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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

Juan el Esparto

English translation:

John the Hippie / Hippy John

Added to glossary by Charles Davis
Sep 30, 2011 18:45
12 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

Juan el Esparto

Spanish to English Other Slang
Hello all,
I've run into an obstacle translating the name of a Spanish character who goes by the name of Tomas el Esparto. I initially and wrongly thought that John the Spartan could work but then discovered that esparto refers to a type of grass and not to Sparta. As far as I'm aware, the name does not carry any specific connotations nor does it refer to any of specific characteristics of the character in question. I don't want to leave it in Spanish because of the 'el' part of the name. Any suggestions?
Thanks to whoever responds.
Proposed translations (English)
3 John the Hippy / Hippy John
3 John the Reed
3 Jack Straw
Change log

Oct 5, 2011 14:23: Charles Davis Created KOG entry

Discussion

David Ronder Oct 1, 2011:
Leave it as it is? I mean, if "the name does not carry any specific connotations nor does it refer to any of specific characteristics of the character in question" and your only worry is that the English reader wouldn't be able to cope with the 'el' part of the name, I think you're underestimating the English reader. Even the most obtuse can deal with Simon Le Bon, Chester-le-Street - and yes, El Cid, as in the Charlton Heston film. A foreign word of no more than two letters - de, le, el, la - that is obviously part of a proper name, and I reckon you're on fairly safe territory.
translation1201 (asker) Sep 30, 2011:
Sorry, Jenni. I didn't include that info because i don't believe his names related to any of his personal characteristics or the role he plays in the narrative. If it helps, he 's a do-gooder who runs an organisation that helps drug addicts. He is unpopular with the other characters as he never shuts up talking. He's not a bad person though just very annoying.
Jenni Lukac (X) Sep 30, 2011:
A description of the character and the role he plays in the narrative would be useful.

Proposed translations

10 hrs
Selected

John the Hippy / Hippy John

Or Juan; perhaps you'd rather leave the name itself in Spanish and just translate the nickname.

I haven't watched Malviviendo, but I've read a bit about it. I'm basing this suggestion partly on what the character seems to be like and partly on the connotations of "esparto".

As well as being good-natured, even idealistic, but a bit of a pain, Juan el Esparto is into Buddhism and has been on the hippy trail, and talks about this. He smokes a lot of dope (as do others in the series, particularly El Negro himself), and there's a picture of him on the Internet smoking three joints at once. So there seems to be something quite hippyish about him.

On the other hand, trying to work out why they called him "El Esparto", the main thing it brings to my mind is arts and crafts (raffia work and all that) and espadrilles or rope sandals. This again sounds quite hippyish.

So putting them together, I have a strong hunch that this is what the nickname is referring to.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Jim Tucker (X) : ("hippie") // Fair enough. Thank you.
1 day 7 hrs
"Hippie" in the US, Jim, but "hippy" is the standard British spelling ( http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hippy ), and asker is in Ireland. Whether the translation is suitable is another matter...
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
45 mins

John the Reed

or is it Thomas?

Not quite the same, but might do.

Note from asker:
Thanks for responding patinaba. I really like this, the only problem is that 'reed' may suggest that the character is especially thin which unfortunately he isn't.
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1 hr

Jack Straw

See below:

Jack Straw is Cockney Rhyming Slang for Draw (cannabis)!
www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/slang/jack_strawSlang to English A B C D E F G H I · J K L M N O ... Jack Straw is Cockney slang for Draw (cannabis). ... This slang was contributed by rangoon on 22-Feb-2004. ...
►
English expressions for the Cockney rhyming slang "Jack Straw"
www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/slang/alternatives/4412Dictio... of alternative English expressions for the Cockney rhyming slang ...
Show more results from cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk
The concise new Partridge dictionary of slang and unconventional ... - Google Books Result
books.google.com.gi/books?isbn=0415212596...
Eric Partridge, Tom Dalzell, Terry Victor - 2007 - Foreign Language Study - 720 pages
jacket | Jack the Dripper 360 someone as the father of her child who is not .... Within days the rhyming slang 'Jack Straw' for DRAW (marijuana) had been added ...
Jackstraw - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster ...
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackstrawDefinition of jackstraw from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary with audio pronunciations, thesaurus, Word of the Day, and word games.
Jack Straw - Encyclopedia
www.encyclo.co.uk/define/Jack StrawJack Straw is British slang for an insubstantial man. Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/brow; Jack Straw Jack Straw is British slang for an ...
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