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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

se perfila (perfilarse)

English translation:

we see, we find, is, are, is made up of...

Added to glossary by Comunican
Sep 28, 2020 16:55
3 yrs ago
43 viewers *
Spanish term

se perfila (perfilarse)

Spanish to English Social Sciences Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. Report on migrant workers
"La hostelería es otro sector donde se perfila la población de origen migrante"

"la economía sumergida se perfila como el único empleo que estos pueden obtener"

I think I get what this means (associated with, typically found in,....) but I'm struggling to match that with dictionary definitions, so thought I'd better check.

Thanks for any thoughts
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 a large number of / is
4 +3 shape up
4 +1 stands out
4 in which the migrant population excel
4 appears more and more as the only employment ....
3 where profiling is carried out in relation to migrants

Discussion

Francois Boye Sep 30, 2020:
So I am right!
Comunican (asker) Sep 30, 2020:
I asked the client And they say that perfilarse means "empiezan a aparecer/presentarse de una manera más clara...." Uff!
Comunican (asker) Sep 30, 2020:
Yes, different contexts I agree the contexts of the examples are different (and in fact, I've since come across a third in the same document). But to me it's a strange use of a word that I can't really connect with any dictionary definition. And, from the six answers kindly provided, it looks like others have also struggled with finding a clear connection.
Thomas Walker Sep 30, 2020:
Different connotations I agree with Muriel - the connotations are slightly different in the two phrases, & it's probably not appropriate to use the same English equivalent in both cases.
neilmac Sep 29, 2020:
Agree There are several ways to translate and/or paraphrase the notion. I definitely wouldn't just plump for one and stick with it. Variety is the spice of sociological life. :-)
Muriel Vasconcellos Sep 28, 2020:
Two different answers I agree. The translation would be quite different in each of the examples. I'd suggest re-posting this as two separate questions.
Antonio Tomás Lessa do Amaral Sep 28, 2020:
? Maybe 2 different English terms ??

Proposed translations

+1
2 hrs
Selected

a large number of / is

"La hostelería es otro sector donde se perfila la población de origen migrante"
A Spanish synonym here is 'componerse', English 'to be made up of'.

You could also say '...is another sector with a large number of workers with migrant backgrounds' or stick to '...is another sector made up of workers with migrant backgrounds'

"la economía sumergida se perfila como el único empleo que estos pueden obtener". Spanish synonyms are 'acicalarse', English 'to groom' and Spanish 'emperifollarse', English 'to dress up'. From that you could use 'emerged as' or 'become'.

Personally I would keep it simple and avoid the somewhat wordy Spanish here: 'the informal economy is their only chance of getting a job'.
Note from asker:
Thanks Tomas, I totally agree that this is somewhat wordy and simplicity is always my policy. However, it always needs to be balanced with not over-simplifying and losing meaning... It is amazing to me that, after doing this full-time professionally for about 10 years, I'm still learning! Based on the client's definition of "empiezan a aparecer, a presentarse de una manera más clara", your "emerging" or "becoming" fit well. Thanks again.
Peer comment(s):
agree Marian Vieyra : I like the simplicity of this answer.
21 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks everyone for your help with this! I found several more examples in the text (including "Sudáfrica se perfila como la tercera mayor economía de África tras Nigeria y Egipto") and I've concluded that it is simply a phrase that the author of the text likes to use, and basically means "we see", "we find", "is", "are", "is made up of", etc. Variants of those fit with every incidence in this particular text. Many thanks again!"
+3
30 mins

shape up

1) "Hospitality is another sector where migrants come into their own"
2) "The underground economy is shaping up to be their only source of employment"

I don't think you can translate both occurrences in the same way. I'm sure about 2); for 1), I'd like to see more context (previous and following sentences), but my initial hunch is that this doesn't refer to "profiling".

Note definition of "perfilarse": "Empezar una cosa a tomar forma o cuerpo definido." Diccionario de la lengua española © 2005 Espasa-Calpe.
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard
26 mins
Thanks, Phil.
agree Joss Heywood : 1) could be "...where the workers are mainly of migrant origin"
2 hrs
Yes. My suggestion was based on the definition of "perfilarse", but your interpretation was my second choice (which was why I asked for more context) - initially I was going propose "sector favoured by...", but we could do with a bit more context here.
agree Juan Mattei
3 hrs
agree EirTranslations
12 hrs
disagree Francois Boye : the underground economy has already a shape; it does not need to shape up
20 hrs
It's a figure of speech and has nothing to do with an actual shape or lack thereof. And nobody said it "needed" to shape up.
Something went wrong...
8 mins

where profiling is carried out in relation to migrants

Certain attitudes that are held by others towards migrants (i.e., that they tend to work in the hotel industry as housekeepers, etc.)

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Note added at 10 mins (2020-09-28 17:06:02 GMT)
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Could be "racial profiling".

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Note added at 14 mins (2020-09-28 17:09:48 GMT)
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People think that's the only kind of work they are able to do, perhaps because of a language barrier. It is usually considered menial work that the dominant population does not want to do, because of the low pay, and its low status.

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Note added at 23 mins (2020-09-28 17:19:11 GMT)
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Or simply, "where profiling is targeted at migrants".

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Note added at 30 mins (2020-09-28 17:26:42 GMT)
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To be more specific, "migrant WORKERS".
Note from asker:
Thanks Barbara, but this is definitely not about "racial profiling"
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

in which the migrant population excel

I would say

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Note added at 10 hrs (2020-09-29 03:39:04 GMT)
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"is a major factor" as another option

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Note added at 10 hrs (2020-09-29 03:40:51 GMT)
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and I prefer this option in your overall context
Something went wrong...
20 hrs

appears more and more as the only employment ....

my take
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

stands out

"another sector in which migrant employment stands out"
"the underground economy stands out as one of the only areas where they can find work"


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Note added at 1 day 19 hrs (2020-09-30 12:09:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"is beginning to stand out" would certainly be a translation for your "empiezan a aparecer/presentarse de una manera más clara...."
Note from asker:
Interesting, thanks.... perfilar = outline >> stand out. I hadn't thought of it like that. However, "destacar" is the very popular (in my experience) word for "stand out"...
Peer comment(s):
agree Helena Chavarria : Definitely! I understand 'perfilar' as outline, i.e. stand out.
14 hrs
Thank you, Helena!
Something went wrong...
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