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tranquera

English translation: barricade participant (Nicaraguan slang)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:tranquero/-a
English translation:barricade participant (Nicaraguan slang)
Entered by: Toni Castano

09:53 Jun 12, 2022
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics
Spanish term or phrase: tranquera
In reference to the political unrest in Nicaragua.

The context is very similar to the use of the term "tranquera" in the following paragraph:

"Luego le intervinieron su teléfono y miraron unas fotos donde yo aparecía con el líder campesino Medardo Mairena que estaba en las redes sociales y le dijeron que era una tranquera, una traidora y una terrorista."
(https://elpais.com/internacional/2021-07-20/exilio-miedo-car...

Many thanks in advance for your help!
Helen Unger Clark (X)
Spain
Local time: 10:58
Woman participating in roadblocks/barricades or demonstrations (Nic. slang)
Explanation:
“Tranquero/-a”, Nicaraguan slang meaning a person participating in roadblocks, barricades or street demonstrations or blockades. This term is unknown in Spain.

https://www.lavanguardia.com/participacion/lectores-correspo...

‘Tranque’ es la expresión que se está utilizando en Nicaragua para definir la barricada popular. Según el presidente nicaragüense, Daniel Ortega, los ‘tranques’ son ilegales y es preciso librar de ellos a carreteras y calles.
El problema es que estas barricadas dificultan el tráfico en un país centroamericano donde pasan innumerables camiones de carga pesada llevando mercancías hacia el norte y hacia el sur, aparte de impedir la rápida llegada de las fuerzas represivas a las zonas de conflicto con los opositores al régimen de Ortega.
La gente ha creado barricadas para taponar la Panamericana, que es la principal vía de comunicación a través de toda la costa pacífica de Latinoamérica —si exceptuamos el istmo del Darién entre Panamá y Colombia, que está protegido por una densa selva tropical.

www.spanishforsocialchange.com/2018/08/tranque-nicaragua-ba...
tranque [Nicaragua]: barricade
You could also use blockade or roadblock - though those terms don't necessarily convey the temporary and improvised nature of it.
Nicaragua has been full of these lately, though their numbers have been going down. I realized that this was the Nicaraguan term for them from about the Nicaraguan resistance and the politics of solidarity with it on Democracy Now.
As I've blogged before, in other countries they use terms barricada or bloqueo. In Mexico it is sometimes tope de carretera, and it can be a piquete in Argentina (though that term can also refer to an entire movement).
From the photos I found online it seems like Nicaraguan tranques are often made out of cement blocks, which is not as common in other Latin American countries.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 39 mins (2022-06-12 10:33:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Particularly interesting:
https://gieinicaragua.org/giei-content/uploads/2019/05/GIEI_...
GIEI NICARAGUA
Report on the violent events that took place between April 18th and May 30th, 2018
Selected response from:

Toni Castano
Spain
Local time: 10:58
Grading comment
Many thanks again, Toni. I ended up simplifying it a bit, but the references you supplied were what allowed me to decide what term to use. Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1Woman participating in roadblocks/barricades or demonstrations (Nic. slang)
Toni Castano
3agitator
patinba


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Woman participating in roadblocks/barricades or demonstrations (Nic. slang)


Explanation:
“Tranquero/-a”, Nicaraguan slang meaning a person participating in roadblocks, barricades or street demonstrations or blockades. This term is unknown in Spain.

https://www.lavanguardia.com/participacion/lectores-correspo...

‘Tranque’ es la expresión que se está utilizando en Nicaragua para definir la barricada popular. Según el presidente nicaragüense, Daniel Ortega, los ‘tranques’ son ilegales y es preciso librar de ellos a carreteras y calles.
El problema es que estas barricadas dificultan el tráfico en un país centroamericano donde pasan innumerables camiones de carga pesada llevando mercancías hacia el norte y hacia el sur, aparte de impedir la rápida llegada de las fuerzas represivas a las zonas de conflicto con los opositores al régimen de Ortega.
La gente ha creado barricadas para taponar la Panamericana, que es la principal vía de comunicación a través de toda la costa pacífica de Latinoamérica —si exceptuamos el istmo del Darién entre Panamá y Colombia, que está protegido por una densa selva tropical.

www.spanishforsocialchange.com/2018/08/tranque-nicaragua-ba...
tranque [Nicaragua]: barricade
You could also use blockade or roadblock - though those terms don't necessarily convey the temporary and improvised nature of it.
Nicaragua has been full of these lately, though their numbers have been going down. I realized that this was the Nicaraguan term for them from about the Nicaraguan resistance and the politics of solidarity with it on Democracy Now.
As I've blogged before, in other countries they use terms barricada or bloqueo. In Mexico it is sometimes tope de carretera, and it can be a piquete in Argentina (though that term can also refer to an entire movement).
From the photos I found online it seems like Nicaraguan tranques are often made out of cement blocks, which is not as common in other Latin American countries.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 39 mins (2022-06-12 10:33:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Particularly interesting:
https://gieinicaragua.org/giei-content/uploads/2019/05/GIEI_...
GIEI NICARAGUA
Report on the violent events that took place between April 18th and May 30th, 2018


Toni Castano
Spain
Local time: 10:58
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Many thanks again, Toni. I ended up simplifying it a bit, but the references you supplied were what allowed me to decide what term to use. Thank you!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you so much for such a detailed reply! The Spanish for Social Change website will be a huge help. I wasn't familiar with it. Thank you! Have a great Sunday, Toni.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: This is well explained, but too much of a mouthful as a translation.
3 hrs
  -> "Woman participating/participant in barricades" is too long? Wow, phil, I disagree.
agree  Jennifer Levey: Yes - it refers to a woman who is known for 'manning the barricades', as it were... (With absolutely no apologies to the PC and 'woke' folk who will find that expression sexist :) )
11 hrs
  -> Thanks Jennifer. The context was absolutely clear to me from the start.
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
agitator


Explanation:
Not an exact translation, but "agitator, traitor and terrorist" reads well and is close to the mark.

patinba
Argentina
Local time: 05:58
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 272
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much, patinba!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jennifer Levey: Not sufficiently specific - agitators do all sorts of disruptive things, but a tranquera is a roadblock specialist.
6 hrs
neutral  philgoddard: This might work well, depending on the context.
8 hrs
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