January 2013

January 2013 Newsletter

In this number:
Review of Murder Terminology
Etymology of Spanish term Arma Blanca
Melee Weapons
Cultural Differences in Family Court
Glossary of Facial Features
What are Performance Enhancing Drugs
Healthy Body and Soul Tips
Links of the Month

Thank you for coming to our January meeting. We were very busy in the courthouse that afternoon, so our reunion was brief yet effective. We were joined by Paul Panusky, a very talented sign-language interpreter from New Jersey who came all the way to Wilmington to be with us. I hope we can all meet on February 20th, as always, at the Brew Haha coffee shop on Market Street and 8th. Have a great month and remember to write down all your newly learned terms and questions so we can review them at our next meeting!

Cultural Differences that an Interpreter May Encounter

In Some Spanish-speaking countries...

   the rights of the non- custodial parent to visit the child can be revoked if child support is not paid;

some people do not celebrate their birthdays, so remembering their own age is difficult;

   certain names are prohibited and parents may not name their children first names that are last names, names that do not match the sex of the child (cannot name a girl Manuel,) names of persons who have been proven to have committed heinous crimes; names that may cause humiliation or harassment; foreign names unless parent is a foreign diplomat.

Useful Terms

Blended Family: Familia ensamblada

Family Counselor: Asesor familiar

Therapist: Psicoterapeuta

Mediators in Argentina use a standard welcome-message before starting a mediation-session with parents:

"Querida madre, querido padre:
Les doy la mas sincera bienvenida y la felicitacion por decidirse a realizar este trabajo de acuerdo espiritual y material en bien de sus hijos y del suyo propio. Aprecio su esfuerzo y su valor, y por favor trabajen desde el corazon."

Facial Features

Noses

Straight: recta
Aquiline: aguileña
Wide: ancha
Flared nostrils: fosas nasales anchas/abiertas
flat: chata
hook: de gancho
bulbous: carnosa
narrow: angosta
crooked: torcida
pug: aplanada
pig: de chancho
roman: romana
upturned: respingada
down-turned: caída
split: partida

What Are Performance Enhancing Drugs?

Performance-enhancing drugs are substances used by athletes to improve their performances. The term may also refer to drugs used by military personnel to enhance combat performance.

Definition of Doping
One popular source defines doping as “the use of a drug or blood product to improve athletic performance.” However, we can see that such a simple definition is obviously much too broad to serve as a precise definition for doping. After all, under this definition, taking Tylenol to relieve muscle aches after a hard workout or using an asthma inhaler to prevent the constriction of the airway and to allow proper breathing, would be considered doping, but it is doubtful that many, if any, authorities would consider those actions to fall under the pejorative category of “doping.” Many of these asthma treatments also fall under the category of steroids, but they should not be confused with anabolic steroids. Of the definitions that attempt to use a philosophical basis to define doping, the marginally more-helpful definitions seem to include a requirement that the act be “a violation of sporting ethics” or “against the principles of sportsmanship." Not all drug-use is doping.

In Spanish the term used to describe the use of performance-enhancing drugs is usually "doping" or "doparse," although this term is broad and is also used to describe the consumption of illegal drugs. Performance-enhancing drugs can be translated "sustancias para aumentar el desempeño o rendimiento físico"

Tips for a Healthy Body and Soul

Interpreters should take good care of their eyesight and of their voice. Making sure eyesight is strong is important to work comfortably and efficiently. If you use glasses, make sure the prescription is correct by going to the optometrist or eye doctor every year or every two years at the most. If you work in an area where the air is dry, use moisturizing eye drops to keep your eyes lubricated. Remember that skin also gets dry, so use lotion and drink plenty of water.
Every morning apply a day-cream that contains at least an SPF of 35 to the face, front and back of the neck, and the chest. The SPF factor will protect from harmful sun-rays and the nutrients of the cream will fight the aging process, keeping you looking young and healthy. For more tips go to the Health Body and Soul page.

Review of Murder Terminology

Manslaughter is Homicidio Involuntario.
Felony Murder is a murder committed during the commission of a felony and is delito grave/felonía con homicidio or Homicidio durante una felonía.
Murder in the First Degree or Murder One is Homicidio de primer grado or Homicidio en el primer grado.
Although Spanish-speaking countries do not classify the degree of the crime with ordinals, the interpreter must interpret the terms used in English.
Malice is dolo in Spanish.

ARMA BLANCA

In Spanish we hear the term arma blanca all the time. In order to clarify what this means I have researched the origin of the term, the general definition, and included some examples.
Arma blanca is a metal element (do not use the term instrument here) that has one or more bladed edges, a point, or all of the above. It may or may not have a handle, and the blade and/or point are exposed. Many centuries ago when swords and other war and duel weapons were forged by skilled hands, high quality metals were used, giving their blades a bright silver color. The fact that the blades were uncovered or naked, and the fact that their finish gave off a brilliant white hue, gave these weapons the name of arma blanca, which literally translated means "white weapon" or "pure weapon."

The following is in Spanish with an English translation after the description:

Las partes generales del arma blanca son: punta, hoja o lamina, filo/contrafilo, recazo, empuñadura

Bigotera- Zona corta sin filos y plana próxima a la empuñadura. En ella se solían poner las marcas del armero. Ricasso

Canales- Canaladuras más estrechas y profundas que los vaceos. Channels

Contrafilo- Borde cortante de la hoja, normalmente opuesto al filo principal, de menor longitud y próximo a la punta. False Edge

Espiga- Zona de la hoja que queda cubierta por la empuñadura y se remacha o atornilla en su extremo para asegurar ésta.Tang

Guardamano- Parte de la guarnición evolucionada a partir de la cruz que normalmente llegaba hasta el extremo de la empuñadura, envolviendo de esa forma completamente la mano. Guard, Knuckle Bow

Filo- Borde cortante de la hoja. Una hoja de espada puede tener uno o dos filos. Edge

Hoja- Elemento principal, cortante y/o punzante, de un arma blanca. Blade

Lomo- Borde no cortante. Puede ser de sección cuadrada o redonda. Butt

Mesa- Zona plana presente en parte o la totalidad de la hoja. Cuando se describe una hoja, lo más habitual y correcto es contar sólo las de una cara, es decir, la mitad de las realmente existentes. Plateau

Pala- Zona de la hoja próxima a la punta, sin vaceos ni canales, habitualmente con doble filo. Punta

Extremo agudo de la hoja más alejado de la empuñadura. Point

Recazo- Zona plana y más estrecha que el resto de la hoja, entre la espiga y ésta. Sólo presente en las antiguas espadas con empuñadura de taza o concha, visible entre éstas y los gavilanes. También allí se imponían marcas del espadero. Ricasso

Vaceos- Acanaladuras anchas longitudinales presentes en algunas hojas para mejorar sus condiciones de peso manteniendo su resistencia. Fuller

Melee (May- Leh) Weapons

Below is a list of weapons classified by function. One category seems to coincide with the Spanish definition of arma blanca. Click on the term Melee and you will find a link to Wikipedia's page for this term.

By function - the construction of the weapon and principle of operation

Antimatter weapons (theoretical) would combine matter and antimatter to cause a powerful explosion.
Archery weapons operate by using a tensioned string and bent solid to launch a projectile.
Artillery are firearms capable of launching heavy projectiles over long distances, which can explode on impact.
Biological weapons spread biological agents, causing disease or infection.
Chemical weapons, poisoning and causing reactions.
Energy weapons rely on concentrating forms of energy to attack, such as lasers or sonic attack.
Explosive weapons use a physical explosion to create blast concussion or spread shrapnel.
Firearms use a chemical charge to launch projectiles.
Improvised weapons are common objects, reused as weapons, such as crowbars and kitchen knives.
Incendiary weapons cause damage by fire.
Non-lethal weapons are designed to subdue without killing.
Magnetic weapons use magnetic fields to propel projectiles, or to focus particle beams.
Mêlée weapons operate as physical extensions of the user's body and directly impact their target.
Missiles are rockets which are guided to their target after launch. (Also a general term for projectile weapons).
Nuclear weapons use radioactive materials to create nuclear fission and/or nuclear fusion detonations.
Primitive weapons make little or no use of technological or industrial elements.
Ranged weapons (unlike Mêlée weapons), target a distant object or person.
Rockets use chemical propellant to accelerate a projectile
Suicide weapons exploit the willingness of their operator to not survive the attack

To view information on Types of Injuries go to the Interpreter's Cafe June 2012 Newsletter.

Links of the Month

Site: El Universal.com/consultorio-Letters from readers in reference to legal issues and responses from attorneys/includes family law, civil law, etc.

Product: Ultimate Vocabulary Builder