Nacionalidad Norteamericana

English translation: United States nationality

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:Nacionalidad Norteamericana
English translation:United States nationality
Entered by: Robert Rutledge

17:16 Mar 11, 2021
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general) / Divorce
Spanish term or phrase: Nacionalidad Norteamericana
I am translating a Divorce Decree from Mexico and have been confronted with this term. The man whom it is describing is clearly from the USA, however, a literal translation of "North American Nationality" seems problematic, for North America is not a nation but a continent. On the other hand, if I say "United States Nationality" that wouldn't solve the problem either, seeing as "United States" could be interpreted as referring to the "United States of Mexico." Surely it wouldn't be just "American Nationality"?

And yes, "Nationality" has been capitalized in the source.
Robert Rutledge
United States
Local time: 04:04
United States nationality
Explanation:
That's just how Spanish says "American".

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Note added at 7 mins (2021-03-11 17:23:19 GMT)
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And "United States" means "United States of America"- no one would mistake it for Mexico.
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Hey, thanks for your help here! I decided to go with US nationality!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +8United States nationality
philgoddard
4 +3US citizenship
María Nuñez Laluz
3 +3American Nationality or US citizen
Catarina Vieira
3 +2American
Nelly Alejandra Alister
4 +1North American nationality
AllegroTrans


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +8
United States nationality


Explanation:
That's just how Spanish says "American".

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Note added at 7 mins (2021-03-11 17:23:19 GMT)
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And "United States" means "United States of America"- no one would mistake it for Mexico.

philgoddard
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 864
Grading comment
Hey, thanks for your help here! I decided to go with US nationality!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michele Fauble
1 min

agree  Robert Carter
6 mins

agree  A. & S. Witte
32 mins

agree  Manuel Aburto
2 hrs

agree  AllegroTrans: This is one of the rare occasions when I would add a translator's note given that the source term is so obviously wrong/misleading
4 hrs

agree  Toni Castano: I don´t think "United States nationality" can be confused with "United States of Mexico". Your suggestion is, I believe, unmistakable.
4 hrs

agree  Caroline Varella Gonsioroski
23 hrs

neutral  Giovanni Rengifo: I'm still wondering why you didn't write "American" instead. Wouldn't it be simpler?
23 hrs

agree  Benjamin Wilkes
3 days 17 hrs
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
American


Explanation:
American: refers to someone from the United States of America.
North American: refers to a person from North America. There are 23 countries that are part of North America.
In some parts of Latin America they called Americans "Norteamericano/na", but the correct word for Americans in Spanish is estadounidense.


    https://dle.rae.es/norteamericano
    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/dictionary/english/american
Nelly Alejandra Alister
Chile
Local time: 04:04
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Juan Jacob: Well, only 3 countries in North America. And we don't all agree that American means somebody from the USA.
43 mins

agree  Giovanni Rengifo: That's a very thorough explanation Nelly. Note: "....they call" instead of "they called".
1 hr

agree  Adrian MM.: American doesn't rule out a dual US / Canadian national - not entirely unequivocal from the question.
5 hrs

neutral  Caroline Varella Gonsioroski: There is an ethical issue here. Calling a USA citizen 'American' may not be the most correct option, since their country does not englobe the whole continent. Although it might be okay to say it, I would not put 'American' in a legal document.
23 hrs

agree  AllegroTrans: It's OK but it's basically sloppy (but then so is the source term) and as Caroline says, it shouldn't be used in a legal document esp. if for use overseas
2 days 7 hrs

neutral  Thomas Haller: Cambridge also says: of or relating to North or South America
2 days 19 hrs

disagree  Joel Schaefer: I know any number of Argentines who would point out that American/americano means "of the Americas" and in any remotely Spanish-language context, I would agree with them. So I would specify United States here.
10 days
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
American Nationality or US citizen


Explanation:
I'm basing myself on the second definition of American on the Oxford dictionary. This term is controversial and it seems there isn't a non-controversial word. In American passports they place United States of America in nationality, whilst in other passports you can find Canadian or Portuguese underneath instead of the country's name. Hope I could help!


    https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/6342?redirectedFrom=American&
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonyms_for_the_United_States
Catarina Vieira
Spain
Local time: 09:04
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Orkoyen (X): ...if you leave it at "US citizen" and drop the rest. It think that would cover the tri-country sensitivities.
37 mins
  -> its always a tricky term ahah thank you :)

agree  Giovanni Rengifo: I think you're absolutely right. I still wonder what the source says exactly, though. Both of your options are commonly used anyway.
1 hr
  -> thank you! I've tried basing my answer on credible sources

agree  Ruth Rubina: Yes.
7 hrs
  -> thank you Ruth!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
US citizenship


Explanation:
I'd wiete it this way, definetly. Its a clear reference to the same term.

Example sentence(s):
  • The author has US citizenship which allows him to vote in the US
María Nuñez Laluz
Uruguay
Local time: 05:04
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Emiliano Pantoja
41 mins

agree  Edier Quintana
6 hrs

agree  Marcelo González
1 day 6 hrs
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2 days 7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
North American nationality


Explanation:
Of course I am not suggesting that we would write this first hand in English.
But there is an important issue here - this is in a legal document and a decision has to be made whether to repeat the mistake



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Note added at 2 days 7 hrs (2021-03-14 00:45:16 GMT)
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Should you point out mistakes in the source text to the client ...
martineyeo.wordpress.com › 2013/10/08 › should-you-...
8 Oct 2013 — There's one question that translators often ask themselves: what do ... Most of the time, they are obvious mistakes such as incorrect spelling, ...


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Note added at 2 days 7 hrs (2021-03-14 00:47:41 GMT)
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wiki.proz.com › wiki › index.php › Handling_factual_...
21 Feb 2018 — At the other end of the spectrum, when translating publicity material any factual errors will reflect badly on the company that is publishing the material, so the translator has a duty of care to correct any gross, obvious errors. In such cases the corrections should be highlighted and reported to the client.
Missing: repeat ‎| Must include: repeat

Should you point out mistakes in the source text to the client ...
martineyeo.wordpress.com › 2013/10/08 › should-you-...
8 Oct 2013 — Some translators may fear the client's reaction and they may even worry ... Most of the time, they are obvious mistakes such as incorrect spelling, ... If I have any doubt about the use of a specific term in the source text, I ask my ...
Missing: repeat ‎| Must include: repeat

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Note added at 2 days 21 hrs (2021-03-14 15:11:56 GMT)
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https://www.proz.com/forum/prozcom_translator_coop/4615-shou...

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:04
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 1652

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Thomas Haller: Repetir la barbaridad del texto de origen, todo lo demás son adivinanzas.
12 hrs
  -> thanks
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