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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

ocupar (en este sentido)

English translation:

necesitar

Added to glossary by Candace Holt Ryan
Aug 25, 2016 21:26
7 yrs ago
9 viewers *
Spanish term

ocupar (en este sentido)

Spanish to English Law/Patents Law (general)
I'm not certain of the meaning of the verb "ocupar" in this phrase. The Spanish is from Mexico.


...(el señor) solicitó permisos para extraer piedra para la construcción de la casa, ya que ocupaba permiso,...

Gracias de antemano.
Proposed translations (English)
5 +4 necesitar
4 +1 as he had already obtained permission to etc.
4 require
5 -1 [he] was making use of
4 hold/have

Discussion

Andy Watkinson Aug 26, 2016:
Perhaps it's because it's past my bedtime or I'm simply stupid, but I fail to fathom the logic underlying "he asked for permission because he already had a permit" (¿?).

Could those who support the idea that when you have a permit to do something, you then need to ask for permission to do it supply any reasoning for this?

Proposed translations

+4
20 mins
Selected

necesitar

In Mexico, the word ocupar can be used as a synonym for necesitar. It is a regionalism and a very colloquial term.

So, in other words, what they are saying is: "...ya que necesitaba permiso"
Example sentence:

Ocupo ir a la farmacia.

Reference:

http://udep.edu.pe/castellanoactual/duda-resuelta-son-sinonimos-ocupar-y-necesitar/

http://cvc.cervantes.es/foros/leer_asunto1.asp?vCodigo=47422

Peer comment(s):
agree Adrian MM. (X) : yes, this type of semantic trap in Mexico is an *occupational* hazard.
6 mins
agree Robert Carter : In all my time here I'd never heard it used like this before, but my wife and my daughter both confirmed that it's quite common. Odd.
37 mins
agree AllegroTrans : I have no knowledge of Spanish usage in Mexico, but this is the only logical meaning when you look at the sentence
1 hr
disagree Rosa Paredes : Nope. He already has the permit. He requested permission (as in 'may I'). he did so because he was making use of his permit.
4 hrs
agree lorenab23 : Quite common, ocupar = need (years of experience interpreting in the US for people from Mexico). The man requested permits since he needed them.
6 hrs
agree Andy Watkinson : I'm agreeing not out of familiarity with Mexican Spanish but with common sense.
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Agradezco un montón su ayuda."
36 mins

require

Removing the stone required a permit:

Permits...Do I Need One? Residential building, remodeling, additions ...

www.weknowcodes.com/residential/do-i-need-a-permit.php

Permit and Inspections Process for Residential Buildings ... enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing ... (c) A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and ...

When is a Building Permit Not Required? - Toronto Building - Services ...
www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid...vgnextchannel...

The following are examples of work which do not require a building permit and ... than brick or stone veneer;; Adding or replacing insulation;; The replacement of ...

[PDF]1 RCNY §101-15 - NYC.gov

www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/rules/1_RCNY_101-14.pdf

and therefore may be exempt from the permit requirements of the New York city .... Removal and replacement of exterior stone or terra cotta ornamentation with ...

Building Permits: When a Permit Is Required and When It's Not - Houzz

www.houzz.com/.../list/building-permits-when-a-permit-is-re...

Mar 3, 2015 - A permit is required for electrical modifications, plumbing work (even replacing that rusty old water heater), window modifications that enlarge ...
:))
Peer comment(s):
agree AllegroTrans : exactly- need, require, necessitate etc.
1 hr
Hi AllegroTrans: thanks for your confirmation. :))
disagree Rosa Paredes : Please see explanation.
3 hrs
Thanks for your comment, Rosa: although I believe that "ya que" means "because" in Mexico and not "already". Saludos:)
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

as he had already obtained permission to etc.

I would say
Peer comment(s):
agree Rosa Paredes : Absolutely! He requested permission (as in 'may I'); he did so because he was making use of his permit.
1 hr
thank you Rosa :)
Something went wrong...
-1
4 hrs

[he] was making use of

Believe it or not, the fact that it does not work in Mexico does not amount to much.
The answers provided by David Hollywwod and Mariana Serio (with 2 disagree) are both perfectly correct takes on this expression which means to make use of something that you already have, so 'require' does not work here nor does 'necesitar'.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Robert Carter : Hi Rosa, I believe you are quite wrong about this, where does the word "already" come into it?
14 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 mins

hold/have

...since he held/had a permit.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2016-08-26 03:13:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

What I understand when I read this sentence is that the man asked for permission to extract rock because he already had a permit to do so. The text seems to appear in a formal context so I don't think Mexican slang is used here.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Erika Ramos De Urquidi : In some regions in Mexico, ocupar means necesitar. Please see my answer below.
17 mins
disagree AllegroTrans : doesn't work in this sentence
1 hr
agree Rosa Paredes : This is a correct answer.
4 hrs
Thank you for your support. I really don't see how "necesitar" would make sense here.
agree Clarkalo
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
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