Bagaje

Bagaje
 

Normalmente lo he visto con un sentido positivo, "bagaje cultural" "bagaje intelectual" "bagaje artístico".

¿Se puede usar negativamente?

Supongo que si digo: "Me deshice de todo un bagaje de carga emocional que me afectaba desde que sufrí el shock sentimental" se puede entender. Pero, ¿es eso correcto?

He pensado en "carga o impedimenta" en un sentido figurado. "Concentrarse en pintar le ayudó a deshacerse de la impedimenta mental que le había bloqueado anteriormente". (Quizá "carga" aquí suene mejor.)

¿Que os parece, foreros?

"Bagaje" para mi está bien, es común usarla y a mi oído suena bien. "Carga" es muy usada y también se oye bien. "Impedimenta" en cambio me parece más raro, no así "Impedimento", que es bastante más usada por estos lares. Si te fijás, no es figurativo como "Impedimenta" y es más facil entenderlo:
1. m. Obstáculo, embarazo, estorbo para algo.

Gracias, Ookami, coincides con mi percepción. :)

He entendido "baggage" siempre negativamente. ¿En español "bagaje cultural" tiene un sentido positivo? :thinking:

Bagaje tiene dos sentidos - 'background (knowledge) or wealth (heritage)', y baggage (the collection of bags you take on a trip). In neither case is there a negative meaning affixed, as far as I can tell. It also means the beast of burden upon which you place 'baggage', and the baggage itself.

If you use the word as an adjective describing a person, however, then it means simpleton, dimwitted, or slow. That's the only derogatory use I found.

Interesting. I don't know the extent of my use of 'baggage' but I have always known it to have negative connotations when used metaphorically. Typically, 'emotional baggage' used in the context of being affected by a previous relationship. For example, a relationship goes wrong slowly so that you become allergic to a particular trait of the partner, (for example smoking or always being late). In a following relationship, you then display a totally disproportionate negative response to that trait (i.e. you go ballistic) when displayed by that new partner. This is attributable to 'baggage'.

Anybody else? :thinking:

At less in a figurative way, for me, it can be negative or possitive.
"Él tiene un amplio bagaje cultural" would be, generally, positive.

Pienso que en el caso de la oración que expones de""Me deshice de todo un bagaje de carga emocional que me afectaba desde que sufrí el shock sentimental", está bien y se entiende que te afecta negativamente porque explicas sobre lo del shock sentimental, y el hecho de deshacerte de aquello.

¿Qué tal bagaje emocional negativo?

Carga también puede ser positivo cuando se habla de amor, ¿no?

Sí, chileno, "bagaje emocional negativo" comunica la negatividad.
Carga, podría ser positiva, pero en general creo que se usa más con una colocación negativa.

Aunque no te cito, Perikles, la verdad es que "bagaje" en general tiene colocaciones positivas, pero también se podría asociar negativamente (era mi pregunta original) como en los ejemplos anteriores. :)

Just trying to cover...and I also think it is the same in English.

Well, Chileno, I see what you mean, and I see what Perikles says. And he is absolutely right for English, as covered in Random House Unabridged,
baggage 3. things that encumber one's freedom, progress, development, or adaptability; impediments: intellectual baggage that keeps one from thinking clearly; neurotic conflicts that arise from struggling with too much emotional baggage.
Yes, the English has an obvious NEGATIVE connotation.
The Spanish, per DRAE does not have such a negative connotation (as noted by Rusty before) and also as defined by Moliner, 3 Preparación o conjunto de conocimientos generales con los que alguien cuenta: ‘Bagaje cultural [o intelectual]’. Saber. (I.e. in Spanish is more like knowledge, not impedimenta.
So, strictly speaking, bagaje :ne:baggage, i.e., false friend in very 'covert manner'.

Interesting. :)

I don't know. you tell me.

Main Entry: 1bag·gage
Pronunciation: \ˈba-gij\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English bagage, from Middle French, from bagues belongings, baggage
Date: 15th century
1 : suitcases, trunks, and personal belongings of travelers : luggage
2 : transportable equipment especially of a military force
3 : intangible things (as feelings, circumstances, or beliefs) that get in the way <emotional baggage>


This last one, even though it states "that get in the way", it doesn't imply that it does so in a bad or good way.

I assure you that the term baggage when used in a figurative manner is
never positive. "He's got a lot of baggage" means that there are emotional
scars.

Something that 'gets in the way' will always be bad, because it is an obstacle. :)

Sorry, that's just how the dictionary decides to present the idea.

Here's another.

5. Informal previous knowledge and experience that a person may use or be influenced by in new circumstances cultural baggage

The only instance that I can think of "baggage" being used in a positive sense is when talking about culture and love.

In English and/or Spanish.

I see what you mean, Chileno. This definition 5. is from Collins (2003), which shows how the English can have a positive meaning, and as you say, it will depend on how you use in the context. As the language evolves, the English term and the Spanish one, will become more and more interchangeable. While this is true, the English (most commonly) has a negative connotation, as for example noted in Wikipedia (and I quote)
Wikipedia
The term cultural baggage refers to the tendency for one's culture to pervade thinking, speech, and behavior without one being aware of this pervasion. Cultural baggage becomes a factor when a person from one culture encounters a person from another, and unconscious assumptions or behaviors can interfere with interaction.
The "baggage" imagery implies that cultural baggage is something that one carries at all times and that it can be burdensome, hindering freedom of movement. (UNQUOTE)
This type of idea is NOT what one gets with the Spanish "bagaje cultural". In Spain, it is a good thing "tener un bagaje cultural", it is not considered "unconscious", but implies to be learned, to be in the loop and knowledgeable... In other words, in Spanish you boast your "bagaje cultural", in English, you wish not to have any "cultural baggage" and act on your own conscious selfdeterminism... :)

For us to say "carga" or "bagaje" usually, not always, is negative.

In American English experience us often interpreted positively and baggage not positively.

Example: She's an recovering alcoholic who has
been through a nasty divorce and recently lost custody of her five
children. She's got a lot of baggage.

She's a Harvard graduate who went on to join the peace corps. Currently
she had joined a group of scientists who are close to finding a cure for
malaria. She has got a lot of experience.

"Él es muy útil para nuestra empresa, tiene un amplio bagaje de relaciones/contactos."
"Mi sobrina tiene un bagaje enorme de utensillos de cocina."
No creo que solo sea positivo para hablar de cultura y amor.

Right. It is the same thing in Spanish.

Now consider this:

She's an recovering alcoholic who has
been through a nasty divorce and recently lost custody of her five
children. She's had quite an experience.

Is it negative or positive?

See what I mean? :)