Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
regular
English translation:
fair
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2015-11-27 17:54:10 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Nov 24, 2015 03:26
8 yrs ago
7 viewers *
Spanish term
regular
Spanish to English
Medical
Psychology
mental, emotional history form
So I have seen this on many numerous times on psychological examination forms, and have always translated the option of 'regular' (in Spanish) as 'normal' in English... But I don't understand why the option exists at times, such as in the following example. Am I missing a broader idea of it?
() Tengo hijos Cuantos? ________
La relacion con ellos es: () Ninguna (x) Buena
() Regular () Mala
Okay. So how can the relationship be good OR/AND normal?! Wouldn't those sort of be the same thing (if we assume good to be status quo/normal)?
I can't find my other examples of it right now, as this is the document in front of me, but suffice it to say they work nearly identically: options for good, bad, normal/regular, and none.
'Ordinary' o 'average' sean mejores? Todavia suena fea asi a mis oidos. Like ordinary or normal or average is a bad thing, in comparison to 'good.'
I think that normal is a good translation, it just annoys me that that doesn't make complete sense to me, so I thought I would finally ask.
Gracias in advance. :)
() Tengo hijos Cuantos? ________
La relacion con ellos es: () Ninguna (x) Buena
() Regular () Mala
Okay. So how can the relationship be good OR/AND normal?! Wouldn't those sort of be the same thing (if we assume good to be status quo/normal)?
I can't find my other examples of it right now, as this is the document in front of me, but suffice it to say they work nearly identically: options for good, bad, normal/regular, and none.
'Ordinary' o 'average' sean mejores? Todavia suena fea asi a mis oidos. Like ordinary or normal or average is a bad thing, in comparison to 'good.'
I think that normal is a good translation, it just annoys me that that doesn't make complete sense to me, so I thought I would finally ask.
Gracias in advance. :)
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +4 | fair | Muriel Vasconcellos |
4 | OK | philgoddard |
4 | regular | Luz Esther |
3 | normal | Darius Saczuk |
Proposed translations
+4
3 hrs
Selected
fair
This is how I often translate "regular" in similar contexts. The expression that captures it best is "so-so"- but I realize that wouldn't be formal enough.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Charles Davis
: Exactly: fair at best; the implication is "not too good".
1 hr
|
agree |
Luz Esther
1 hr
|
agree |
franglish
1 hr
|
agree |
James A. Walsh
4 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I don't quite know how to do this part of the system. :)"
4 mins
normal
It falls between good and bad. There's room for improvement.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2015-11-24 03:42:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I tend to overanalyze things, too. :-)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2015-11-24 03:42:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I tend to overanalyze things, too. :-)
Note from asker:
Now that I see you type that out, it seems so simplistic to be of that idea. I think my brain gets locked on the fact that the word usually translates easily as 'regular' or 'normal' and is also usually a cognate. :) |
34 mins
OK
I'm not sure about "normal", because what is normal? OK implies neither good not bad.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Muriel Vasconcellos
: In my experience, it means less than OK. In my dialect, OK means that it's very good unless it's pronounced with a sardonic tone, which can't be captured in writing.
2 hrs
|
OK means the same as your suggestion, fair. It's not very positive.
|
3 hrs
regular
Mira la definición de las palabras, creo que "regular" es la mejor manera de traducirlo aqui y tambien a los sinonimos de la palabra.
Discussion
I think Muriel's suggestion of "fair" is about right, which is why I've agreed with it. It has to be something that implies "not as good as I would like it to be".
If someone describes their marriage as "regular" they definitely have problems: it is far from being a happy marriage.