Disturbios

[irmamar]

I want to say "disturbios en la frontera sur". May I use "riots" or "unrest" one or the other? And "in" or "on" the south of the border?

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I want to say "disturbios en la frontera sur". May I use "riots" or "unrest" one or the other? And "in" or "on" the south of the border?

Unrest on the southern border

(southern to rhyme with other )

[irmamar]

Wouldn't 'riots' be correct?

[pjt33]

Quizás. Un "riot" es un disturbio violento y caótico que dura poco tiempo.

[Elaina]

Para mí "riots" es un enfrentamiento de un grupo de gente contra otros, el gobierno, los políticos o gente que se amasan para exigir algo. Riots aka civil unrest.

¿Es esta la clase de "disturbios" a que te refieres?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Wouldn't 'riots' be correct?

As already said, possibly. But a riot at a border is unlikely -who would care? Unrest is a far more general and long-term low-level trouble.

[irmamar]

Well, I don't know who would care, but that was one of the reason for the Second Civil War in your country (which rhymes with scrounchy ).

I don't know what kind of unrests/riots there were.

Thanks.

[poli]

Había una guerra civl nada más y era suficiente, y ciertamente habían disturbios en la frontera del sur antes de la guerra.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by poli

Había una guerra civl nada más y era suficiente, y ciertamente habían disturbios en la frontera del sur antes de la guerra.

Thanks, poli. But I don't understand the difference between 'unrest' and 'riot'.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Thanks, poli. But I don't understand the difference between 'unrest' and 'riot'.

A riot is something specific and active which has a particular activity (petrol bombs, burning tyres, tear gas) and a specific duration of hours to days. Unrest is a very general and unspecific expression which is an umbrella word for various activities, including riots, but also (say) incursions, guerilla warfare, hostages, etc.

[poli]

Un riot es más acuciente. En un riot se ve policia blindada echando gas
lacrimente a un grupo tirando piedras y saqueando tiendas. Frecuenteamente hay sangre.

Civic unrest es un ambiente que puede llegar a riot. (ejemplo: gente en
huelga quemando llantas/estudiantes protestando la guerra/una comunidad protestando la matanza de un joven por la policia). Raramente hay sangre.

[Perikles]

Great minds think alike....

[irmamar]

Muchas gracias, mentes brillantes. Unrest, then. I understand the difference now.

[JPablo]

Y ya para dar "lanzada a moro muerto" (con ayuda del Oxford Superlex)

unrest = descontento, malestar; disturbios
civil unrest = descontento / malestar social;
industrial unrest = agitación laboral, malestar o descontento entre los trabajadores
(uneasiness) intranquilidad

riot (disorder) = disturbio (mutiny) motín
there were riots in the streets = hubo disturbios o desórdenes callejeros
the prisoners who took part in the riot = los presos que participaron en el motín o en el amotinamiento

to run riot: the fans ran riot after the game = los hinchas se descontrolaron o se desmadraron a la salida del partido
weeds had run riot in the garden = la maleza se había adueñado del jardín o había invadido el jardín
she let her imagination run riot = dio rienda suelta a su imaginación

‹ gear / shield › antidisturbios, antimotines
the riot squad = la brigada antidisturbios

(hilarious occasion) desmadre
the party was an absolute riot = la fiesta fue un desmadre total

(funny person)
she’s a riot = es comiquísima, es un plato (América Latina, es la monda (España)

(profusion): a riot of color = un derroche o una profusión de color

[irmamar]

Pablín, al final haremos un diccionario con tus aportaciones.

[JPablo]

Gracias, Irmamar... mejor que sobre que no que falte...

(Me recuerda al chiste del capitán de barco "ceceante" y tartamudo... al que le dicen: ¡Capitán, el barco zozobra! A lo que responde: ¡Puez más vale que zo-zobre que no que falte!)

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by JPablo

(Me recuerda al chiste del capitán de barco "ceceante" y tartamudo... al que le dicen: ¡Capitán, el barco zozobra! A lo que responde: ¡Puez más vale que zo-zobre que no que falte!)

And that reminds me of a TV advert for a language school: a new German recruit to an Coast Guard station is on duty. Suddenly he gets a radio message: "Mayday Mayday, we are sinking". To which he replies: "That's interesting. Vot are you sinking about?"

[JPablo]

Yeah, I saw that German Coast Guard ad in YouTube and it's hilarious! ... I mean, it's a riot!