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espacios de asocios
a todo eso, que no es poco
Jul 12, 2013 21:47
10 yrs ago
14 viewers *
Spanish term

toque de queda

Spanish to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting Papermaking
I'm translating a feature article about a Puerto Rican artist and her papermaking workshops. I know that "toque de queda" normally refers to a "curfew," but in this context that wouldn't work. Here's the context:

"La artista puertorriqueña Aydasara Ortega, ahora radicada en Nueva York, propone un toque de queda en los talleres que ofrece para aprender a crear hermosas hojas de papel. Ortega invita a 'reclamar nuestro espacio mental y físico' y a devolverle el misterio a lo que hacemos con nuestras manos, con nuestro tiempo. A todo eso, que no es poco.

In the article, "toque de queda" is linked to the artist's Facebook page in English, also called "Toque de Queda:"

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Toque-de-Queda/17381431936550...

Even after reading this, I still can't bring myself to translate it as "curfew."

Any suggestions for me?

Thank You.
Proposed translations (English)
3 curfew bell
5 +1 impasse
4 +1 curfew
4 +1 a breathing space
4 break, sabbatical, time off
4 Toque de queda

Discussion

Isamar Jul 13, 2013:
@ Lorena Yes, or taking time out from.....could be another, similar way of saying it.
lorenab23 Jul 13, 2013:
@ Charles Thank you! Ever so often I do get inspired ;-) Hope you are doing well
Charles Davis Jul 13, 2013:
@ Lorena I really like "Time Out". It gets close to the meaning of "toque de queda", since it's a temporary withdrawal, a suspension of participation. A curfew means spending a while off the streets; a time out means spending a while out of the game. It's also a rest and a time to collect your thoughts and reconsider strategies. It's catchy. Ideal.
lorenab23 Jul 13, 2013:
I wonder If you could call it a "time out" (as in a breather) based on the explanation on the blog and provided here by nedra.
Nedra Rivera Huntington Jul 13, 2013:
Blog explanation of the term This is what the blog says: "Toque de Queda" is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. For us to take it upon as our name serves as an invitation to reclaim that mental and physical space which aims to silence an individual or a group.

I think that maintaining the idea of restriction is important to the author's meaning.

Proposed translations

2 hrs
Selected

curfew bell

I think something like "ringing the curfew bell" might work in this context. Especially as it might be explained in another part of the text. You could even put it in quotes to highlight the unusual use of the term.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Nedra! I like the image of the ringing bell. It goes well with the "art as spirituality" theme that I sense in the paragraph.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Hi, Nedra! I decided to use "time out" in my translation, which your comments inspired. Thank you!"
4 mins

break, sabbatical, time off

Sounds to me like they are using the phrase to say "she's taking some time off from offering workshops" - hope this helps!
Note from asker:
Thanks for your help! ~Jeff
Something went wrong...
+1
5 mins

impasse

In this context the artist means a stop for reconsideration
Note from asker:
Gracias, Ernesto!
Peer comment(s):
agree Claudia Reynaud
1 day 17 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
43 mins

curfew

I think "curfew" is acceptable. The "toque de queda" that she is proposing, from my reading, is what she is implementing in her workshops so that they don't last too long and so attendees are reminded to respect their free time. In another words, after a certain time, creative productivity stagnates, so it's important to impose a time limit.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Jason! I hadn't thought of that. I greatly appreciate your help. ~Jeff
Peer comment(s):
agree JM González
55 mins
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

a breathing space

This seems to fit the context...
Note from asker:
Thanks, Edward!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : Maybe something like "...in our busy lives".
32 mins
Good idea, many thanks! ;-)
Something went wrong...
1 hr

Toque de queda

On the Facebook page that you posted there's an "about" snippet in English where it's kept.
I would keep it and explain it in parentheses maybe. I like Mr. Schrier's proposal for the translation (Curfew)

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Note added at 5 hrs (2013-07-13 03:09:52 GMT)
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No problem Jeff! Based on the facebook page and based on the fact that this she is an artist, I would treat the title as her creation. She is, in a sense, recreating the term "curfew" and using the title as her own creation, and I think it may be necessary to respect her creation, which is why I would go with curfew as a title or as a parenthetical translation.
Note from asker:
Thanks for your help! --Jeff
Thank you, JM. I will take another look at the Facebook link.
Something went wrong...
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