Dar de alta/baja

[laepelba]

In one of the paragraphs in my workbook, they use the phrase "dar de alta" in the context of someone being released from the hospital.

A Peruvian friend just told me that it can also mean to subscribe to a list or a group or something like that. I see this same meaning in the Tomisimo dictionary: http://www.tomisimo.org/diccionario/...ol/dar_de_alta

My friend also mentioned "dar de baja", which in the Tomisimo dictionary ( http://www.tomisimo.org/diccionario/...ol/dar_de_baja ) looks like it would be more appropriate for "discharge" from a hospital.

I know I'm wrong. I just don't understand how "dar de alta" can mean both to release from a hospital AND to join a group/listserve.

I know that both of these phrases is mentioned in the "modismos" section of Tomisimo, but I am wondering if I could start a discussion about the use of these phrases, so that I can actually arrive at a better understanding of them.

Thank you!!

[aleCcowaN]

Hospitals "dan el alta" for you to return to life as always: you can work, you can attend classes, you can work out, you can take care of others. That's the "alta".

[Elaina]

Dar de alta - discharge from a hospital, doctor, clinic, etc.

Dar de baja - usually means when you "discontinue yourself" from something... utility companies, magazines, gym, etc.

My

[powerchisper]

You can also say that when you "hire" a telephone company , club , etc....or leave it.

For example " Quiero dar de baja mi línea ADSL"

Also on subscriptions to magazines.

"Bajas" can also mean "human casualties" in the case of a terrorist attack , a bomb , or when talking about some disease´s spread.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by powerchisper

You can also say that when you "hire" a telephone company , club , etc....or leave it.

For example " Quiero dar de baja mi línea ADSL"

Also on subscriptions to magazines.

"Bajas" can also mean "human casualties" in the case of a terrorist attack , a bomb , or when talking about some disease´s spread.

So, it would help if I knew what "línea ADSL" is.... I don't really understand what you've said in that sentence.

Also, when you say that "bajas" means "human casualties", would you use the phrase "dar de bajas"? Would you mind putting that in a sentence for me?

Thanks, all!!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

So, it would help if I knew what "línea ADSL" is.... l!!

It's a Broadband internet connection in Spain. He wants to cancel it.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Perikles

It's a Broadband internet connection in Spain. He wants to cancel it.

Oh ... so what does "Quiero dar de baja mi línea ADSL" mean? To hire it? Or to leave it?

[alx]

As Perikles said, "Linea ADSL" is a type of high-speed internet access service.

"Quiero dar de baja mi línea ADSL" means that I want to leave it as I don't want it any longer.
"Quiero dar de alta una línea ADSL" means that I want to hire the service.

When using "bajas" to mean "human casualties", I cannot think of any sentences that use "dar de baja", some examples using this context:

El número de bajas en la guerra se elevó a 1000.
Las bajas causadas por el terremoto de la semana pasada se cuentan por miles.

"Dar de baja" is also widely used (at least in Mexico) in the army and police services when talking about someone who no longer belongs to these services.

Examples:

Por mala conducta, 200 elementos han sido dados de baja del Ejército.

I've also heard a variation of the above sentence:
Por mala conducta, 200 elementos han causado baja del Ejército.

Juan, un ex policía que fue dado de baja por cometer un delito, .....

RAE gives the following definitions for "dar de baja":

dar de ~.

1. loc. verb. Mil. Tomar nota de la falta de un individuo, ocasionada por muerte, enfermedad, deserción, etc.

2. loc. verb. Eliminar a alguien del escalafón o nómina de un cuerpo o sociedad.

3. loc. verb. Cumplir las formalidades necesarias para poner a alguien o algo en situación de baja.

darse de ~.

1. loc. verb. Cesar en el ejercicio de una industria o profesión.

2. loc. verb. Dejar de pertenecer voluntariamente a una sociedad o corporación.

3. loc. verb. dar de baja (‖ cumplir las formalidades).

ser ~alguien.

1. loc. verb. Mil. Dejar de estar en un cuerpo por haber sido destinado a otro, o por muerte, enfermedad, deserción, etc.

Hope it helps

[aleCcowaN]

What's happening? It's easy:

The army "da de alta" recruits so they become soldiers, and they "dan de baja" soldiers so they become civilians. Or those soldiers are killed or wounded so they become "bajas". "Baja del servicio active" doesn't mean discharge.

You "pides la baja" from a health plan because you want to change to a better company.

The hospital "te da el alta médica" because you are going back to you duties. The only way a hospital "te da de baja" is by sending your remains to the morgue. Hospitals "admiten (enfermos)" and "dan de alta (personas sanas)"

[laepelba]

Thanks, everyone! I'm getting there, slowly. Alx - it will take a bit, but I look forward to working through what you gave me from RAE! Alec - I was with you until the part about "te da de baja" via the morgue. I'll get to it....

[aleCcowaN]

In a hospital context you may need the doctor's authorization to get to the street and leave. Suppose you had Ebola virus. No way they'd allow you to leave. At the right time they "te darán el alta" and you will be able to walk among healthy people that will remain healthy. Once, my brother in law was bitten by a dog and he wasn't able to identify the owner nor have a way to control the dog's health during the next two weeks, so he went to the hospital to get himself vaccinated against rabies. When he knew he would need some four or five shots, he joked about walking out and never coming again. They told him that they had registered him in the database and an order for his arrest by the police would be issued with a 24 hours delay should he fail to attend his appointments to get additional shots until they "le dieran el alta de ese tratamiento". In that context "dar el alta" means saying "you are no longer dangerous for your community, you may reenter it".