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Dec 1, 2022 19:22
1 yr ago
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Spanish term

schizophrenia

Spanish to English Other Philosophy Academic
La presencia terrenal se vive como algo totalmente ininteligible y a la vez familiar, como algo gratuito y a la vez absoluto. Esta «esquizofrenia» refleja con elocuencia la dimensión profundamente metafísica de la existencia, cuyo olvido genera la mayor entre las anomalías humanas que radica en el no maravillarse ante ella y por extensión en degradarla de misterio a «problema» y exigir inmediatamente «solución».

Same academic text on longevity and ageing. Had said I would post this as aiming to avoid using "schizophrenia" in English. I had thought of double-mindedness so as to echo the source text somewhat, but actually "double-mindedness" has other connotations (e.g. faith and doubt in biblical Book of James & I gather Kirkengarrd) so wondering whether I should be looking at other possibilities.
Proposed translations (English)
4 paradox
3 schizophrenic vview / conflicting view

Discussion

Domini Lucas (asker) Feb 17, 2023:
Thank you Thanks so much to all for your help. In this instance I felt "paradox" fitted the context best as it was going to be a public well-visited site. Thank you again.
Domini Lucas (asker) Dec 3, 2022:
"paradox" Due to time constraints, in the end I put in "paradox" because it was the easiest to work into the text in the time I had left. I might have done differently and changed it round to sth with "view" with more time. I have flagged it up to my client so they can revert to the original "schizophrenia" if they so wish as they are the ones that know what works best for them (it appears in three langs so they may want consistency). Phil, could I trouble you to enter "paradox" as an answer so I can award you the points as I chose it in this instance. I am so grateful to you all. I really couldn't have done this in the time without everyone's input irrespective of the answer chosen. I really do believe that peer support is one of our greatest assets as translators and I am so grateful. Especially on this occasion. I can't thank you all enough.
Domini Lucas (asker) Dec 3, 2022:
thank you, explanation Hello to all,
I am so grateful for your help with this and am sorry to have caused controversy. :-) I My concern was the best option for my client and any potential repercussions for them as the text is on public view and they work in a high profile context. i.e. I felt I had to take into account its accessibility to and feedback from their potential EN readership, rather than any preference of mine. If I get a future job from them I will try and ascertain their standpoint and preference on these tricky choices up front. These dilemmas keep coming up, not least as there is so often a mismatch between what seems to still be considered acceptable in different contexts and cultures. I work with texts on ageing more and more and non-ageist language comes up a great deal, though I feel that incorporating it can sometimes lead to a flatter less polished final text (I feel a blog post coming on!). This text sat between three cultures, which seemed to add to the challenge at times.
philgoddard Dec 2, 2022:
"The Guardian's loony style guide" I've actually spent many hours with its author, and he seems perfectly sane to me. But if the Guardian is too leftwing for you, how about this journal article:

"Metaphorical references to an illness can conjure up negative, disheartening associations and, when commonly accepted, contribute to social rejection and degradation of well-being among persons who suffer from that illness."
http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.54.10.140...
Robert Carter Dec 2, 2022:
Interestingly, the Guardian style guide appears to have it backward according to the BMJ article linked to by Domini. That article itself links to a Guardian article (how fitting!) claiming a group of mental health experts propose abolishing the term as a concept in mental health care "because it is a catch-all term which does not define a specific illness and carries a stigma that destroys people's lives."
So it seems that it's not the use of the word "schizophrenia" to characterize the idea in the popular imagination of a "split mind" that's the problem; on the contrary, what is stigmatizing is to use that word to characterize a particular mental illness or a range of symptoms characteristic of mental illness.
Take "lunacy" or "madness": completely outdated in terms of mental health, but fine to describe a policy or opinion we might disagree with.
Does the Guardian ban their use too? Is it offensive to use these words metaphorically? It may well be to call someone with mental health problems a lunatic or to talk about mental health in those terms, but it's hardly offensive to use them when mental health isn’t the issue, perhaps when talking about the Guardian's loony style guide!
Muriel Vasconcellos Dec 2, 2022:
Paradox Yes!
Robert Carter Dec 2, 2022:
My sense, and this is borne out by the Merriam Webster reference below, too, is that the word has two meanings, one medical, denoting a type of mental illness, and another more popular one that relates to having opposing qualities:

"schizophrenia
2: contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes
both parties … have exhibited schizophrenia over the desired outcome
Elizabeth Drew"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schizophrenia

The author clearly seems to be using it in the latter sense, and in any case, any issues with or objections to using it should be taken up with that same author, not the translator. I honestly don't think it's something you should worry about, and the whole area of language sensitivity is a can of worms. You only have to be sure you're taking a neutral approach to the text, which means neither turning the anodyne into the inflammatory nor vice versa.

Directions on term usage in style guides such as the one Phil mentioned are for authors, not translators. Unless your remit includes editing the author too, or you're collaborating with them to refine the piece, maybe we shouldn't be trying to tone down their rhetoric.
philgoddard Dec 2, 2022:
Or paradox.
Domini Lucas (asker) Dec 2, 2022:
dichotomy? My non-Spanish speaking husband just proposed "dichotomy" as another option.
Domini Lucas (asker) Dec 2, 2022:
@phil Thanks for confirming what I thought! Was too rushed to dig around too much
philgoddard Dec 2, 2022:
The Guardian style guide schizophrenia, schizophrenic
should be used only in a medical context, never to mean in two minds, contradictory, or erratic, which is wrong, as well as offensive to people diagnosed with this illness.
Domini Lucas (asker) Dec 1, 2022:
@Robert That said, it was the author's choice of words, so can fall back on being faithful to that of course. This is my final runthrough with deadline looming, so just dotting i's and crossing t's. Keeping it is, of course, quicker! But there are conversations about not using the term even in diagnostic settings due to stigma e.g. (as a v quick ref) https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/11/01/what’s-wrong-t... There are plenty of other refs out there.
Domini Lucas (asker) Dec 1, 2022:
@Hernan Thanks so much for your input Hernan (here and previously - been rushed today so sorry didn't say so earlier!). If the word is changed, my sense is that it needs to include a sense of two conflicting elements, or at least of contradiction/conflict of terms...
Domini Lucas (asker) Dec 1, 2022:
@Robert Thanks for commenting. It will be published on a website so I assumed it runs the risk of offending (I have worked in hospitals as a Chaplain and language was always carefully thought about). It was also flagged up as a term to watch previously when the word (in quotes) appeared as part of another query I posted, which confirmed to me that it could run the risk of offending. My concern is for my client. The website attracts high-profile academic readers. I know academic journal style guides that stipulate the language to be used re ageing. Perhaps I'll dig around to see if I can find something on this. If the overall consensus on this forum is that it is ok to keep, I will as I will then offer the client a back up note that, if anyone says something to them, it was thought through. :-)
Robert Carter Dec 1, 2022:
Hi Domini, could you tell us why you would want to avoid "schizophrenia"? The ST is clearly using it metaphorically, and indeed, emphasizes this by putting it in quotation marks.
Hernan Casasbuenas Dec 1, 2022:
Hello Domini You could use something like "Loss of contact with reality"

Proposed translations

77 days
Spanish term (edited): esquizofrenia
Selected

paradox

See the discussion box.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you so much. In the specific client context, this suggestion fitted best."
5 hrs
Spanish term (edited): esquizofrenia

schizophrenic vview / conflicting view

Declined
Maybe turning it into an adjective might be less offensive. Or just use another phrase.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2022-12-02 00:42:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

https://www.bamradionetwork.com › Tracks
**Our Schizophrenic View of Education Policy**. Patrick Riccards. It seems as though we are consistently struggling with our views on education policy.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2022-12-02 00:52:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

https://www.amazon.com › Just-Keep-Walking-schizop...
Just Keep Walking: **A homeless schizophrenic's view of underground America**

The historical construction of the Native American other and ...https://via.library.depaul.edu › cgi › viewcontent
PDF
by G Johnson · 2015 — 1.2 **Examining the Conceptual Schizophrenic view of the Native American** Other ..........8. 1.3 Racism as Passion: The Internal Logic of Colonial Racism

https://theworld.org › stories › us-ambassador-michael-...
**US Ambassador Michael McFaul says Russians have a 'schizophrenic' view of the US.** The World. February 13, 2014 · 3:30 PM EST. By Joyce Hackel.

Note the single quotation marks in the quote above.

**A schizophrenic view of inclusion in protest politics** from the ...https://repository.eduhk.hk › publications › a-schizophr...
by L JACKSON · 2021 — Jackson, L. (2021, April). A schizophrenic view of inclusion in protest politics from the United States and Hong Kong. Paper presented at The ..
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