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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

una cucaña

English translation:

a (Land of) Cockaigne

Added to glossary by David Ronder
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Nov 15, 2013 16:14
10 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

una fenomenal cucaña

Spanish to English Social Sciences History Tourism in late-Francoist Spain
This is in fact a quote in an article I'm translating on the impact of tourism on Francoist Spain. I know what it means but can't quite nail a good English equivalent. I think it's already translated from Catalan. The register is academic/journalistic. Context:

A partir de principios de los sesenta, España se había convertido en destino privilegiado de las masas de turistas. Los españoles tomaron nota y en julio de 1961 el conocido escritor catalán, Josep Pla, ya empleaba el término “invasión turística” en la revista Destino y el año siguiente señalaba que el turismo era *“una fenomenal cucaña”* y “el mayor hecho económico de la historia moderna del país”.

All suggestions welcome.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 a windfall/a godsend
4 +2 an Eldorado
3 a fantasy wonderland
3 a real bonanza
1 ablaze
References
the land of Cockaigne / Cuckoo-land
Change log

Nov 22, 2013 12:06: David Ronder Created KOG entry

Discussion

David Ronder (asker) Nov 22, 2013:
Ok I'll leave it. Saludos.
Margarita Ezquerra (Smart Translators, S.L.) Nov 22, 2013:
Don't worry David. No problem! Saludos
David Ronder (asker) Nov 22, 2013:
Hi Smartranslators How about if I Un-close the question - will you post then? I'd like to award the points.
Margarita Ezquerra (Smart Translators, S.L.) Nov 22, 2013:
Hello David Perdón por no publicarlo. Es que estaba con muchísimo trabajo y no tenía tiempo ni de entrar. Me alegra que te haya servido. Un beso y gracias.
David Ronder (asker) Nov 22, 2013:
I closed without grading because I have gone with Cockaigne and, despite my encouragement, Smartranslators hasn't posted it as an answer. I discovered that cucaña comes from the Italian cuccagna, which in turn comes from the Middle English and ultimately Old French (pays de) cokaigne. The idea of a land of plenty where the normal social restrictions do not apply fits my context perfectly, too. But thanks for some really good suggestions, and sorry I can't award points on this occasion.
David Ronder (asker) Nov 15, 2013:
Positive or negative? From context I would say mainly positive, but not without a degree of Catalan ambivalence

Proposed translations

32 mins

ablaze

The term was taken from the website below and describes the Indian summer experienced in 1962, it would suggest that the term's intended meaning is something along the lines of 'on fire' or 'ablaze'.
Reference:

http://mdc2.cbuc.cat/cdm/compoundobject/collection/destino/id/264161/show/263980/rec/41

Something went wrong...
+3
35 mins

a windfall/a godsend

Looking at the original article, I think the meaning is positive, regarding the end of isolation and the beginning of European integration.

El desarrollo económico ocupa la quinta etapa de la antología de «Destino». Entre 1957 y 1965, España va cubriendo etapas para su integración europea. Los tecnócratas posibilitan el Plan de Estabilización y el turismo provee de divisas a un país que deja atrás delirios autárquicos. Los españoles compran seiscientos y electrodomésticos a plazos. «Esta fantástica cucaña del turismo -el mayor hecho económico de la historia del país- es habitualmente considerada por la gente como un milagro» escribe Pla en el 62.

http://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-07-11-2003/abc/Cultur...

Peer comment(s):
agree Carol Gullidge : godsend, rather than windfall
25 mins
Many thanks Carol! ;-)
agree Stephen D. Moore : Either term would fit, tho "windfall" transmits the idea of the unexpected.
1 hr
Many thanks Stephen! ;-)
agree philgoddard
4 hrs
Many thanks! ;-)
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38 mins

a fantasy wonderland

.
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

an Eldorado

if you'd like to keep to the idea of a fantasy land. In this case, it's a fantasy land that was supposed to be filled with gold

Other 'fantasy' possibilities related to cash flow:

pot of gold

golden egg

golden goose

or, less whimsical:

bonanza

gold mine

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2013-11-15 17:46:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks David! Forgot to include "manna from heaven"
Note from asker:
Good suggestions, Carol - I was wondering about various golden things and I like bonanza
Peer comment(s):
agree Charles Davis : I think the idea of a fantasy land should be kept (cucaña is a specific cultural reference), but also the idea of material wealth. I think he's using "cucaña" basically in the way people use "jauja".
1 hr
many thanks Charles :)
agree philgoddard : Perfect! Remember the TV soap of the same name?
3 hrs
yes, and what a flop that turned out to be! Many thanks, Phil! Still, 'an eldorado' is used to denote vast wealth (despite the TV series!)
Something went wrong...
1 day 17 hrs

a real bonanza

I like the term 'bonanza' that Carol suggested as an alternative, although it is something of a cliche. It is positive, although with perhaps a sense that the good fortune is accidental
Reference:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101040937

http://blogs.ft.com/ftdata/2013/08/24/britains-tourism-jobs-bonanza/?Authorised=false

Peer comment(s):
neutral Carol Gullidge : I'm confused! Why did you duplicate my suggestion, instead of simply posting an Agree?
1 hr
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

15 mins
Reference:

the land of Cockaigne / Cuckoo-land

Cockaigne


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


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For other uses, see Cockayne (disambiguation).





Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "Luilekkerland" (The Land of Cockaigne), 1567. Oil on panel. (Alte Pinakothek, Munich)
Cockaigne or Cockayne /kɒˈkeɪn/ is a medieval trope denoting a mythical land of plenty, an imaginary place of extreme luxury and ease where physical comforts and pleasures are always immediately at hand and where the harshness of medieval peasant life does not exist. Specifically, in poems like The Land of Cockaigne, Cockaigne is a land of contraries, where all the restrictions of society are defied (abbots beaten by their monks), sexual liberty is open (nuns flipped over to show their bottoms), and food is plentiful (skies that rain cheeses). Writing about Cockaigne was a commonplace of Goliard verse. It represented both wish fulfillment and resentment at the strictures of asceticism and dearth.




Cockaigne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia




en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockaigne‎



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Specifically, in poems like The Land of Cockaigne, Cockaigne is a land of ... and the Middle English "Cokaygne", or modern-day "Cuckoo-land", one line of ... of the Andes, and País de Cucaña ("fools' paradise") may also signify such a place.


Cockaigne: Definition from Answers.com




www.answers.com › ... › Dictionary‎



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An imaginary land of easy and luxurious living. ... and the Middle English "Cokaygne", or modern-day "Cuckoo-land", one line of ... La Cucaña, Francisco Goya.
Note from asker:
Intriguing. I'd completely forgotten about the Land of Cockaigne. It's curiously appropriate here - even sounds like 'cucaña'.
I've been looking into this and think you should post it as an answer.
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree philgoddard : I'm not clear whether the writer is being positive or negative, though. Does he mean tourism is a fool's paradise, or a new era for Spain?
8 mins
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