3.29.2009

DO YOU TWITTER?

I don’t Twitter and I continue to be ignorant of the Twitter activity. I have adhered late to SMSing and it will take me some time before I go twitter. As I understand it, Twitter is an instant communication channel. An instant intrusion both ways. I view it as a nuisance. Surely, at least by now, I won’t twitter.

Twitter is a Web site and service that lets users send short text messages from their cellphones to a group of friends or colleagues. Launched in 2006, Twitter www.twitter.com) was designed for people to keep others up-to-date on their activities. The Twitter site explains its purpose as "keeping friends, family and co-workers connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, email or through an application.

3.21.2009

TUPINIQUINGLISH / SPANGLISH / PORTUNHOL

A língua é viva e está em constante mutação, mas, até que ponto devemos adotar termos aportuguesados?

chapter = capítulo, em vez de "seção", no caso, por ex., de "Seção da OAB" [São Paulo Chapter] / deletar / atachar / performance (por que não usar "desempenho"?/ stakeholder / rankear / blister / mouse (a solução "rato" dos portugueses também é horrível! Aí, prefiro "mouse") / blog = diário ?

“immediate past president” = “presidente passado imediato” (vi isso em algum lugar e é de doer - por que não "último ex-presidente" ou "Presidente anterior"?

Juntando as palavras novas, as traduzidas de maneira errada, as aportuguesadas, o internetês e o palavreado de algumas tribos ("trampo, trampar!!!"), estamos caminhando para um outro idioma (um tipo de esperanto?). No ritmo que isso vem acontecendo, em uma ou duas décadas teremos um idioma universal.

KNOW-IT-ALL / WHIZ KID / GEEK / NERD / SMART ALECK

A know-it-all translator? Nenhum tradutor é um especialista em tudo. É claro que, com os anos de trabalho duro, acumula-se um pouco de conhecimento. (E quanto mais se aprende, mais se descobre o quanto não sabemos ou quanto ainda temos que aprender – "Só sei que nada sei".[frase que Platão atribuía a Sócrates],) Mas, obviamente, ninguém consegue ser um especialista em tudo. E só conseguimos fazer certas traduções após muita pesquisa. Lembro que quando foi aprovado o novo código de trânsito (1997), uma grande montadora pediu que eu traduzisse um resumo de cerca de 30 páginas. Apenas para chegar à definição dos termos adequados para as multas (leve, grave, gravíssima), consultei mais de 400 páginas de códigos de trânsito de vários países.

Know-it-all or know-all is an epithet applied to any person who exhibits the belief that he or she possesses a superior intellect and wealth of knowledge, and shows a determination to demonstrate his perceived superiority at every opportunity.
The whiz kid is usually a
stock character, with a specific personality type. Traits tend to include; highly intelligent, lacking in physical strength, mentally intimidating, knowledgable and confident.[1] The term "whiz kid" can apply to both males and females.[2] They are usually characterized as wearing glasses, somewhat overdressed or touting an unusual style than the rest of the group (this may include button-up shirts, suspenders, and gelled, parted hair or other, slightly dated, wear). ... The whiz kid character usually takes pride in being smart, and often uses big words (sometimes to show off, or to confuse and manipulate other, less intelligent characters). Derogatory references may include: "geeks" or "nerds".
A "smart alec" or "smart aleck" is a person regarded as obnoxiously self-assertive and an impudent (=insolent, impertinent) person.
Source: Wikipedia

3.20.2009

THE PENNY DROPPED

É isso mesmo: "Caiu a ficha!"
Meaning: A belated realization of something after a period of confusion or misunderstanding.
Origin: The Oxford English Dictionary states that this phrase originated by way of allusion to the mechanism of penny-in-the-slot machines.
"I sat and thought for a moment and then the penny dropped."
The Penny drops on retailers: Hard discount types from Germany plan a UK invasion.
The penny drops for house sellers – along with asking prices
Are there any classic critical incidents which stand out for most trainees, ie, when the penny drops and behaviour changes?
It is only a matter of time before the penny drops and O2 is sued into the millions for damage to people’s health.
When the penny drops it w ill be too late.

3.14.2009

DOGMAS & CONCESSIONS

Neste sentido:

Dogma: An authoritative principle, belief, or statement of ideas or opinion, especially one considered to be absolutely true.

Concession: Something, such as a point previously claimed in argument, that is later conceded.

A dúvida é: Até que ponto devemos fazer concessões/usar tupiniquinglish na hora de traduzir para que o cliente não estranhe? (Por favor, vote na enquete)

*No sentido de: adotar o termo “tupiniquinglish” que sabemos que o cliente conhece mais (client EM VEZ DE customer; quotaholder EM VEZ DE member; for just cause EM VEZ DE for cause, etc.)

Pode acontecer que, usando tupiniquinglish com um cliente mais "knowledgeable" ele acabe concluindo que você "don't know any better". Nem sempre dá para para perguntar ao cliente o que ele prefere. Devemos educar o cliente?

Definição completa dos termos acima:

Dogma: A doctrine or a corpus of doctrines relating to matters such as morality and faith, set forth in an authoritative manner by a church. An authoritative principle, belief, or statement of ideas or opinion, especially one considered to be absolutely true. See synonyms at doctrine. A principle or belief or a group of them: “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present” (Abraham Lincoln). In general, a belief held unquestioningly and with undefended certainty. In the Christian Church, a belief communicated by divine revelation, and defined by the Church. Dogmatism is one possible reaction to skepticism: it selects some set of propositions and insists, apparently arbitrarily, that they be not doubted.

Concession: The act of conceding. Something, such as a point previously claimed in argument, that is later conceded. An acknowledgment or admission. A grant of a tract of land made by a government or other controlling authority in return for stipulated services or a promise that the land will be used for a specific purpose. The privilege of maintaining a subsidiary business within certain premises. The space allotted for such a business. The business itself: had an ice-cream concession in the subway station.



3.08.2009

SUBJECT TO = PROVIDED THAT >< NOTWITHSTANDING

sujeito a, contanto que (adverbial phrase): being under the authority, control or rule of something. "These rules are subject to three important exceptions."

Synonym: provided that : "The seller will deliver the goods by lorry, provided that the buyer makes available appropriate facilities for parking and unloading."

Antonym: notwithstanding: "The company continued to make automatic deductions from the consumer's bank account, notwithstanding the consumer's request that it stop doing so."

Common phrases
subject to review: it may be examined to determine whether it should be changed or corrected. "All proposed litigation is subject to review by the Department of Justice."
subject to change: it may be changed. "The price stated in the contract is subject to change in the event of significant increases or decreases in the price of raw materials."
subject to termination: something that can be brought to an end. "The contract was subject to termination upon one month's notice by either party."
subject to sale: depending on whether something is sold. "He purchased his new home subject to sale of his old home in order to avoid owning two homes and thus being unable to pay for the new home."
Source: Your Dictionary

3.03.2009

CONTANGO / BACKWARDATION

Contango: Não se traduz. Contango, operação de transferência; juros pela transferência da operação
Não, não é uma noite em Buenos Aires, rather, “this is a pricing situation in which the prices of futures contracts are higher the further out the maturities are. This is the normal pricing pattern because carrying charges such as storage, interest expense, and insurance have to be paid in order to hold onto a commodity. It is the opposite of backwardation.”
“He explained how contango affects the crude oil. Contango is one of the simplest arbitrages in the markets: you buy oil today, contract to sell it at a higher price in a few months' time, and just sit on it in the interim. Oil market participants win precisely because they can play the contango trade effectively and predictably. “
“O mercado de petróleo começa a apresentar um fenômeno característico dos momentos de crise quando os preços do barril desabam. Esse fenômeno é conhecido como contango. O contango é o diferencial entre o preço do barril para entrega imediata e o do barril no mercado futuro. “

Backwardation: Não se traduz. Margem de cobertura; preço para entrega em curto prazo que excede aquele para entrega posteriormente; espécie de comissão e juros em razão da venda de ações a descoberto para entrega futura.
“A Bolsa de Metais de Londres impôs limites de backwardation ao níquel."
“Os crescentes estoques fizeram os preços do cobre caírem numa margem de cobertura, ou "backwardation", no qual o cobre no preço à vista é atualmente US$ XX mais caro do que o de entrega em três meses.“

CONTEMN

To view with contempt; despise (desprezar, menosprezar, desdenhar).

Esta é uma palavra interessante, parecida com “condemn”, mas é uma palavra negativa.
Não tenho muita simpatia por palavras negativas. Quando eu morava no Iraque, tinha aulas de árabe com o Youssef (por onde andará o Youssef?), intérprete libanês que vivia no Brasil e nos acompanhou ao Iraque. O Youssef se recusava a nos ensinar palavras feias (não que alguém pedisse) mas, sábio e diplomático como era, só nos ensinava a falar coisas bonitas, elogios, poesias. E assim, quando encontrávamos algum iraquiano e podíamos mostrar o nosso (parco) conhecimento de árabe era só para dizer: “Como este país é lindo! O por-do-sol é maravilhoso! As tâmaras são muito doces! O calor lembra a minha terra, o Brasil. A história deste país é a história da eternidade.” E por aí afora. Todo mundo ficava feliz.

Suggested Usage: Give "hate" and "despise" a rest and try "I contemn everything he stands for," carefully articulating the "t". "Mary contemns the way her neighbors reduplicate her garden in theirs." (Source: Your Dictionary)