This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Music

al pulsarlas por un extremo libre

English translation: when plucked at the free end

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:al pulsarlas por un extremo libre
English translation:when plucked at the free end
Entered by: Matt Valentine

23:35 Apr 16, 2015
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music / Musical instruments
Spanish term or phrase: al pulsarlas por un extremo libre
Hi,

I'm translating a descriptions of musical instruments for an exhibition. The text is in Spanish and is to be translated into British English. The expression features in a description of a marimba. It is provided below to give you full context:

"El marimbol, marímbula o marimba es un instrumento musical idiófono. Consiste en una serie de placas de metal, sujetas en un lado, que al pulsarlas por un extremo libre, producen una nota musical."

I currently have "...when they are hit on a free end.", but I'm not sure if my use of terminology is 100% correct. Are there any better options available please? Thanks in advance.
Matt Valentine
Norway
Local time: 16:12
when plucked at the free end
Explanation:
Be careful here: although this instrument is sometimes called a marimba in Spanish-speaking countries (as your text says), it is quite different from the instrument normally known as a marimba, which is like a xylophone, with wooden bars struck with mallets (originally from Guatemala):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimba

In fact I would almost be inclined to put "sometimes called a marimba in Spanish", instead of just "marimba", to avoid confusion.

Be that as it may, a marímbula, a Caribbean instrument with metal strips, is plucked, not struck, and that's what "pulsar" means.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marímbula

I don't think there's anything wrong with "at the free end". That's how they express it here:

"The marimbula is an African rooted instrument created by slaves in Cuba. The slaves would create instruments out of any materials that they could get their hands.. The marimbula consists of a small, hollowed box with springy keys or tongues, which are plucked at the free end to produce sound. Most often, the marimbula is used to create the rhythmic bass sound in Cuban music."
http://klovski.blogspot.com.es/2006/11/cuban-music-dance-rhy...
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 16:12
Grading comment
Thanks, Charles!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2when plucked at the free end
Charles Davis
3when struck near the unattached end
George Rabel


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
when plucked at the free end


Explanation:
Be careful here: although this instrument is sometimes called a marimba in Spanish-speaking countries (as your text says), it is quite different from the instrument normally known as a marimba, which is like a xylophone, with wooden bars struck with mallets (originally from Guatemala):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimba

In fact I would almost be inclined to put "sometimes called a marimba in Spanish", instead of just "marimba", to avoid confusion.

Be that as it may, a marímbula, a Caribbean instrument with metal strips, is plucked, not struck, and that's what "pulsar" means.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marímbula

I don't think there's anything wrong with "at the free end". That's how they express it here:

"The marimbula is an African rooted instrument created by slaves in Cuba. The slaves would create instruments out of any materials that they could get their hands.. The marimbula consists of a small, hollowed box with springy keys or tongues, which are plucked at the free end to produce sound. Most often, the marimbula is used to create the rhythmic bass sound in Cuban music."
http://klovski.blogspot.com.es/2006/11/cuban-music-dance-rhy...

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 16:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 220
Grading comment
Thanks, Charles!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Joel Schaefer: Nice research, Charles! I was not aware of the marimbula, which is definitely not the usual marimba. And of course your translation is spot on.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Joel! This one threw me completely at first because I was thinking of a marimba and couldn't work out what they meant. The marimbula is new to me too.
agree  George Rabel: I was totally offkey here. You're absolutely right. I should have known better
12 hrs
  -> Thanks very much, George. Typically magnanimous :)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
when struck near the unattached end


Explanation:
I'd put it this way

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2015-04-17 13:21:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Charles is right. The marimbula, the one with metal plates, is plucked rather than struck.
You can see it in action here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUAxAH1CYxk

George Rabel
Local time: 10:12
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 36
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search