Pablo, almost all the literature I know on GM by Spanish authors is in English, so I do not think there is a consensus about the translation of most terms. In my experience, in classroom lectures and informal presentations on general biometry, "shape" is almost invariably translated as "forma" (in expressions such as "variable alométrica de forma," for "allometric shape variable," and so on). As the description of methods is usually referred to Anglosaxon authors, the most common practice is enclosing the English translation in parenthesis. As in " la matriz de las distancias de forma (form distance matrix)..." But that does not help much if you need to use both "form" and "shape" in the same context.
I agree in your translation of both terms being more accurate, but shape being a word more commonly used by morphometricians, and being found in Spanish literature almost in all cases translated as "forma", your translation as "estructura" may be confusing for most authors. My two cents would be keeping "forma" as a general term for both of them, and then using two different terms to distinguish between shape and form (as in "la forma puede ser definida como shape y como form"). The problem would be finding an appropriate word for "form," as I think that estructura is indeed a very good translation for shape. Maybe "conformación geométrica" or simply "forma general"? I actually know more articles on the subject in Portuguese than in Spanish. And both languages are very similar, sharing most Latin roots. So maybe the Brazilian and Portuguese list contributors could also help by explaining how are they translating both concepts. Cheers Luis Luis Cabo Department of Applied Forensic Sciences, Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute, Mercyhurst College, [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "morphmet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 1:57 AM Subject: Form, and shape translations to spanish > Dear friends, > > I would like to receive opinions about the correct translations of form, and shape into Spanish. My suggestions below: > > form - forma > shape - estructura > > Because most literature on morphometrics is available in english, I am unsure about the standard approach to the translation of these two terms. The problem resides in the usual translation of shape (forma), but then how to distinguish it from form? Have my spanish speaking colleagues arrived to a consensus on this subject? > > Thanks for all > > Pablo > > Pablo Jarrin > Grad. student > Department of Biology > Boston University > > > > > -- > Replies will be sent to the list. > For more information visit http://www.morphometrics.org > > --- > [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] > > > -- Replies will be sent to the list. For more information visit http://www.morphometrics.org
Pablo,
almost all the literature I know on GM by Spanish authors is in English, so
I do not think there is a consensus about the translation of most terms. In my
experience, in classroom lectures and informal presentations on general
biometry, "shape" is almost invariably translated as "forma" (in
expressions such as "variable alométrica de forma," for "allometric shape
variable," and so on). As the description of methods is usually
referred to Anglosaxon authors, the most common practice is enclosing
the English translation in parenthesis. As in " la matriz de las
distancias de forma (form distance matrix)..." But that does not help
much if you need to use both "form" and "shape" in the same
context.
I agree in your translation of both terms being more accurate, but
shape being a word more commonly used by morphometricians,
and being found in Spanish literature almost in all cases translated as
"forma", your translation as "estructura" may be confusing for most
authors. My two cents would be keeping "forma" as a general term for both
of them, and then using two different terms to distinguish between
shape and form (as in "la forma puede ser definida como shape y
como form"). The problem would be finding an appropriate word
for "form," as I think that estructura is indeed a very good
translation for shape. Maybe "conformación geométrica" or simply "forma
general"?
I actually know more articles on the subject in Portuguese than in Spanish.
And both languages are very similar, sharing most Latin roots. So maybe the
Brazilian and Portuguese list contributors could also help by
explaining how are they translating both concepts.
Cheers
Luis
Luis Cabo
Department of Applied Forensic Sciences,
Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute,
Mercyhurst College,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Applied Forensic Sciences,
Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute,
Mercyhurst College,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "morphmet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 1:57 AM
Subject: Form, and shape translations to spanish
>
> I would like to receive opinions about the correct translations of form,
> and shape into Spanish. My suggestions below:
>
> form - forma
> shape - estructura
>
> Because most literature on morphometrics is available in english, I am
> unsure about the standard approach to the translation of these two terms.
> The problem resides in the usual translation of shape (forma), but then
> how to distinguish it from form? Have my spanish speaking colleagues
> arrived to a consensus on this subject?
>
> Thanks for all
>
> Pablo
>
> Pablo Jarrin
> Grad. student
> Department of Biology
> Boston University
>
>
>
>
> --
> Replies will be sent to the list.
> For more information visit http://www.morphometrics.org
>
> ---
> [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus]
>
>
>
