Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
hace faltas
English translation:
do mistakes
Added to glossary by
Michael Powers (PhD)
Jun 18, 2007 13:33
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
United States
US Court Cert. 1980 Ph.D. 1981
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
hace faltas
Spanish to English
Other
Linguistics
non-standard Spanish
I would like a back translation, not of what the interpreter meant to say, but as to the probable understanding by this middle-aged, somewhat uneducated Guatemalann gentleman
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
10 mins
Henry Hinds
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
Works in field
United States
43 years of Border Experience and fast.
Native in: English 
, Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
76
Selected
do mistakes
porque la gente hace faltas = why people do mistakes
"...por qué la gente comete faltas (errores)" = why people make (commit) mistakes would be more usual, but even though not so usual it is likely to be understood.
To show at least that the statement was not made in a usual manner for the language.
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Note added at 11 minutos (2007-06-18 13:44:29 GMT)
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An unpleasant task you have been given.
"...por qué la gente comete faltas (errores)" = why people make (commit) mistakes would be more usual, but even though not so usual it is likely to be understood.
To show at least that the statement was not made in a usual manner for the language.
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Note added at 11 minutos (2007-06-18 13:44:29 GMT)
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An unpleasant task you have been given.
Note from asker:
| Not really - it is an interesting twist to what we usually do. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Robert Copeland
: I would go with "make" mistakes here
11 mins
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|
Gracias, Robert. So would I, but it has to look "incorrect".
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| agree |
Nicholas Ferreira
1 hr
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Gracias, Nicholas.
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| agree |
franglish
3 hrs
|
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Gracias, Franglish.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, everyone. - Mike :)"
43 mins
make mistakes
make/do are ok but I think make sounds more spoken
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Note added at 44 mins (2007-06-18 14:17:26 GMT)
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sorry just seen Robert's comment! Ignore me :)
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Note added at 44 mins (2007-06-18 14:17:26 GMT)
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sorry just seen Robert's comment! Ignore me :)
1 hr
Sp-EnTranslator
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
Works in field
United States
Related KudoZ points
:
4
make faults
esto va un poco más lejos, por si hace falta más falta aún XS)
2 hrs
AZjuancarlos
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Federally Certified Court Interpreter
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
It/he/she make fault/do fault/is missing, (see explanation below)
Without context it can be soooo many things. The RAE alone list 14 different meanings for "Falta." So context will definitely help. Other options:
It/he/she make fault
It/he/she do fault
It/he/she is missing/needed (as in hace falta el expediente, the file is missing/needed)
It/he/she is yet to be done (as in hace falta pagar la multa, paying the fine is still yet to be done)
It/he/she breaks the law/rules/guidelines, etc. (cometer una falta)
It/he/she makes error (as in a written document)
Buena suerte
It/he/she make fault
It/he/she do fault
It/he/she is missing/needed (as in hace falta el expediente, the file is missing/needed)
It/he/she is yet to be done (as in hace falta pagar la multa, paying the fine is still yet to be done)
It/he/she breaks the law/rules/guidelines, etc. (cometer una falta)
It/he/she makes error (as in a written document)
Buena suerte
3 hrs
David Grau
Romania
Romania
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Romania
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Romanian to Spanish, Catalan to Spanish, and 7 more.
does mistakes/errors
If you're looking for the mistake that a Spanish speaker might make, use this. I've heard a thousand Spaniards "do" this kind of mistake.
Another typical mistake is translating "falta" as "error", which is perfectly normal in Spanish but sounds unnatural in English. I've heard quite a few Spanish speakers "make/do errors" in English.
Another typical mistake is translating "falta" as "error", which is perfectly normal in Spanish but sounds unnatural in English. I've heard quite a few Spanish speakers "make/do errors" in English.
5 hrs
Narcis Lozano Drago
Spain
Spain
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Spain
Professional, for professionals
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: English to Spanish, Japanese to Spanish, Korean to Spanish
is necessary
I also agree with the "do mistakes" version, but I would like to propose another possible interpretation by a Spanish user of that (mis)translation.
"Hay muchas razones porque la gente hace faltas" could also be interpreted as "Hay muchas razones porque la gente HACE FALTA", in the sense "There are many reasons why people is necessary", which could be linked by the hearer with the "investigation" context aforementioned.
"Hay muchas razones porque la gente hace faltas" could also be interpreted as "Hay muchas razones porque la gente HACE FALTA", in the sense "There are many reasons why people is necessary", which could be linked by the hearer with the "investigation" context aforementioned.
Discussion
Interpreter?
That it is. I've done it as well, and to a point it's fun, but it's not always easy to convey mistakes and poor usage from one language to another. In some places it's downright impossible.
Interpreter: Y, durante la investigación, la investigación no dice por qué.
Suspect: Ajá
Detective: And that is very important.
Interpreter: Y eso es muy importante.
Detective: There, there are many reasons why, why people make mistakes.
Interpreter: Hay muchas razones porque la gente hace faltas [sic.].