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PLANTA E ISOMETRICO

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

estado de abandono

English translation:

state of neglect / disrepair / dilapidation / disuse

Added to glossary by Muriel Vasconcellos
Jul 11, 2015 22:09
8 yrs ago
7 viewers *
Spanish term

estado de abandono

Spanish to English Tech/Engineering Architecture condition of a building
Of course, the literal translation would be 'state of abandonment'. However, there are people still working in this facility. So I'm wondering if 'state of neglect' would be too mild. Can you suggest something that doesn't mean that the building has been abandoned--because it hasn't?

Se observó un alto grado de precariedad y deterioro en las instalaciones de la sede de Huixtla, en su arquitectura e infraestructura, en las condiciones para el adecuado desarrollo de las labores, y en las condiciones de conservación de la importante documentación y equipos arriba mencionados. Da la impresión de que **esta sede está en estado de abandono**.
Proposed translations (English)
2 +4 state of neglect (why not?) /disrepair / dilapidation / disuse
4 +3 state of abandonment
4 +2 state of neglect/ill-repair/deteriorated condition
3 uncared for
3 derelict
3 disarray and lack of maintenance
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Neil Ashby

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Discussion

Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Jul 14, 2015:
@José and others I received a message from José who was concerned about comments regarding native speakers. Let me state for the record that I value the contributions of all comers. In this case, it was helpful for me that the native speakers of the source (not target) language confirmed my understanding of the term. Please, let's all be careful not to use the expression "native speaker" as a put-down of those who are not. We can all learn from each other. As for people claiming the status, this is not the forum for judging whether or not the claim is accurate.
Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Jul 14, 2015:
@Neil I think it's a Pro question because I've been translating for over 40 years and I was not aware that "abandono" could mean 'neglect', 'lack of care' - i.e., abandoned in terms of care but still physically occupied.
Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Jul 14, 2015:
@Danik Exactly. This is a subtlety that I wasn't aware of until now. This conclusion seems to be confirmed by the fact that 3 non-native speakers of English intuitively suggested terms that had to do with neglect rather than physically abandoning the site.
Danik 2014 Jul 13, 2015:
@Muriel In Portuguese and I suppose in Spanish too, you can have both kinds of "abandono"(stopping to care for a place and leaving it physically) together or separately. But in English it seems for me from your query, that to characterize the "state of abandonment" of a place people must leave it physically.
Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Jul 13, 2015:
abandono Here's my take on it: I think the difference is that 'abandoned' in English means that people have abandoned it physically (=no one at home any more), whereas in Portuguese 'abandono' only means that they have stopped caring for it. It seems obvious now that I spell this out.
Neil Ashby Jul 13, 2015:
How about this? "abandono" simply refers to abandonment by the owners/previous tenants. Not a 3-word false friend at all.
In my eyes, having thought about for a bit, there are loads of viable options which is why I chose non-pro.
"It APPEARS that this HQ has been abandoned" - literal works 'cos the source uses "dar la impression" (it doesn't unilaterally state that it has been abandoned).
"The building appears to be in a state of disrepair / neglect / disuse" plus many more synonyms.

With respect to Danik's comment "For example, here in Brazil we have homeless people, who actually live in buildings "em estado abandonado"." - the buildings have been abandoned by their owners and/or previous occupants....that's all it means (as it states in the freedict ref), abandoned by parties who would pay for and take charge of its upkeep. I don't see the false friend. Nor a specialised term or difficult source construction, thus it can be solved with an ordinary dictionary, so why not non-pro?
Danik 2014 Jul 13, 2015:
@Muriel Yes.
"Estado de abandono" here solely= Building in a "state of neglect, disrepair, etc."
The meaning is not quite the same as in Portuguese or Spanish. For example, here in Brazil we have homeless people, who actually live in buildings "em estado abandonado".
Sorry, I don´t want to seem insistent, but I think this difference is the reason for this thread.
Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Jul 13, 2015:
@Danik I assume we agree. This particular building is in active use.
Danik 2014 Jul 13, 2015:
According to this link: The English term "abandonment" is not the synonym of neglect as may be the case with the Spanish or Portuguese term "abandonado". Abandoning a building may include neglect of it but the building must also be empty.
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/abandonment
Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Jul 13, 2015:
BTW I'm now at the end of the document and have come to a recommendation to allocate funds to refurbish the building.
Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Jul 13, 2015:
@Neil I wonder why you think it's non-Pro when so many ideas have been proposed, and one person has said it's a 'false friend'?

Proposed translations

+4
12 mins
Selected

state of neglect (why not?) /disrepair / dilapidation / disuse

Abandono - Spanish to English Translation | Spanish Central
www.spanishcentral.com/translate/abandono
neglectla iglesia se encontraba en un terrible estado de abandono the church was in a terrible state of neglect es lamentable el abandono que sufre la sanidad ...

abandono - English <> Spanish Dictionary - Universidad de ...
eubd1.ugr.es/htmlsp/htmlsp01/S88_2.html
(Universidad de Granada, España) ... Ex.: Left hand truncation, which involves the neglect of prefixes or the ... estado de abandono = state of neglect . Ex.: Their ...

Abandono en inglés | Traductor de español a inglés
www.spanishdict.com/traductor/abandono
2. state of abandon (descuido) (de aspecto, jardín); neglect (de obligaciones) ... en un terrible estado de abandono the church was in a terrible state of neglect o ...

neglect (why not?) /disrepair / dilapidation / disuse

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2015-07-16 11:35:10 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thank you Muriel.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Taña. 'Disuse' is an interesting option (I have used up 'disrepair' and 'delapidation' earlier in the paragraph).
Thanks, Taña. I'm still wavering between 'neglect' and 'disuse'- leaning toward 'disuse'.
Peer comment(s):
agree David Hollywood : "neglect" or "disuse" as you say
2 hrs
Thank you David.
agree Rick Larg : neglect
7 hrs
Thank you Rick.
agree philgoddard : Didn't we have this a couple of days ago? It's a false friend.
7 hrs
This is the first time I am seeing the question. Anyway, thank you.
agree Neil Ashby
1 day 10 hrs
Thank you Neil.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, Taña!"
1 hr

uncared for

The building has not been looked after properly.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/uncared-for
Note from asker:
Thanks. I like this option, too.
Something went wrong...
+3
2 hrs

state of abandonment

I think that state of abandonment is the perfect and precise selection of translation for this term. It fits in perfectly within the context, although, as you have stated, that people are still in the building. I think the aim of the context you cited is to paint the picture that people are still in a building that is in such a deteriorated and unlivable state, in which they really shouldn't be.....I hope that helps....
Peer comment(s):
agree Billh : I agree entirely giving the impression it is in a state of abandonment is not in any way inconsistent with being occupied
6 hrs
Thanks Billh
agree Jesstee
12 hrs
Thanks Jesstee
agree Neil Ashby : Ditto to what Bill says. Although some readers would apparently require further clarification so I'd preferibly go with "state of neglect + synonyms".
1 day 14 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

derelict

It seems/gives the impression the building is derelict

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/LandStewardship/WasteMana...
The Derelict Building Program was established to provide small Iowa communities and rural counties financial assistance to address neglected structures in order to improve the appearance of their streets and revitalize local economies.

https://www.denvergov.org/developmentservices/DenverDevelopm...
Note from asker:
Thanks, Virginia. That's a very good word.
Something went wrong...
+2
8 mins

state of neglect/ill-repair/deteriorated condition

Unas opciones.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2015-07-12 01:34:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think, Muriel, that perhaps you might want to use "condition" instead of "state".
Peer comment(s):
agree David Hollywood : "state of neglect" gets my vote
2 hrs
Thanks, David. Also for your help with my current literary translation.
agree Neil Ashby
1 day 16 hrs
Thanks, Neil.
Something went wrong...
1 day 21 mins

disarray and lack of maintenance

Report Finds NYCHA Buildings in Disarray With Little Accountability
One option is to simply stand by idly and watch the public housing stock deteriorate beyond repair,”
http://www.norwoodnews.org/id=17118&story=report-finds-nycha...
Something went wrong...
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