disciplinamiento electoral

06:39 Nov 16, 2019 

Chema has once again expressed a set of viewpoints that I would echo almost word for word, so I'll just add that I don't post answers here unless I think they're useful or applicable as translations, and I certainly wouldn't post anything I wouldn't use myself in a translation. And though you didn't name me personally, in your comment you at least alluded to my answer (and Chema's), as well as to the people who agreed with our answers, and by extension you seemed to be suggesting we were all, what, pulling the asker's leg? I'm still not sure. In any case, that struck me as more an accusation of bad faith than any criticism of our approaches to translation.
Have a good weekend everyone!

10:59 Nov 15, 2019 

Hi Lester,
Nothing personal here. Both Robert and myself are asking you to focus on the meaning of the original expression as we both believe you might be misreading it.

The basic idea of my reasoning is that literal translations are not better (nor safer) than others just because they are literal; a good translation should convey the same idea rather than the "same" wording. And even more, the same words in a given language might mean very different things depending on context.

And so, please, feel free to discuss about meaning and renderings; I honestly do not take it personal when anyone corrects me or discusses my points. And it is evident that neither does Robert!

So far you have only shared the argument of "co-existance" of two similar-sounding expressions in English and Spanish -which seems but a weak defense for the reasons already stated. But maybe there is more to it; I'll be glad to find out I am wrong here and learn something new!

10:08 Nov 15, 2019 

Upset me, Robert? Well, no. It's clearly you and Chema who've taken umbrage, by taking my Comment personally, when I didn't even address you or anyone.
By all means, if you two think "disciplinamiento electoral" means "voter indoctrination" then use it if it turns up in one of your translations. But I have a feeling you would think twice before doing so:)

08:49 Nov 15, 2019 

I'm sorry if I upset you, that wasn't my intention at all. I thought I might address the criticisms you made by defending my reasoning (if not my suggestion). On the other hand, perhaps you're just trolling, in which case, I'll leave it at that. Otherwise, feel free to debate the points made, I assure you my nerves can handle it :-)

07:42 Nov 15, 2019 

Touched a raw nerve!? :)))
You are very funny, Lester.

07:34 Nov 15, 2019 

I've evidently touched a raw nerve here.

23:23 Nov 14, 2019 

While I admit my initial brief reading of the source text without further context may have been hasty, my logic was that "disciplinamiento" meant disciplining (whipping) by the "dirigencia" of a party or union. It didn't seem outlandish in any way to me, which is why I suggested it. I emphasize, it's only a suggestion (as you can see by the CR of 3). The asker can then decide whether that fits her context. Obviously "discipline" was one of the options I considered to begin with, but which I then rejected it as it seemed to me to be irrelevant to the context. I still think it's irrelevant, and I'm completely agreement with Chema's take, both in his answer and in his discussion entry.
As for "daring" to use these terms, well that's really a subjective question. If I'm fairly sure (there is usually no "proof" available) what the text is getting at, then I feel I'm probably better off making an educated guess, for which I can give reasoned support, than making an uneducated (and perhaps even risible) literal translation, and which is perhaps indefensible given the logic of the text.

22:14 Nov 14, 2019 

Hi Lester,
Do please excuse my impertinence, but I do not follow your logic. The fact that two similar words or expressions exist both in English and Spanish is no "proof" that they share the same meaning. I am afraid that a literal translation is no safeguard against a bad translation.

In this particular case I believe you are misreading the Spanish expression. For me it is hard to believe that in the given context "disciplinamiento electoral" conveys the idea of an attempt to "discipline" politicians. And it is the meaning of the original expression which is at stake here as it is radically different for politicians to attempt to "discipline" voters than for voters to attempt to "discipline" politicians.

Anyhow, I might be wrong.
What I am sure about is that it is meaning what matters here; understanding the original and discussing what the original expression conveys so as to come up with a fair rendering in English is what everyone here is actually doing.
You might also want to give it a try.

Un saludo.

21:27 Nov 14, 2019 

"Disciplinamiento electoral" exists in Spanish political texts. "Electoral discipline" exists in English political texts.
Without proof, to take a chance and translate it as "indoctrination" or "vote whipping" or... whatever, seems, well... very unwise.
Would the people suggesting these terms dare use them if it was their translation? I don't think so. No way.