Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
pronoun for \\\"user\\\" which is either a person or a company
English translation:
They
Added to glossary by
gspcpt
Jan 28, 2019 12:37
5 yrs ago
13 viewers *
Spanish term
pronoun for \"user\" which is either a person or a company
Spanish to English
Law/Patents
Law: Contract(s)
grammar question
I am translating (to UK English)a legal document on usage of services of an online platform. The document states that the term "USER" may apply to an individual (natural) person or to a company that uses their services. My question is: what is the best way to handle the pronoun for user? If it is talking about a person, I would use he/him/his, and if for a company I would use it/its, but in this case, it could be either. "He" sounds weird for a company, but "it" for a person sounds insulting.
Examples:
el Usuario deberá adoptar las medidas necesarias para la custodia de la contraseña por él seleccionada (...selected by him/it)
En el supuesto de que el Usuario conozca o sospeche del uso de su contraseña por terceros deberá poner tal circunstancia en conocimiento de X (....by third persons, it/he must inform....)
Some sentences can be turned around to avoid the pronoun (making passive sentences) but not always.
Please let me hear your opinions.
Should I make "User" plural and use "they"?
Examples:
el Usuario deberá adoptar las medidas necesarias para la custodia de la contraseña por él seleccionada (...selected by him/it)
En el supuesto de que el Usuario conozca o sospeche del uso de su contraseña por terceros deberá poner tal circunstancia en conocimiento de X (....by third persons, it/he must inform....)
Some sentences can be turned around to avoid the pronoun (making passive sentences) but not always.
Please let me hear your opinions.
Should I make "User" plural and use "they"?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +4 | They |
Margaret Ikawa
|
| 5 | usuario / user |
Maximo Wilhelm Muñoz
|
Proposed translations
+4
19 mins
Margaret Ikawa
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
Writer, translator 20+ years experience
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Spanish term (edited):
pronoun for \\\"user\\\" which is either a person or a company
Selected
They
This happens a lot. I try to use the gender-neutral plural, when possible, but the pronoun "they" is now widely used, even in the singular, so as not to sound sexist.
Example sentence:
Someone left their keys.
The patient should be told at the outset how much they will be required to pay
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Charles Davis
: I do the same. It's usually a matter of gender-neutrality and avoiding clunky "he/she", but it's also the best way round the personal/impersonal problem. // PS. I have no problem with "singular they", though in the cases quoted I'd make it plural.
8 mins
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Thanks, Charles. I agree with you and also prefer the plural. The singular they still sounds (is?) grammatically incorrect, but is now widely accepted and even preferred by many style guides. The times they are a changin.
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| agree |
neilmac
2 hrs
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Thanks, neilmac!
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| agree |
Jane Martin
3 hrs
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Thanks, Jane.
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| agree |
AllegroTrans
: This works, or you could use "the User" each time a pronoun is needed
8 hrs
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Thanks!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, everyone. I took your advice and used "they"."
30 mins
Maximo Wilhelm Muñoz
Guatemala
Guatemala
Native in Spanish
&
English
Specializes in field
Guatemala
International Support Services
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Latin American) 
, English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
8
usuario / user
Usuario / User will always be implemented in both English as Spanish, either for a natural or legal person, or for a company as long as they perform the actions that a user does.
User is applied for either a person or a company... Always.
I´m telling you this for a reason. On February, 2018, I translated in about 3-4 weeks about 117, 000 source text words from English into Spanish in this specialized field, only for your information.
Best,
Maximo.
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Note added at 32 minutos (2019-01-28 13:09:33 GMT)
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Additionally... For a person (it depends if they refer to the person as a he/she/they (if they switch from one gender to the other one)... For a company will always be it (even if there was a Legal person representing it).
Best,
Maximo.
User is applied for either a person or a company... Always.
I´m telling you this for a reason. On February, 2018, I translated in about 3-4 weeks about 117, 000 source text words from English into Spanish in this specialized field, only for your information.
Best,
Maximo.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 minutos (2019-01-28 13:09:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Additionally... For a person (it depends if they refer to the person as a he/she/they (if they switch from one gender to the other one)... For a company will always be it (even if there was a Legal person representing it).
Best,
Maximo.
Discussion