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Configuración histórica

English translation: historical setting

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:configuración histórica
English translation:historical setting
Entered by: Barbara Cochran, MFA

11:05 Jan 5, 2022
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History
Spanish term or phrase: Configuración histórica
Hi there,

I'd like to know your opinion on how you would translate the term "configuración histórica". It's part of one of the titles found in the official list of topics for the "Oposiciones" for secondary school teacher of English in Spain. The topic's full title is "La configuración histórica de los Estados Unidos de América: de la Independencia a la guerra de secesión. Novelas de referencia: The Scarlet Letter y The Red Badge of Courage".

"Historical configuration" gets quite a few results on Google but it doesn't sound right, I don't know. Anyway, I'm not a native speaker. But most of the results shown are from Spanish websites, which makes me suspicious.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.
Silvia Vaquero
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:36
historical setting
Explanation:
As in "the setting of the story".
Selected response from:

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 15:36
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4historical setting
Barbara Cochran, MFA
3 +3shaping through history / historical shaping
Angelo Berbotto
4 +2The Making of (…)
Toni Castano
4 +1Historical portrayal/representation
Simone Taylor
4historical arc
Muriel Vasconcellos


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
historical setting


Explanation:
As in "the setting of the story".

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 15:36
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Adrian MM.: albeit in a different context or 'setting' : https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/computers-syst...
11 mins
  -> Thank you, Adrian.
agree  Jennifer Levey: Yes, it refers to the real-life scenario that serves as a backdrop to the novels.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Jennifer!
agree  Andrew Bramhall
3 hrs
  -> Thank you, Andrew.
agree  neilmac
3 days 36 mins
  -> Thanks, neilmac.
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
shaping through history / historical shaping


Explanation:
Configuración se refiere a cómo se conforma y cambia con el tiempo -- yo diría the shaping of the USA through history

pero tal vez alguien tenga algo más acertado

Angelo Berbotto
Australia
Local time: 05:36
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  patinba: "Shaping" is the right word here. How about "The shaping of America"? ... I know, I know.... but it would certainly work in the US.
18 mins
  -> thank you, Patinba. I think that because it is an academic document, I'd prefer USA rather than America.
agree  Toni Castano: Hi Angelo, I prefer my "Making", but your "Shaping" is okay too (belated Happy new year 2022!).
23 mins
  -> Thank you, Toni! HNY to you, too.
agree  liz askew
2 hrs
  -> many thanks, Liz.
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36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
historical arc


Explanation:
It's not a literal translation, but I think it conveys the idea equally well.

The following example relates directly to your context:

The Rise of American Democracy | Sean Wilentz - W.W. Nortonhttps://wwnorton.com › books
Acclaimed as the definitive study of the period by one of the greatest American historians, The Rise of American Democracy **traces a historical arc from the earliest days of the republic to the opening shots of the Civil War.**

Other examples:

Freedom Farms, Rocky Acres, and the Struggle for Food Justice
https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org › fsj › article › view
by BJ Smith · 2019
**It also has deep roots in the historical arc of food politics in the Black Freedom Struggle of the civil rights era.**

The Virgin Mary: a History in Matter and Emotion
https://www.historyofemotions.org.au › events › the-vir...
**It will develop an historical arc within which these qualities can be situated**, and offer it as a case for reflection on historical practices in the study ...

The historical arc of the... - JohnGroblerjournalist | Facebook
https://ne-np.facebook.com › permalink
**The historical arc of the trickle-down economy**. The most successful lie of the 21st Century has been to convince us all that a company is a person, so...



Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 12:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 50
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
The Making of (…)


Explanation:
I understand your misgivings about going too literal here. I personally think it is better to refrain from using a literal translation, which would not work well, I believe. I would then suggest something like “The Making of the United States of America” instead, a title that conveys the dynamic idea of the historical development of the USA.

Translation suggestion in full:
The Making of the United States of America. From the War of Independence to the Civil War.


Toni Castano
Spain
Local time: 21:36
Works in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Unger Clark (X): I like your solution, Toni. I checked my temario de opos and "The Making of..." gets the gist of what is covered in this chapter. Another thought would be "The Creation of..."
46 mins
  -> Thanks for your comments, Helen. Yes, I agree there are several valid options here (and happy 2022!).
agree  philgoddard: I would leave out "of America".
3 hrs
  -> Thanks for your opinion, phil. And happy new year 2022!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Historical portrayal/representation


Explanation:
Some examples

https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1237&...

https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=1257

Simone Taylor
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:36
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alisa Newman: since the sources referred to our novels, I think this is the best translation
12 hrs
  -> Thank you, that is what I though and even history is not set in stone.
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