Lunfardo: What Does “Guita” Mean?

Posted On April 28, 2011By TranspanishIn Did you know?, Languages, Lunfardo, Spanish Language, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  1 Comment

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

The Meaning of Guita

In Lunfardo, the word “guita” means “money” or “cash.” The word “dinero” (money) is not frequently heard in Argentina, with speakers tending to favor the word “plata” instead. The term “guita” is in widespread use throughout Argentina. In addition to guita, you may run across the words “mango,” “vento,” “sope” (a reversal of the syllables in the word “peso”), and “mosca” in a discussion about money. Also the word “guita” is equivalent to cent or “peso” (Argentine currency).

The word “guita” turns up in the lyrics of the tango “Al mundo le falta un tornillo” by José María Aguilar  and Enrique Cadícamo

Todo el mundo está en la estufa,
Triste, amargao y sin garufa,
neurasténico y cortao…
Se acabaron los robustos,
si hasta yo, que daba gusto,
¡cuatro kilos he bajao!
Hoy no hay guita ni de asalto
y el puchero está tan alto
que hay que usar el trampolín.
Si habrá crisis, bronca y hambre,
que el que compra diez de fiambre
hoy se morfa hasta el piolín.

Hoy se vive de prepo
y se duerme apurao.
Y la chiva hasta a Cristo
se la han afeitao…
Hoy se lleva a empeñar
al amigo más fiel,
nadie invita a morfar…

…

 

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Résumé Writing Tips for Translators

Posted On April 14, 2011By TranspanishIn Tips for Translators/  1 Comment

As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) offers prospective employers a glimpse at your professional qualifications and background, and it’s important to present yourself in the best possible light while remaining truthful about your accomplishments. A well-written résumé can catapult you to the top of the list of candidates, while an uninspiring one will likely end up in the trash. Read on for some résumé writing tips for translators.

Include Basic Information

Every translator’s résumé should include basic personal and contact information including first and last name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Leave off details such as marital status, religion, or political affiliation; such information is unnecessary and may be used as grounds for discrimination during the hiring process.

Check and Double-Check

In the field of translation, where attention to detail plays a critical role, don’t be guilty of forwarding potential employers a résumé riddled with spelling or grammatical errors. Thoroughly proofread your résumé, and, if possible, send it to a trusted colleague for additional review.

Keep It Simple

Hiring personnel spend a limited amount of time reviewing each résumé, so it’s important to try to keep things concise. The majority of translators – and particularly those just starting out – should be able to summarize their qualifications and experience in a single page.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

If you have a translation certification or degree but minimal work experience, lead off with the information about your education. Conversely, if you can boast years of translation experience but little to no formal training in the field, make a point to highlight your work experience first.

Customize Your Résumé and Cover Letter

If you’re applying for a job as a legal translator, make sure your résumé emphasizes your experience with this particular type of translation. Now is not the time to highlight your excellent skills as a technical translator. Include a well-crafted, customized cover letter for the target position that further promotes your skills and qualifications.

As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) offers prospective employers a glimpse at your professional qualifications and background, and it’s important to present yourself in the best possible light while remaining truthful about your accomplishments. A well-written résumé can catapult you to the top of the list of candidates, while an uninspiring one will likely end up in the trash. Read on for some résumé writing tips for translators.

Include Basic Information

Every translator’s résumé should include basic personal and contact information including first and last name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Leave off details such as marital status, religion, or political affiliation; such information is unnecessary and may be used as grounds for discrimination during the hiring process.

Check and Double-Check

In the field of translation, where attention to detail plays a critical role, don’t be guilty of forwarding potential employers a résumé riddled with spelling or grammatical errors. Thoroughly proofread your résumé, and, if possible, send it to a trusted colleague for additional review.

Keep It Simple

Hiring personnel spend a limited amount of time reviewing each résumé, so it’s important to try to keep things concise. The majority of translators – and particularly those just starting out – should be able to summarize their qualifications and experience in a single page.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

If you have a translation certification or degree but minimal work experience, lead off with the information about your education. Conversely, if you can boast years of translation experience but little to no formal training in the field, make a point to hig

As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) offers prospective employers a glimpse at your professional qualifications and background, and it’s important to present yourself in the best possible light while remaining truthful about your accomplishments. A well-written résumé can catapult you to the top of the list of candidates, while an uninspiring one will likely end up in the trash. Read on for some résumé writing tips for translators.

Include Basic Information

Every translator’s résumé should include basic personal and contact information including first and last name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Leave off details such as marital status, religion, or political affiliation; such information is unnecessary and may be used as grounds for discrimination during the hiring process.

Check and Double-Check

In the field of translation, where attention to detail plays a critical role, don’t be guilty of forwarding potential employers a résumé riddled with spelling or grammatical errors. Thoroughly proofread your résumé, and, if possible, send it to a trusted colleague for additional review.

Keep It Simple

Hiring personnel spend a limited amount of time reviewing each résumé, so it’s important to try to keep things concise. The majority of translators – and particularly those just starting out – should be able to summarize their qualifications and experience in a single page.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

If you have a translation certification or degree but minimal work experience, lead off with the information about your education. Conversely, if you can boast years of translation experience but little to no formal training in the field, make a point to highlight your work experience first.

Customize Your Résumé and Cover Letter

If you’re applying for a job as a legal translator, make sure your résumé emphasizes your experience with this particular type of translation. Now is not the time to highlight your excellent skills as a technical translator. Include a well-crafted, customized cover letter for the target position that further promotes your skills and qualifications.

hlight your work experience first.

Customize Your Résumé and Cover Letter

If you’re applying for a job as a legal translator, make sure your résumé emphasizes your experience with this particular type of translation. Now is not the time to highlight your excellent skills as a technical translator. Include a well-crafted, customized cover letter for the target position that further promotes your skills and qualifications.

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2010 U.S. Census Data Reveals Continued Growth of Hispanic Population

Posted On April 7, 2011By TranspanishIn Latinos, Spanish Language, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  1 Comment

According to the latest demographic information culled from the 2010 U.S. Census, the Latino population now totals 16.3% of the nation’s inhabitants. The Hispanic population increased 43% over the last ten years, growing from 35.3 million to 50.5 million. Demographers also reported that 56% of the country’s total population expansion in the last decade can be attributed to Latinos.

Even though the Latino population’s growth in raw numbers over the last ten years exceeded totals from previous decades, in terms of the growth rate percentage, the Hispanic population increased more slowly than in years past. For example, the Latino population saw growth rates exceeding 50% in the 1980s and 1990s; however, the first decade of the 21st century witnessed a slightly more modest 43% increase in the number of U.S. Hispanics.

Hispanics, who may self-identify with any race or ethnicity, constitute the country’s largest minority group. By race, 53% of Latinos – 26.7 million people – identified themselves as white only. The next biggest group, 36.7% (18.5 million) of Latinos, identified themselves as “some other race.” A further 6% endorsed multiple races/ethnicities.

In terms of geographic distribution, the majority of the Latino population remains in nine states with significant, established Hispanic communities: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York and Texas. The trend over the last decade, however, is one of dispersion, with the percentage of Latinos living in other states on the rise.

Southeast states including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina registered some of the most impressive growth in the Latino population. Maryland and South Dakota also saw their Hispanic populations double over the last decade.

In six states – Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island – an increase in the number of Latinos constituted all of those states’ population growth. In the event that the Latino population had not multiplied, those states would have seen negative growth.

The census count of the U.S. Latino population was slightly higher than anticipated. The 2010 Census results for Hispanics yielded 955,000 more people than the Census Bureau had estimated for this segment of the population.

Source: The Pew Hispanic Center

 

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