country. Anyone with any common sense would but insist upon closer ties to a democracy that is not only the world's leading power, but also its largest economy. The Frente Amplio's majority decision to accept this obvious advantage finally gives to our entire party system a stance that must be a political constant and not an ideological swing brought about by those still living in the last century.
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Years of experience: 10. Registered at ProZ.com: Oct 2013.
Hi, I'm Brett Morrison, a freelance translator living in Utah. I translate mainly from Spanish to English and am part of a freelance partnership named Morr Translation, which you can visit here.
I do general translations, subtitles, official government documents, and more!
I love languages and cultures and have a particular affinity for the Spanish language. I'm currently a student at BYU-Provo and will graduate with a degree in Spanish Translation within a few months.
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