Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
deriva
English translation:
decline / decay / erosion
Added to glossary by
Nur Ferrante
Sep 8, 2016 09:22
7 yrs ago
7 viewers *
Spanish term
Spain
Medical translator and highly qualified.
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: English to Spanish, French to Spanish, Spanish to English
deriva
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Philosophy
Culture Theory
Dear colleagues,
I need help with this term. The sentence in which it appears is: "Una historia sobre la deriva del Estado europeo hasta nuestros días". The meaning in this context doesn't refer to the geological continental drift, but to what the RAE dictionary defines as: Evolución que se produce en una determinada dirección, especialmente si esta se considera negativa. Ejemplo: La deriva burocrática del régimen.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Kindest regards,
Barbara Nur Ferrante
I need help with this term. The sentence in which it appears is: "Una historia sobre la deriva del Estado europeo hasta nuestros días". The meaning in this context doesn't refer to the geological continental drift, but to what the RAE dictionary defines as: Evolución que se produce en una determinada dirección, especialmente si esta se considera negativa. Ejemplo: La deriva burocrática del régimen.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Kindest regards,
Barbara Nur Ferrante
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | decline / decay / erosion |
Simon Bruni
|
| 4 +2 | drift (=direction) |
neilmac
|
| 4 | straying (off course) |
Clarkalo
|
| 3 | devolution |
Muriel Vasconcellos
|
Proposed translations
+2
26 mins
Selected
decline / decay / erosion
Could do with a bit more context, but if the meaning you want is "negative evolution", then these options would work. If you want something more neutral or positive, you could just use something like "evolution" or "development".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Robert Forstag
: "Decline" would seem a good fit here.
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Kate Major Patience
: I think "decline" fits best and that "decay" would be too strong. But yes, "decline" would be the most logical choice for sure.
1 day 23 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Perfect for this context. Thank you!"
+2
28 mins
drift (=direction)
They mean the direction taken by the course of events. The use of "drift" may give the phrase an undertone of aimlessness, purposelessness (as I perceive it), but whether that is the author's intention or not, I don't know.
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Note added at 28 mins (2016-09-08 09:50:53 GMT)
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PS: I consider Simon's suggestions too negative/swingeing, but it would be churlish to disagree or post a 'neutral'...
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Note added at 31 mins (2016-09-08 09:53:58 GMT)
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Compare:
"A history of the direction of the European state until today"/
"A history of the drift of the European state until today"
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Note added at 32 mins (2016-09-08 09:54:55 GMT)
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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/08/brexit...
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Note added at 34 mins (2016-09-08 09:56:19 GMT)
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The Drift in the Transatlantic Relationship: ...
https://books.google.es/books?isbn=054932268X - 2007
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:36:09 GMT)
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"If you get my drift" :-)
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:36:56 GMT)
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http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/if you get my drift
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:38:19 GMT)
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A less emotive/judgemental option could be "trajectory":
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Trajectory
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:39:33 GMT)
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The Philosophy of Japanese Wartime Resistance: A Reading, with ...
https://books.google.es/books?isbn=1317918568 - David Williams - 2014 - History
"Certainly the tragic trajectory of the European state is the one thing that must be avoided when building modern states in East Asia."
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:40:24 GMT)
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See also:
http://www.academia.edu/5553545/The_Scope_and_Future_of_Till...
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Note added at 28 mins (2016-09-08 09:50:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
PS: I consider Simon's suggestions too negative/swingeing, but it would be churlish to disagree or post a 'neutral'...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 31 mins (2016-09-08 09:53:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Compare:
"A history of the direction of the European state until today"/
"A history of the drift of the European state until today"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2016-09-08 09:54:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/08/brexit...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 34 mins (2016-09-08 09:56:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The Drift in the Transatlantic Relationship: ...
https://books.google.es/books?isbn=054932268X - 2007
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:36:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"If you get my drift" :-)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:36:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/if you get my drift
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:38:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
A less emotive/judgemental option could be "trajectory":
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Trajectory
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:39:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The Philosophy of Japanese Wartime Resistance: A Reading, with ...
https://books.google.es/books?isbn=1317918568 - David Williams - 2014 - History
"Certainly the tragic trajectory of the European state is the one thing that must be avoided when building modern states in East Asia."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-08 10:40:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
See also:
http://www.academia.edu/5553545/The_Scope_and_Future_of_Till...
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Simon Bruni
: It does depend very much on the author's intention, doesn't it? The article may well be describing the gradual erosion of EU unity which is happening now due to the economic situation, immigration and Brexit.
4 mins
|
|
One man's "gradual erosion" is another's new beginning... :-)
|
|
| agree |
Claire Knell
: Yes. I agree with this. I actually put it as an answer first then hid it (not sure why now!) :)/ Ha! Yes, perhaps...!
33 mins
|
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Because posting it was my destiny? Written in the stars...
|
|
| agree |
Robert Carter
: Without further context, I'd guess "lack of clear purpose" is what the author is referring to.
2 hrs
|
1 hr
Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Each translation a gem!
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
devolution
See the following meaning for 'devolution' from my desktop unabridged Merriam-Webster dictionary:
2 a : descent or passage through a series (as of stages in development) b : retrograde evolution
2 a : descent or passage through a series (as of stages in development) b : retrograde evolution
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Robert Carter
: Devolution also has a more common political sense that would confuse what is meant here.
1 hr
|
6 hrs
straying (off course)
Straying is moving off course, in a negative way. Can be used as a noun (the straying...) or as a verb.
The issue has once again highlighted the weakness of the EU’s powers to prevent member state’s straying from what Brussels believes are key democratic principles.
http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2016/05/30/eu-week-ahead-may-3...
Major new report reveals Europe straying off course to meet offshore wind farm targets
http://www.freshfields.com/en/news/Major_new_report_reveals_...
By straying from this UN-based approach in its own response to public concerns, the European Commission might unfortunately weaken investor protection...
https://www.uschamber.com/issue-brief/ttip-investor-state-di...
However, he was also criticised from straying from his mandate during the crisis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_European_Cent...
...it is necessary to change the treaty to prevent one member state from straying and creating problems for all the others...
http://www.ibtimes.com/change-eu-treaty-stabilize-eurozone-s...
The issue has once again highlighted the weakness of the EU’s powers to prevent member state’s straying from what Brussels believes are key democratic principles.
http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2016/05/30/eu-week-ahead-may-3...
Major new report reveals Europe straying off course to meet offshore wind farm targets
http://www.freshfields.com/en/news/Major_new_report_reveals_...
By straying from this UN-based approach in its own response to public concerns, the European Commission might unfortunately weaken investor protection...
https://www.uschamber.com/issue-brief/ttip-investor-state-di...
However, he was also criticised from straying from his mandate during the crisis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_European_Cent...
...it is necessary to change the treaty to prevent one member state from straying and creating problems for all the others...
http://www.ibtimes.com/change-eu-treaty-stabilize-eurozone-s...
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