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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

burrada (here to try to translate a pun)

English translation:

donkey -ass _ burrada ; burrada - asinine (adj.)

Added to glossary by Sheila Hardie
Nov 25, 2007 10:54
16 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term

burrada (here to try to translate a pun)

Spanish to English Other Journalism
Cada vez más burros en Catalunya
Quiero decir, en la carrocería de los coches que circulan por las carreteras catalanas. ***A algunos les parecerá -perdónese el chiste fácil- una burrada.***

I am trying to translate the pun really - I would normally translate 'burrada' as 'nonsense' or something similar. But it doesn't tie in with 'burro' as in the Spanish pun referring to the car stickers commonly seen on Catalan cars these days. Is there any way of maintaining the Spanish pun in English???

Many thanks in advance for any ideas!


Sheila
Proposed translations (English)
4 donkey -ass _ burrada ; burrada - asinine (adj.)
4 +2 an ass of a vehicle
4 +2 harebrained trend (see explanation, + another idea)
3 +2 to some people this will seem - as we're on the subject of animals - to be donkeying around
4 dumbass idea
3 they dont' give a "donkey"
Change log

Nov 27, 2007 21:51: Sheila Hardie Created KOG entry

Discussion

Carol Gullidge Nov 25, 2007:
..attributed to what "others might say", which means he can get away with being a little more scathing, as this isn't supposed to be his own opinion. Which means that I don't need to cancel my answer yet again for fear of it having the wrong tone!
Carol Gullidge Nov 25, 2007:
Yes, I saw that, vaguely translated as: a protest against uniform centralisation espressed in symbols such as the Spanish bull and flag.

In fact, as he seems to be giving a balanced view, and since he says "A algunos les parecerá", then his pun is
Sheila Hardie (asker) Nov 25, 2007:
Hi Carol, Well, it's hard to say. He tries to give a balanced view, but in the end I think he is in favour of these 'burros'. The sentence that follows on from the quote I gave is: Otros consideran que es "una proposta reivindicativa, que pretén lluitar contra el centralisme uniformitzador expressant en símbols com el toro a la matrícula espanyola".
The part in Catalan is actually taken from the website I cited above - burrocatala.com. HTH!
Carol Gullidge Nov 25, 2007:
Sheila: which way do you fel that the writer's sympathies lie? Your original question rather implied that he/she was against the idea of the donkeys springing up all over the place, or at least, making fun of it. What do you think is the tone?
Sheila Hardie (asker) Nov 25, 2007:
BTW, I've just found a website - www.burrocatala.com - that explains the donkey sticker thing quite clearly - I think it's only in Catalan though. Lots more info on Google anyway. HTH!!
Sheila Hardie (asker) Nov 25, 2007:
Catalan donkey Sorry, Henry - I realise it's now it's not too obvious. In Catalonia many people have donkey stickers (black or white depending on the colour of their car I suppose) stuck to their cars - to indicate their allegiance to Catalonia as opposed to Spain - symbolised in turn by the 'Osborne' bull :) I think the Catalan donkey stickers have kind of replaced the Catalan flag or 'CAT' stickers that used to be more popular. Hope that clarifies things a wee bit! :- )
Henry Hinds Nov 25, 2007:
Those of us who haven't been driving around Catalunya for a while (in my case 42 years) have some trouble understanding... (CONTEXT).
claudia16 (X) Nov 25, 2007:
oh, I see in Chile burras area type of very old cars, disregard me!
claudia16 (X) Nov 25, 2007:
how about saying the car is an old-banger and tha is "bang-bang put-put"!a silly idea?
Bubo Coroman (X) Nov 25, 2007:
hi Sheila! How are you going to translate "burros" - or are you asking for ideas for that as well?
Victoria Porter-Burns Nov 25, 2007:
Sorry Sheila - I spent so long thinking about this one I forgot about the sticker part!

Proposed translations

2 days 30 mins
Selected

donkey -ass _ burrada ; burrada - asinine (adj.)

Asinine is an adjective, though I don't know if you're referring to the vehicle, person driving (!), or an idea. You could say "asinine idea" maybe?

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Note added at 2 days3 hrs (2007-11-27 14:31:11 GMT)
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Use ASININE IDEA to translate "burrada", and "ASS" to translate "burro".
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all of you for the fantastic ideas! In the end, my client preferred 'asinine', so the points must go to Gary. Thanks again, Sheila :-))"
+2
4 mins

an ass of a vehicle

I think this would work here - keeping the 'donkey/ass' idea
Note from asker:
Hi Victoria - thanks for your suggestion! Maybe 'an ass of an idea' would be possible ??? I think they are referring to the act of sticking the donkey stickers on the car rather than the cars themselves. Thanks again, Sheila
Peer comment(s):
agree Michael Powers (PhD) : Flexible thinking for an appropriate, pun, Victora. It has a nice ring to it - nice job, Victoria - Mike :)
8 mins
agree Carol Gullidge : I think an ass of an idea might be the closest anyone will get!
47 mins
I would think so. Thanks Carol :-)
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7 mins

they dont' give a "donkey"

Instead of "don't give a monkey". I am not an English native speaker so I don't know if this will actually work. Anyway, just a suggestion.

Regards
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15 mins

dumbass idea

in keeping with your dialogue with Victoria, Sheila

justs to add to its nonsense

Mike :)
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

to some people this will seem - as we're on the subject of animals - to be donkeying around

this is actually a reference to "monkeying around" but gets in the donkey, and "monkeying around" will be understood as the meaning
Note from asker:
Hi Deborah - Thanks for your help - I was thinking of translating 'burro' as 'donkey' originally, but might change it to 'ass' to tie in with the pun. However, it might not be necessary - they are synonyms after all. And I prefer the word 'donkey' when using the plural :-)
Peer comment(s):
agree Sandra Rodriguez : This does bring to mind the sticker donkeys going around!
5 hrs
muchas gracias Sandra, eres muy amable :-) Deborah
agree Sp-EnTranslator
8 hrs
thanks Clo, enjoy your evening! :-) Deborah
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+2
2 hrs

harebrained trend (see explanation, + another idea)

trend is the word that escaped me, and only came while I was doing the hoovering...!

You'd need to use lateral thinking to translate what I presume is a caption/headline: "Cada vez más burros en Catalunya"

into: "Donkeys reproducing/breeding like rabbits in Catalonia"

which then leads to 2 obvious puns: "harebrained", and "mad as a March hare"

".... a trend that would apear to some to be - if you'll excuse the obvious pun - hare-brained"

".. trend that would seem to some - and do excuse the obvious pun - to be utterly hare-brained"


"..... as mad as a March hare"

ANOTHER POSSIBILITY (if you're set against modifying the heading):

jackassed trend/nonsense/behaviour

...This would appear to some - and, forgive the facile pun: jackassed nonsense...

.... a jackassed trend

or jackassed behaviour/carrying on - depending on the register required, and on how strongly the author feels.

since jackass refers to either a donkey (asno, burro) or a person (fig) burro .

Meanwhile "jackassed" means idiotic, crazy, stupid carry-on ...

NB, because of its 2 inherent meanings, jackass has its own inbuilt pun!

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Note added at 6 hrs (2007-11-25 17:38:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


Another possible pun, using the 2 linked elements:


"Donkeys springing up everywhere.... if you'll excuse the ... pun - a load of horseplay"

Also, "Donkeys breeding.." (above) should read "Donkeys multiplying like rabbits" (obviously!)
Peer comment(s):
agree Bubo Coroman (X) : I'm trying not to laugh, but it's not working!
4 hrs
many thanks, Deborah! :-)
agree Sp-EnTranslator : great job in all aspects =D
7 hrs
many thanks, CloHoHoe! :-)
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