VLVL2 (14): Hector (Lost in Translation)

[Tim Strzechowski]

On pp. 302 - 03 during the conversation between Zoyd and Hector, numerous Spanish terms are used by the latter.

"Orale" (302.31) is an exclamation, but it's hard to translate directly into English.  It means something like, "That'a way!;" "Sure!;" "Definitely;" "Let's go!"  Basically, it's an exclamation of excited agreement.  For example, if you hit a home run, I'll say, "Orale, Maglio!"  But if the other team changes pitchers, their manager might tell his new pitcher, "Orale, Juan!" in order to encourage him. 

"Muy de aquellos" (303.5) is a phrase that means "their thing."  (The thing they like to do, or their characteristics).  For example, my brothers like to play cards, but I don't.  It's "their thing." 

"Ese" (303.7) depends on the context.  1) literally means "that," as in "that book" translates to "ese libro."  2) a slang term for "homeboy" or "homey" of the American vernacular.  For example, "What's up, ese?"  (But only when you are addressing your homeboy).  Kind of a dated term, though.  

"Conjunto" (303.17) can mean a group of people or things that are together for a specific purpose.  It can also mean an "ensemble."  A music group is a "conjunto musical."  However, I've often heard it used to mean "meeting," as in "the faculty meeting is at 3:00."

"Palabra" (303.20) literally means "word." 

"Los vatos de" (303.23) means "the guys from."  Is Chiques a city?  I don't know.  I looked "chiques" up on the internet and found a lot of French and Portuguese sites.

"Ay muere" (303.27) doesn't sound grammatically correct in isolation to me, but it could be poetic.  It could mean "Oh!, he/she/it dies;" "Ah, does he/she/it die!;" "Alas, there he/she/it dies."  




(As always, thanks to Al for the assistance w/ Spanish!)   -- TS.
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