May 16, 2017 11:38
7 yrs ago
12 viewers *
Spanish term

vientre de alquiler

Spanish to English Social Sciences Education / Pedagogy Family diversity
SPAIN. From an article on family diversity and education. The problem is that I need something which isn't too offensive or irreverent (like rent-a-womb) and doesn't repeat "surrogate/surrogacy", which appears in "regulación de la subrogación".

"Actualmente, el colectivo de gais, entre otros grupos, viene reivindicando la regulación de la subrogación -vientre de alquiler- en nuestro país."

Discussion

Marie Wilson May 17, 2017:
@Marcelo I agree, and it's good to know that people live in the Marianas, and that it's not just a trench. Learn something new every day!
Marcelo González May 17, 2017:
@Marie - and you too :-) This idiom's being so common (or commonplace) is a point you've made yourself, which is precisely what may make tongue-in-cheek humor not very advisable here, unless, perhaps, it's to compensate for 'loss' (in humor) elsewhere... Cheers from the Northern Mariana Islands :-)
Marie Wilson May 17, 2017:
Charles has made a valid point. I'm out of touch with UK matters as I've been living in Spain for over 25 years and I watch mostly American TV.
Marcelo González May 16, 2017:
@Marie and @Simon It also argues against any note of humor being intended or conveyed. If it's standard in this context (in Spain), it's really not said tongue-in-cheek (which is why I've withdrawn my suggestion).
neilmac (asker) May 16, 2017:
The article is for publication in a Journal that prefers UK English (small mercies nowadays).
Charles Davis May 16, 2017:
@Neil Are you translating for a UK or an American readership? I'm certainly detecting differences of perception here, in both languages. I can speak very confidently about usage on this in the UK and Spain, but not in the US and Latin America. (However, the connotations of "vientre de alquiler" in Latin America are not relevant here, because we know this is from Spain.)
Simon Bruni May 16, 2017:
@ Marie Thanks, Marie, that's good to know.
Marie Wilson May 16, 2017:
I think the use of "vientre de alquiler" is much more commomplace, however, than its equivalent in English. I think nothing of the Spanish term, as it's used so much in the media, but I've heard the English terms much less, so seems surprising.
neilmac (asker) May 16, 2017:
I was joking, but it turns out "rent-a-womb" is actually a thing. Go figure.

Proposed translations

+6
1 hr
Selected

[leave it out]

I think it is best to omit this expression because it has no equivalent in English. "Vientre de alquiler" is an absolutely standard expression in Spanish for surrogacy. It is almost inevitably mentioned when the subject comes up. Most Spaniards, I suggest, wouldn't have a clue what you were talking about if you called it "subrogación". English speakers, on the other hand, know the phenomenon as surrogacy, or surrogate mothers, and don't call it anything else, in my experience. So no expression of the "womb for hire" kind can be regarded as a translation equivalent of "vientre de alquiler", because it's impossible to use any such expression in English without it sounding jocular and/or pejorative, which is not the case with the Spanish expression.

So if you put surrogacy, nothing else is needed in English, whereas if you put "subrogación", something else (namely the everyday term "vientre de alquiler") is needed in Spanish. And anything else you put in English will inject an inappropriate note that is not present in the Spanish. Unless you put a formal synonym like "commissioned pregnancy", and what's the point of doing that?

Of course, if you follow my advice you may want to add a note to the client explaining why.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-16 13:47:02 GMT)
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Sorry to labour the point, but the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this is insoluble.

The author has added "vientre de alquiler" because although he may be writing for specialists who would understand "subrogación", he/she and they are aware that most people wouldn't. So he's effectively saying:
"subrogación, or vientre de alquiler, as people usually call it"

But in English it's commonly known as surrogacy, so in

"surrogacy, or X, as people usually call it"

there is no possible value for X: there is no other expression for this that is common, let alone more common than surrogacy. Anything you put, and certainly any of the suggestions here, will be contrary to the author's intentions.
Note from asker:
I might end up doing this. I've just been offered a proofing job and if I take it, I'll be "parking" this translation until I proof the other thing...
Peer comment(s):

agree Simon Bruni
33 mins
Thanks, Simon!
neutral 12316323 (X) : I read this as a clarification of which type it is. -I'm sorry; you're absolutely right, Charles. Still, while surrogacy is THE term, I don't think a brief explanation/reminder would be unappreciated/unused by most.
1 hr
I don't think that can be the point, Kathryn. "Vientre de alquiler" doesn't clarify which kind it is because it applies to both kinds. Both involve a "womb for hire" (unless it's lent by a friend); the difference is purely the fertilisation technique.
agree peter jackson
6 hrs
Thanks, Peter :)
agree Robert Carter : Seems to me as though the Spanish is, as you say, giving this as an explanation for the sense of "subrogación", which has another specific legal meaning regarding rights, which isn't the case in English (subrogation).
6 hrs
Aha! There speaks the legal translator :) Quite true. Thanks, Robert!
agree Marcelo González
7 hrs
Thanks, Marcelo!
agree Marie Wilson : Very convincing.
17 hrs
Thanks very much, Marie :)
agree Martin Harvey
4 days
Thank you, Martin!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Client/author agreed with me that "when in doubt, leave it out"... Thanks again to everyone for chipping in."
5 mins

womb for hire

18,300 hits for "womb for hire", must also be "a thing" :)

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Note added at 9 mins (2017-05-16 11:47:12 GMT)
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Surely it's no less dodgy than the Spanish?
Note from asker:
I actually just tried to post a similar comment in the discussion section, but it hasn't uploaded. I've pencilled this in, but I would like something less tongue in cheek. Cheers Simon :)
Something went wrong...
15 mins

gestational carrier/rent-a-uterus

More options.
If you base it on google hits "rent-a-uterus" is the most popular term.
Gestational carrier is another way of saying it.
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

host uterus

Another option, and one that's less crass, in my opinion, with no references to money/commerce (renting, hire).

(I've given it further thought and while wombs for rent and womb renting is common in journalism, it's perhaps not the most appropriate tone to strike here.)

I also like Marie's gestational carrier, but I think host uterus is clearer.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Charles Davis : Change of comment; just read yours :) The thing is that I don't think this clarifies it at all; British readers, at least, will understand "surrogacy" more easily than "host uterus".
15 mins
Your point is completely valid and true. I just think that in addition to providing the common, everyday name for it, it also serves as a simple explanation/reminder of the who/what. Anyway, just trying to avoid the rent-a-cop/rent-a-wreck association.
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