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D. (abbreviation)
Afecto adecuado a estado de ánimo

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

conocer/ignorar el idioma español

English translation:

can speak

Added to glossary by Beatriz Zorron-Minhondo
Aug 29, 2016 00:30
7 yrs ago
13 viewers *
Spanish term

conocer/ignorar el idioma español

Spanish to English Law/Patents Law (general)
I am still working my way through these Mexican legal documents that are responding to another contesting a father's will. Here are a couple of examples:

"... no ignoraba el idioma español, y tan no lo ignoraba que recuerdo perfectamente que de voz propia me indicó la forma y los términos de dicho testamento."

"...que este fedatario asentó que el testador conocía el idioma español..."

"...debiendo precisar que XXX no ignoraba el idioma español."

Obviously the idea is that the testator did indeed speak Spanish, correct? So, can I just translate this as speak/not speak Spanish instead of ignorar/conocer? The idea of ignoring or being unaware of Spanish is terribly cumbersome in English.

¡SOCORRO!
Proposed translations (English)
5 +3 can speak
4 +4 be conversant with/(not) be unfamiliar with the Spanish language
3 +1 to be acquainted with Spanish / to be [not] ignorant of Spanish
3 have knowledge or have no knowledge of the Spanish language
Change log

Aug 30, 2016 13:56: Beatriz Zorron-Minhondo Created KOG entry

Discussion

Jessica Noyes Aug 29, 2016:
Yes, it's cumbersome. However, if the will is being contested on the basis that the father had no mastery of Spanish (so may have expressed himself wrong), then you need the idea that he can *indeed* speak Spanish. In this context, the convoluted idea that he was not ignorant of the Spanish language actually sounds OK.

Proposed translations

+3
7 mins
Selected

can speak

En este caso el modal "can" debe acompañar el verbo principal para reforzar la idea de que sabía o no ignoraba el español.
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : There's no point using a double negative as the Spanish does.
7 hrs
Thanks, Phil
agree Ruth Ramsey : Yes, "can speak" and "can't speak".
14 hrs
Thanks, Ruth
agree MarinaM
15 hrs
Gracias, Marina
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you! The variety of responses reconfirms the difficulty in conveying the correct idea, but this seems to work best."
+1
3 hrs

to be acquainted with Spanish / to be [not] ignorant of Spanish

Maybe a bit convoluted, as noted but "not ignorant of Spanish language"... could be a possibility...
Peer comment(s):
agree Sergio Kot
2 hrs
Thank you, Sergio. :-)
neutral AllegroTrans : "not ignorant of" is too cumbersome a construction in this context
6 hrs
It probably is..., matching the "pedantic-cumbersome" style in the original... ;-) Thanks for the observation. :-)
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+4
7 hrs
Spanish term (edited): conocer/(no) ignorar el idioma español

be conversant with/(not) be unfamiliar with the Spanish language

ignorar can also mean to be unaware of.

Harrap's dictionary: not know; ignoraba > I had no idea that. No ignoro que > I am fully aware that but query: does this really mean only being able to order in Spanish a glass of beer and a plate of chips/French Fries.....
Reference:

http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/law_contracts/3287797-por_ignorar_firmar.html

Peer comment(s):
agree AllegroTrans : Yes, but I would simply use "...be familiar" with and avoid the double negative
1 hr
Thanks. But there is a wide spectrum between British expats like relatives of mine and who understand a few words like 'escritura' and an Italian expat who has a 'full grasp' of the Castilian lingo.
agree ormiston : I'd go for the intended subtlety of "not unfamiliar with" which does not suggest fluency
6 hrs
Thx. There must be a Spanish vs. Amero-Indian 'literacy' issue we are 'unaware' of.
agree JohnMcDove : With Ormiston.
13 hrs
Thanks and gracias!
agree Robert Carter : With Ormiston, too; there is a subtlety here that warrants a construction like this.
16 hrs
Gracias and thanks!
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15 hrs

have knowledge or have no knowledge of the Spanish language

I think this kind of wording might work.

For ex:

No ignoraba el idioma español = He had some knowledge of the Spanish language.

Conocía el idioma español = He had knowledge of the Spanish language.
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