Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


translating a political cartoon

 

Ask about definitions or translations for Spanish or English words.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old December 10, 2006, 09:12 PM
ajijicgail ajijicgail is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 7
ajijicgail is on a distinguished road
translating a political cartoon

These are always difficult -- but here's my question. This is in a Mexican newspaper. "Politica es el arte de tragar sapos sin haver aseos." ("says" a portrait of a man on a table, on which there is an ashtray, a bouquet of flowers, and a domino with double three) At the bottom of the cartoon another "character" is saying "a ver, guey, metete conmigo: te reto: ven y detenme, no te saques..."

Please help me with translation. If someone out there is Mexican, they can put this into context, as it shows a dog swallowing a frog labelled as "Los APPOs." (APPO is the protesting group in Oaxaca.

Your assistance will be appreciated.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old December 11, 2006, 02:02 AM
sosia's Avatar
sosia sosia is offline
Ankh-Morpork's citizen
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: a 55 cm del monitor
Posts: 2,984
Native Language: Spanish (Spain)
sosia has a spectacular aura aboutsosia has a spectacular aura about
Re: translating a political cartoon

"Política es el arte de tragar sapos sin haver aseos."
I asume it's bad transcription. "haver aseos" -> "hacer gestos"
I know it as "Política es el arte de tragar sapos sin hacer gestos" or "la política es el arte de tragar sapos y culebras sin inmutarse", literall as "Politics is the art of gulping toads without grining" or "Politics is the art of gulping toads and snakes without change countenance ". If you can gulp a toad without making any disgusting signal, you are a good politician.
"a ver, guey, metete conmigo: te reto: ven y detenme, no te saques..."
"come, boy, ask for a fight; I challenge you, come and stop me; don't hold yourself..."
I asume that the "character" speaking is the frog, because you don't specify.
You can asume "Política es el arte de tragar sapos sin hacer gestos" as the title of the cartoon, because the portrait says nothing.
The dog must be the Goverment, a big Company or something like that.
The frog is a protesting group, who is always asking for confrontation.
So the cartoon is saying that the "Dog" must gulp the APPOs without changing countenance. The "Dog" must make as if the Appos where not important enough.
I hope it helps. I don't know the mexican politics, so I can't help more.
__________________
History, contrary to popular theories, "is" kings and dates and battles.
Small Gods Terry Pratchett
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:05 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X