Nick Taylor Nov 30, 2010:

I tend to agree with you I tend to agree with you, but occasionally a bit of a free-for-all is a good thing. Personally I have to admit that all of the answers fall between crap and the script from a school play, but what the hell, It's a laugh ;-)

Gilmar Fernandes Nov 30, 2010:

I wouldn't touch this one with a ten-foot pole! The term could be translated in so many different ways and in the end the Translator will have to make a very subjective call on what she feels is the best fit for the context....not my cup of tea.

T o b i a s Nov 30, 2010:

In advance? Would entail providing explanation before you post.

Paula Prestes (asker) Nov 30, 2010:

Hello,
Yes this piece is set in 2000 and the character is a homeless but you have to keep in mind that the author criticizes the social and political conditions of the country through the character, here you'll have an idea of the text:

"There was a candidate who persisted that he was my father. Come on, have you ever seen such a thing? Come on! Would I be the son of a politician? They came and said:

- This man is the father of the barefeet!

It has already showed up here the father of the poor, the father of the shirtless, the father of the barefeet... There are plenty of politicians who want to be fathers."

The piece in question where the expression appears is this one, the question marks show the place where the expression should be:

"But she didn’t calm down.- I didn't know if I should put a hand and pull, if I should wait... people kept on looking around and didn’t do anything. They didn’t even give an opinion. Stupids. Finally the little one put the head outside to take a look...I didn’t know if I pulled the head, if I pressed the woman’s belly… ???? That’s why I prefer dogs, everything is more efficient with them."

Thanks!

kashew Nov 30, 2010:

Oh, And what social class are we looking at?

kashew Nov 30, 2010:

Hi, Is the piece set in 2000 too?

Paula Prestes (asker) Nov 30, 2010:

Hi Kashew,
This text was written in 2000 and the context in this part is a woman giving birth and the character is frightened because he has to help without knowing what to do, they are waiting for the doctors but the baby is coming so he has to make the childbirth.

kashew Nov 29, 2010:

Context please and what epoch is the piece set in?