Prologue

Spanish translation: 3. Prólogo / 4. Prólogo / 5. Introducción

15:07 Feb 2, 2013
English to Spanish translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Architecture / Proper use of terms: preface, prefacio, prologue, prologo, introduction
English term or phrase: Prologue
I'm involved with the initial layout and some editorial decisions on a Spanish reprint of an influential architect's autobiography. Although familiar with the differences between types of introductory material in English, the Spanish equivalents elude me somewhat, as there seem to be more possible overlapping terms. The key differences to a native speaker, however, must be clear.

In English, the introductory material appears as:

1. Acknowledgements
2. Contents
3. "Les ojos de Wright", a foreword piece by a professor of architecture in Barcelona
4." Foreword to the 2013 edition", a foreword piece by the architect's son
5. "Prologue: Puzzlement Through Life" the introductory chapter as entitled by the author/architect himself

According to the Spanish conventions, how might these be referred to, especially with regard to 3-5? As:

1. Reconocimientos
2. Tabla de contenidos
3. Prólogo (El ojo desigual de Wright)
4. Prólogo (Foreword to the 2013 edition)
5. Prólogo: Desconcierto de vida
?

Very appreciative of any clarification or recommendations by others – thank you!
DELANE
Spanish translation:3. Prólogo / 4. Prólogo / 5. Introducción
Explanation:
The convention in Spanish is that a Prefacio is a brief (usually 1-2 page) preliminary text about the book by the author, often including acknowledgements (though these are sometimes presented separately as "Agradecimientos", as in your case. but a brief initial text about the book by someone other than the author is called a Prólogo. So your two forewords, 3 and 4, are both Prólogos. No. 5, an introductory chapter, would usually be labelled Introducción, or sometimes Estudio preliminar. But I would use Introducción for this.

No. 1, as I've indicated, will be headed Agradecimientos, and no. 2, Contents, is Índice general or just Índice.

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Note added at 44 mins (2013-02-02 15:51:28 GMT)
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Introducción is certainly better than Estudio preliminar here; the latter is normally the introduction to an edition rather than the first introductory chapter of a monograph.

Índice for Contents is surprising if you're not used to it, but that's what it's always called. An index, as we call it, that is, an alphabetical list with page references placed at the end of the book, is called Índice onomástico for an index of names or Índice temático for a subject index.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 23:33
Grading comment
Greatly appreciated the thoroughness of your response. Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +23. Prólogo / 4. Prólogo / 5. Introducción
Charles Davis


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
prólogo
3. Prólogo / 4. Prólogo / 5. Introducción


Explanation:
The convention in Spanish is that a Prefacio is a brief (usually 1-2 page) preliminary text about the book by the author, often including acknowledgements (though these are sometimes presented separately as "Agradecimientos", as in your case. but a brief initial text about the book by someone other than the author is called a Prólogo. So your two forewords, 3 and 4, are both Prólogos. No. 5, an introductory chapter, would usually be labelled Introducción, or sometimes Estudio preliminar. But I would use Introducción for this.

No. 1, as I've indicated, will be headed Agradecimientos, and no. 2, Contents, is Índice general or just Índice.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 44 mins (2013-02-02 15:51:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Introducción is certainly better than Estudio preliminar here; the latter is normally the introduction to an edition rather than the first introductory chapter of a monograph.

Índice for Contents is surprising if you're not used to it, but that's what it's always called. An index, as we call it, that is, an alphabetical list with page references placed at the end of the book, is called Índice onomástico for an index of names or Índice temático for a subject index.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 23:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 31
Grading comment
Greatly appreciated the thoroughness of your response. Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mónica Algazi: De acuerdo en todo.
6 mins
  -> ¡Gracias, Mónica! Buen finde

agree  Cristina Gonzalez
1 day 1 hr
  -> ¡Gracias, Cristina!
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