período autoritario

21:47 Oct 18, 2009 

...for your thoughtful suggestions and comments.

19:44 Oct 17, 2009 

that authoritarian period sounds a bit sloppy, even if it may be more "neutral".

19:44 Oct 17, 2009 

that authoritarian period sounds a bit sloppy, even if it may be more "neutral".

12:00 Oct 17, 2009 

OK. I agree that "authoritarian" is often [+human], but I don't think it need always have that feature. For one thing, it may modify an abstract noun: "authoritarian regime". But, anyway, you are not happy with the word, so... another option.
"Authoritarianism" is not [+personal], but [+non-personal].

Salvador Allende - The Chilean President and the Agent of the KGB
... and a 17-year period of authoritarianism began in the history of Chile. ... The period of General Augusto Pinochet's rule began in the history of Chile. ...
www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=397 - Cached - Similar -

I don't have my good dictionaries at hand, but this is the definition at http://www.thefreedictionary.com for "authoritarianism": "a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator".

On the basis this definition, another option would be: "period of dictatorial rule":
HUNAHPU E IXBALANQUE: Por $50000 (Documental) - [ Translate this page ]
Afterwards, they foresaw a prolonged period of dictatorial rule during which the regime would depend on the United States aid and arms… []… ...
hunapu-e-ixbalanque.blogspot.com/.../por-50000-documental.html

11:34 Oct 17, 2009 

But it "sounds funny" in English because 'authoritarian' has a set of semantic features - for example [+human] - that don't apply to 'period'. It doesn't fit the paradigm with the examples you mention. Anyway, I would only use it in a pinch, and other options have emerged that are more natural in English.

09:33 Oct 17, 2009 

Good point for linguists. But language is like that. We refer to periods of history like that. In Spain's history, e.g., Década ominosa, Trienio liberal, Período constitucional... Or in US history: the recent conservative period. All the adjectives apply to the political rulers or regimes governing in those periods.

09:30 Oct 17, 2009 

isn´t__¿¿''?? ¿y por qué elasker quiere saber como se traduce en castellano, "período autoritario"? Claro que lo es. si lo es en castellano, lo es en todos los idiomas del mundo. Obviamente se trata de un período bajo gobernación o régimen autoritario.

09:27 Oct 17, 2009 

The "period" isn't authoritarian. The period doesn't "do" anything.
Sloppy thinking.

09:22 Oct 17, 2009 

There's nothing wrong with "authoritarian", lingusitically speaking. If you'd rather use another adjective, how about "undemocratic" or "repressive"? I'm not sure they're better, though.
(The example I offered you was the first Google hit for ["authoritarian period" + chile]: 1390 hits.)

09:02 Oct 17, 2009 

After posting the question (and before opening my e-mail again) I found over 900 refs to ["authoritarian period"+Pinochet]. I had never heard the term before in English. I plan to use it unless someone come up with something better - which I would prefer.