Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados
English translation:
which makes our version of "blind justice" more akin to a sightless old woman fumbling about with her cane
Added to glossary by
James A. Walsh
Oct 10, 2013 21:49
10 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Government / Politics
Book about the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia
Hi there,
This is from the prologue of a book about the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia. The person writing the prologue is another Colombian writer and theater director, so the language used is quite metaphoric in places. Certainly the case with this little gem anyway.
From what I can grasp, “money and power are factors of alienation”, i.e., they can buy justice, and the “mujer con los ojos tapados” is referring to Lady Justice; but I’m having serious issues connecting the dots in between, and could really use some help here. I’m bleary-eyed from chewing this over already!
Here’s the context:
“[Author X] se declara liberal desde siempre y ello le permite clamar que “La aplicación del modelo liberal colombiano tiene que ser modificado por un verdadero liberalismo de Estado”. Y clama por la ética, por la moral, por normas que purifiquen y decanten; hace un llamamiento al elector primario para que comprenda los problemas en juego y para que al votar adopte decisiones sobre cuestiones reales y abandone su papel de masa ignorante, para que se informe y no caiga en la ley de la oferta y la demanda, para que abandone la plataforma que le promete más al menor coste.
Queda la impresión de que el dinero y el poder son factores de alienación, que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados, dejando a su paso una sensación de soledad.”
____________________
Source language: Colombian Spanish
Target language: U.S. English
Thanks in advance!
P.S. I’m having trouble with the entire phrase “la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados”, but could only post 10 words, so had to chop it. I know rules are rules, and I apologize for over-stepping them on this occasion :)
This is from the prologue of a book about the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia. The person writing the prologue is another Colombian writer and theater director, so the language used is quite metaphoric in places. Certainly the case with this little gem anyway.
From what I can grasp, “money and power are factors of alienation”, i.e., they can buy justice, and the “mujer con los ojos tapados” is referring to Lady Justice; but I’m having serious issues connecting the dots in between, and could really use some help here. I’m bleary-eyed from chewing this over already!
Here’s the context:
“[Author X] se declara liberal desde siempre y ello le permite clamar que “La aplicación del modelo liberal colombiano tiene que ser modificado por un verdadero liberalismo de Estado”. Y clama por la ética, por la moral, por normas que purifiquen y decanten; hace un llamamiento al elector primario para que comprenda los problemas en juego y para que al votar adopte decisiones sobre cuestiones reales y abandone su papel de masa ignorante, para que se informe y no caiga en la ley de la oferta y la demanda, para que abandone la plataforma que le promete más al menor coste.
Queda la impresión de que el dinero y el poder son factores de alienación, que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados, dejando a su paso una sensación de soledad.”
____________________
Source language: Colombian Spanish
Target language: U.S. English
Thanks in advance!
P.S. I’m having trouble with the entire phrase “la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados”, but could only post 10 words, so had to chop it. I know rules are rules, and I apologize for over-stepping them on this occasion :)
Change log
Oct 15, 2013 21:02: James A. Walsh changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/141521">James A. Walsh's</a> old entry - "que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados"" to ""which makes our version of \"blind justice\" more akin to a sightless old woman fumbling about with her cane""
Proposed translations
+3
9 mins
Selected
[See below.]
que la justicia deambula dando golpes de bastón desde su simbolismo de mujer con los ojos tapados
=
and that our version "blind justice" is more like a sightless old woman lashing out wildly with her cane
Not a literal translation, but seems to capture the intended sense.
Suerte.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:22:44 GMT)
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As Teju has pointed out, my original answer has a typo:
Should read:
"our version OF 'blind justice'"
=
and that our version "blind justice" is more like a sightless old woman lashing out wildly with her cane
Not a literal translation, but seems to capture the intended sense.
Suerte.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:22:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
As Teju has pointed out, my original answer has a typo:
Should read:
"our version OF 'blind justice'"
Note from asker:
Thanks, Robert. I absolutely appreciate non-literal here! :) |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
teju
: One question Robert, why did you word it like this: ... that our version "blind justice"? Did you mean ...that our version of "blind justice"?//No problem! saludos :)
3 hrs
|
My mistake! Thanks for pointing it out...and for the agree.... :)
|
|
agree |
Andy Watkinson
3 hrs
|
Thank you, Andy.
|
|
agree |
Rachael West
: love it
9 hrs
|
Thank you, Rachael.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks very much, Robert, and everyone else for your valuable help here. Much appreciated :)
I went with a hybrid of your's and Andy's suggestions - cheers!"
3 hrs
justice stumbles about with her symbolically blindfolded eyes...
and that justice stumbles about with her symbolically blindfolded eyes, dealing (futile) blows with her cane and (leaving behind...)
Just another version.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:35:34 GMT)
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Or maybe 'justice in her symbolical blindfold...'
Or capitalized 'Justice'
Good luck with it!
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:41:40 GMT)
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Sorry: 'symbolic'. Shouldn't rush these things!
Just another version.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:35:34 GMT)
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Or maybe 'justice in her symbolical blindfold...'
Or capitalized 'Justice'
Good luck with it!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-11 01:41:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry: 'symbolic'. Shouldn't rush these things!
+2
6 hrs
[while] blindfolded Lady Justice flails around hitting things aimlessly with a stick
I think this solution captures the intent of the original.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Patricia Parten
: I agree, except "the stick." I'd use "cane."
10 hrs
|
Yes, of course.
|
|
agree |
neilmac
: Fits the original text, which seems a bit too pleased with itself.
1 day 4 hrs
|
Thanks, Neil!
|
Discussion
Just a thought.
Robert's suggestion is excellent, naturally, but in the text there's nothing to suggest indiscriminate attacks.
The "golpes de bastón" (a ciegas) could equally be described as "fumbling with her cane", if the author wishes to underscore the justice system's incompetence.