This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Education / Pedagogy

materia

English translation: subject (matter)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:materia
English translation:subject (matter)
Entered by: Noni Gilbert Riley

10:53 Oct 29, 2008
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Education / Pedagogy / University course terminology
Spanish term or phrase: materia
I'm dithering... My text is a survey, to be sent to university teachers involved in teaching on Communications courses. The questions revolve around what the degree course is actually called, and its syllabus.

There are frequent references to "materia", which I immediately translated as "paper" (as in exam paper, exam subject, course, course subject), since this is the term used where I did my degree (Cambridge, UK). However, last minute doubts now assail me, and I wanted to ask if this is the term most commonly used in British universities (not US/Australia etc).

As a translator from Spanish, I suppose I tend to avoid using the term "course" because of the confusions which so often arise - maybe I'm overcompensating, but I don't want "course subject" to get confused with a "course" which could be four years long...

Here are a few examples of context:

"Señale la denominación de la *materia* que su Universidad ha elegido para esta docencia" (pls note that in the very next question, the term materia is replaced by asignatura, indicating that whoever wrote the questionnaire probably deems them interchangeable)

"Número de docentes asignados a la *materia*"

"Ubicación de la *Materia*, según ciclos universitarios" (this one is particular fun, as you can imagine!)

"Competencias perseguidas en la *Materia*"

Your comments will be very gratefully received, but please remember that I only want to consider terminology used in British universities in this case.
Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 16:36
subject (matter)
Explanation:
Wouldn't this work in these contexts?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2008-10-29 11:08:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Defifinition 7 > Asignatura > subject

materia.
(Del lat. materĭa).
1. f. Realidad primaria de la que están hechas las cosas.
2. f. Realidad espacial y perceptible por los sentidos, que, con la energía, constituye el mundo físico.
3. f. Lo opuesto al espíritu.
4. f. Muestra de letra que en la escuela imitan o copian los niños para aprender a escribir.
5. f. pus.
6. f. Asunto de que se compone una obra literaria, científica, etc.
7. f. Asignatura, disciplina científicas.
Selected response from:

Ross Andrew Parker
Local time: 16:36
Grading comment
OK! I'll go with the majority here, since you gave your argument some back-up! Used subject in most cases, although subject matter on a couple of occasions. Thanks Ross.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +15subject (matter)
Ross Andrew Parker
4 +7subject
Edward Tully
3 +7subject
laura rutigliano
3 +2subject
patinba
4course
Phil Bird
3disciplina
Gilberto Diaz Castro


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
course


Explanation:
I'd go with course - if it was a school context, then subject would be better - but I think course is what we would use in that context.


    Reference: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/courses
Phil Bird
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:36
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Good link thanks - even if reading it is now making me doubt another thing I've translated...!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
subject


Explanation:
I would say so

laura rutigliano
Local time: 16:36
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alberto Martinez: yes
1 min
agree  Rocio Barrientos
21 mins
agree  Mónica Algazi: Great minds...
1 hr
agree  Alice Bootman
4 hrs
agree  Vivian B E
4 hrs
agree  Steven Huddleston
5 hrs
agree  Marina56: ok
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
subject


Explanation:
As the author thinks that this and"asignatura" are interchangeable and this seems to fit all your contexts...

Edward Tully
Local time: 16:36
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 282

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rocio Barrientos
20 mins
  -> thank you Rocio! ;-)
agree  Mónica Algazi: Great minds...
1 hr
  -> thank you Mónica! ;-)
agree  mercedes 2
1 hr
  -> thank you! ;-)
agree  Alice Bootman
4 hrs
agree  Vivian B E
4 hrs
agree  Steven Huddleston
5 hrs
agree  Marina56: ok
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +15
subject (matter)


Explanation:
Wouldn't this work in these contexts?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2008-10-29 11:08:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Defifinition 7 > Asignatura > subject

materia.
(Del lat. materĭa).
1. f. Realidad primaria de la que están hechas las cosas.
2. f. Realidad espacial y perceptible por los sentidos, que, con la energía, constituye el mundo físico.
3. f. Lo opuesto al espíritu.
4. f. Muestra de letra que en la escuela imitan o copian los niños para aprender a escribir.
5. f. pus.
6. f. Asunto de que se compone una obra literaria, científica, etc.
7. f. Asignatura, disciplina científicas.

Ross Andrew Parker
Local time: 16:36
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 47
Grading comment
OK! I'll go with the majority here, since you gave your argument some back-up! Used subject in most cases, although subject matter on a couple of occasions. Thanks Ross.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Edward Tully: too quick for me! Spot on!
1 min
  -> Thanks, Edward.
agree  Ventnai
8 mins
  -> Thanks, Ian.
agree  Rocio Barrientos
20 mins
  -> Thx
agree  Nikki Graham
24 mins
  -> Thx, Nikki
agree  Egmont
48 mins
  -> Thx
agree  Mónica Algazi
1 hr
  -> Thx
agree  Grace Horsley
1 hr
  -> Thx
agree  Maria Agustini
1 hr
  -> Thx
agree  Alice Bootman
4 hrs
agree  Vivian B E
4 hrs
agree  Pilar Díez: Esa es mi impresión también.
5 hrs
agree  Steven Huddleston
5 hrs
agree  Marina56: ok
6 hrs
agree  Maru Villanueva
8 hrs
agree  Christine Walsh
14 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
subject


Explanation:
BBC NEWS | Education | Watch put on university subjects - 28 Oct 2005 ... The education secretary accepts no immediate action is needed to protect vital degree subjects.
news.bbc.co.uk/

patinba
Argentina
Local time: 11:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 176

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rocio Barrientos
19 mins
agree  Steven Huddleston
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
disciplina


Explanation:
Es uno de los sinónimos para "Materia" que he escuchado en relación a una materia de estudios. Espero le ayude.

Vea otras posibilidades en el enlace. Suerte

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2008-10-29 16:23:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The English term you might be looking for, could it be: "Career Field" | "area of studies/discipline"?


    Reference: http://www.sinonimos.org/materia
Gilberto Diaz Castro
United States
Local time: 10:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Necesito el término en inglés Gilberto...

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search