Translation Article 689, Spanish Language Insights: Polysemy of “volcar” in 5 different contexts and the corresponding translations to English.

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Translation Article 689, Spanish Language Insights: Polysemy of “volcar” in 5 different contexts and the corresponding translations to English.

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When “volcar” is used by itself, there are at least five different contexts in which the translation can and often is different:

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1) El gato saltó en la mesa y volcó el vaso de agua.

The cat jumped on the table and upset / knocked over the glass of water.

Comment: Note that either “upset” or “knock over” can be used when tipping over a glass or other container containing liquid or powder, etc. ?Of course, the meaning of “upset” in this sense is to tip it over and obviously not to make a glass uncomfortable, as if it could feel.

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2) Después de que el gato había volcado el vaso de agua, el agua volcó del vaso.

After the cat had upset / knocked over the glass of water, the water emptied out / tipped out.

Comment: By using “empty out” or “tip out” the immediate image to come to mind is some sort of container from which whatever is inside comes out.

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3) Hay que volcar la carga en su lugar designado.

It is necessary to dump the load in its designated spot.

Comment: One of the derivatives of “volcar” is “volqueta” or “volquete,” and these both mean dump truck, so what comes to mind is something like a dump truck full of sand that arrives at the construction site and then dumps all of its contents out.

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4) El camión era tan grande que volcó el carro que chocó.

The truck was so big that it overturned the car that it hit.

Comment: Note the difference between this example with the object being hit is a vehicle versus a glass being hit. In the latter, “upset” or “knock over” is appropriate; however, with a vehicle or something larg being hit, “overturn” is appropriate and the image that comes to one’s mind is the vehicle that was hit turned upside down and thus overturned it.

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5) El huracán era tan intenso que volcó varios barcos.

The hurricane was so strong that it overturned / capsized various boats.

Comment: Just as in the previous example above, number 4, when a vehicle is being hit, boats are also large and “overturn” is appropriate usage. In addition, when it is a marine type of transportation, when a ship or boat, etc., sinks, we can also say that it capsized. This usage is usually limited to maritime transportation.

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Source

Collins Spanish Dictionary, HarperCollins Publisher, 2009.