Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Apr 23, 2008 17:39
16 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Portuguese term
emblemático
Portuguese to English
Bus/Financial
Real Estate
A common problem for me and I have never satisfactorily come up with a solution. Specific sentence at the moment is:
"Um dos edíficios mais emblemáticos da Baixa de Lisboa"
Would like something pithy that sounds like real English rather than just making do with "renowned" or "emblematic."
"Um dos edíficios mais emblemáticos da Baixa de Lisboa"
Would like something pithy that sounds like real English rather than just making do with "renowned" or "emblematic."
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | iconic, perhaps? |
lexical
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| 4 +2 | emblematical, representative |
José Crespo
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| 5 | symbolic |
Leniel Maccaferri
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| 4 +1 | signature |
Edgar Potter
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| 4 | allegorical |
R. Alex Jenkins
|
Change log
Apr 24, 2008 07:31: lexical Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
35 mins
Selected
iconic, perhaps?
Like you, Catarina, I've frequently had problems with this word. Sometimes, authors use it to mean typical/characteristic; at other times, outstanding/atypical. A word that perhaps sums up the sense of being characteristic and also standng out above the crowd is 'iconic'.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Yes, lexical. This is the best answer. Sometimes to me though it seems that iconic ought to reserved for more outstanding things...though perhaps this is also the case with emblemático and the problem is really over- and inappropriate use of emblemático. Thanks for reminding me of this great option."
10 mins
R. Alex Jenkins
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
Works in field
Brazil
Translator and Editor
Native in: English 
Works in: Portuguese to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
allegorical
A suggestion - it's what you feel happy with at the end of the day.
'Allegorical' could be a nice amalgamation of 'symbolic' and 'emblematic' - perhaps what you're after.
Here's Merriam Webster's definition:
"having hidden spiritual meaning that transcends the literal sense of a sacred text"
e.g.;
The Port of Liverpool Building was erected as the head office of the Mersey ... one of the strongest symbolic elements of this highly allegorical building. ...
www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/visitingthewhs/areas/pierhea...
'Allegorical' could be a nice amalgamation of 'symbolic' and 'emblematic' - perhaps what you're after.
Here's Merriam Webster's definition:
"having hidden spiritual meaning that transcends the literal sense of a sacred text"
e.g.;
The Port of Liverpool Building was erected as the head office of the Mersey ... one of the strongest symbolic elements of this highly allegorical building. ...
www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/visitingthewhs/areas/pierhea...
10 mins
Leniel Maccaferri
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
Brazil
Computer Engineer expert @ Soft/Hardware
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian) 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English
symbolic
symbolic = simbólico
emblematic, symbolic; typical
emblemático
n. emblem, symbol
emblematic, symbolic; typical
emblemático
n. emblem, symbol
+2
25 mins
emblematical, representative
a palavra existe em inglês com o mesmo sentido
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
rhandler
: Ou, mais simplesmente, emblematic.
21 mins
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obrigado rhandler
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| agree |
JoGoes
: yes, why not emblematic?
19 hrs
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I think so. Thanks JoGoes. Anyway iconic is fine too, and though there is "icónico" in pt we don't use it that much. So, at least for en->pt, it's a good choice. As for pt->en, well, I think both are OK.
|
+1
4 hrs
Edgar Potter
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Specialized in proofreading, editing
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Related KudoZ points
:
12
signature
Yup, one of those words... My most recent solution (it seemed to fit in the context I was dealing with) was "signature".... It was some sort of engineering work that I translated as "a signature work"...it may or may not work for you, but something to throw in the pot with other suggestions. Good luck.
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