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contraprova
May 11, 2008 17:28
16 yrs ago
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Portuguese term

Sra. Joana

Non-PRO Portuguese to English Social Sciences General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Na sequência de conflitos entre membros da rede informal,a rede formal é envolvida: A Sra. Joana vivia em uma casa arrendada, pagava uma renda baixa, mas a casa era velha e o senhorio recusava-se a fazer obras.

Could you tell me if it's possible to use "Mrs Joana" following the Portuguese text? This is a paper on social issues and it's going to be published in GB.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 Joana
3 +5 Mrs. So and So/ a lady called Joana
4 +2 Mrs Joana
3 +2 Dona Joana
Change log

May 11, 2008 20:34: María Leonor Acevedo-Miranda changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Discussion

Andrea Munhoz May 12, 2008:
Why don't you use only the first names, as suggested by Lucy? If you have so many people to mention, I think it would be a good solution. But using Mr.Mrs with the first names is not appropriate in English.
lexical May 12, 2008:
The form "Mr + first name" can also sometimes be found as a form of address, e.g., to brothers who jointly own a firm by their employees, as a way of distinguishing between them as they share the same surname. E.g. Mr Robert and Mr Charles.
lexical May 12, 2008:
...very rarely as a form of address by servants to junior members of wealthy families, and is virtually obsolete. The form "Mrs/Ms + first name" is never used by native speakers, to my certain knowledge.
lexical May 12, 2008:
Although the form "Sr./Sra. + first name" is common in Portuguese, the apparent equivalent "Mr/Mrs + first name" is not an English usage and will detract from the credibility of your paper when it is published. The form "Mr/Miss + first name" is used...
mariavaz May 11, 2008:
So, if you have different names, I think you shouldn't use "Mrs/ Mr So and So"; I think you should keep it like in Portuguese "Mrs Joana/Mr António" (otherwise it will sound a bit strange to read "Mrs/ Mr So and So" through the whole text.
Daisymiller (asker) May 11, 2008:
The text gives us different examples of problems experienced by poor families... if they mention strategies used to cope with financial problems, they give us an example situation, like "A Sra. Joana recebia uma pensão, e ao mesmo tempo efectuava pequenos trabalhos recebendo algum dinheiro extra". These names are just an example, as they can't use the real names of those involved in the study. So, I also have, "o Sr. António", "a Sr. Guida", etc.
Andrea Munhoz May 11, 2008:
Is it a general reference? I mean 'Ms. Joana' would be nothing but just another woman around? Or the text goes over a specific person?

Proposed translations

+3
3 hrs
Selected

Joana

Assuming Joana is a first name then I would simply say 'Joana' in English. That seems a simple solution to me!
Peer comment(s):
agree María Leonor Acevedo-Miranda : Dona is not a first name in Portuguese, believe me or go online www.priberam.pt/// Indeed you have not! I am sorry. And please cal me Leonor, as María are 65% of the Spanish and Portuguese women :p
1 min
Maria, I haven't suggested Dona!
agree Marcos de Lima
1 hr
Thank you Marcos
agree Marcella S.
13 hrs
Thank you Marcella
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks a lot"
+2
10 mins

Dona Joana

Perhaps this will help. Jorge Amado's "Dona Flor e seus dois maridos" has been translated as "Dona Flor and her Two Husbands" (http://www.amazon.com/Dona-Flor-Her-Two-Husbands/dp/03072766...
Note from asker:
I don't think "Dona" should be used here. When we say "Dona Flor", "dona" becomes part of her name. In this case, Sra. (Senhora), and also Sr. (Senhor), is used as a formal way of mentioning someone. I have many examples, using many different names: "O Sr. António...", "a Sra. Ana" etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree Elvira Alves Barry
40 mins
agree Barbara Milano : if it's her real name...
42 mins
disagree María Leonor Acevedo-Miranda : É Sra., de Senhora .....
1 hr
agree lexical : with bebetto; if it's her real name, this could be a good solution. Although "Dona" is not English, we would immediately understand what is meant.
1 hr
neutral mariavaz : If you use "Dona Joana" it seems it refers to a specific person; it doesn't have the same Portuguese meaning.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
23 mins

Mrs Joana

I think you can really use the expression.
Peer comment(s):
agree María Leonor Acevedo-Miranda : ou Ms. (a arrogância de certas pessoas ainda me consegue surpreender...)
1 hr
Thank you! I'm not an English native speaker...but I've read so many English books!! And I really find the expression "Mrs ...", so I don't see why it seems such a nonsense!
agree Michael and Raimunda Poe : Dona doesn't mean anything to me if I don't know Portuguese! Use Mrs. if you have her last name if not, just use Joana or as the other suggestion a lady called Joana.
2 hrs
Thanks! I agree with you.
Something went wrong...
+5
32 mins

Mrs. So and So/ a lady called Joana

If it's general: Mrs. So and So (any woman, it's just an example of a name)

'a lady called Joana': as far as I know, in English we do not use 'Mrs' with a first name.
Peer comment(s):
agree María Leonor Acevedo-Miranda
55 mins
Obrigada, Maria!
agree lexical : Good reasoning, though if Sra. Joana is only a generic person, I think "Mrs. X" could be preferable.
1 hr
Thank you, lexical! Mr. X, (and although I wouldn't think of it) is even better - Michaelis, you know... :o)
agree Michael and Raimunda Poe : Yep this is right too, especially if we don't know her last name.
2 hrs
Thanks!
agree Marcella S.
15 hrs
Obrigada, Marcella!
agree Marcelo Gonçalves : with "a lady called Joana" (not with Mrs So and So, though.)
20 hrs
Obrigada, Marcelo!
Something went wrong...
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