I'd like to thank everyone for the public and non-public responses to this question. The general consensus is that "hojas" is a much better word that "pliegos" in this instance. As far as the entire phrase goes, there a few similar wordings; see below. Here is my original post followed by the public and non-public responses I received. I will pass this information along to the manufacturer with a recommendation that they update their binders. Thanks VERY much, once again, to everyone for their efforts. Best wishes, Rob Toreki Original post: At 6:02 PM -0400 6/18/07, ILPI wrote: >We are distributors of bilingual MSDS binders >(among other products). The front of the binders >say MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS in English, and >PLIEGOS DE DATOS SOBRE SEGURIDAD DE MATERIALES >in Spanish. > >A Spanish-speaking (potential) client called >today and said he did not recognize the word >"Pliegos" which, from a web search, I determined >is a valid Spanish term for "sheets". He >seemed concerned that his hundreds of >Spanish-speaking employees (they are a farming >company) wouldn't understand it either. The >word "hojas" might be a better match. > >Not to rely on foreign translation on the web, >but a search on the exact term PLIEGO DE DATOS >SOBRE SEGURIDAD DE MATERIALES returns only one >match at Google whereas the same term with HOJA >substituted for PLIEGO returns 706. > >I've already sent an inquiry to the >manufacturer. I've also asked the client to run >the word pliegos by some of his employees. > >My question for the list is this - are there any >native Spanish speakers here who can comment on >the nuances of "hojas" versus "pliegos" and >whether or not the latter term is likely to be >recognized correctly by non-professionals who >read/speak (Mexican dialects of) Spanish. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Responses in chronological order. I have withheld names from responses received via private email. I will add my own response/summary/assessment first: RESPONSE 0 After posting my question, I remembered that we have an English translation of the Mexican MSDS regulation, NOM-018-STPS-2000, posted on our comprehensive MSDS web site. See the link/discussion in our MSDS FAQ section http://www.ilpi.com/msds/faq/parte.html#other for that. Correlating that translation back to the original documents available on the Mexican government web site, MSDS corresponds to "Hojas De Datos De Seguridad"; see http://trabajoyps.jalisco.gob.mx/nom/nomorg018stps00.pdf I also found MSDS's from Mexican manufacturers that use "Hojas De Datos De Seguridad De Materiales", for example http://www.grupoidesa.com/Hojas/msds-deg.pdf In concert with the helpful replies from the list members, I'd say these two wordings are the best "short" and "long" versions of the phrase. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 1 >The ACS Committee on Chemical Safety translated SACL to Spanish. You will >find "Material Safety Data Sheets" translated as "Hojas de Seguridad" in >SACL. The document was reviewed by many different Spanish speakers. Your >translation looks like a direct translation to Spanish. Having taken 7 years >of Spanish classes, I can tell you many terms are not directly translated. >Lo paso bien tells a Spanish speaker you had a good time but is directly >translated to I passed it well. > >Our Spanish SACL is available online at: >http://membership.acs.org/c/ccs/pubs/SACL_Spanish.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 2 >AAfter working on safety issues several years in my country Mexico I can say >that the most adequate translation of MSDS is "hoja de datos de seguridad de >los materiales". >We use the world "pliegos" for a kind of documents that are written down big >and fold sheets. I am sure that for workers would be better to understand >and use the word "hojas" instead of pliegos. >In addition, the occupational regulations in my country name MSDS as "hojas >de datos de seguridad". Therefore. if you use this terminology you will be >in according with regulations. >I hope this could be useful for you. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 3 >This is a great question in the greater sense of what is the correct >colloquial term in any language. Also the specification of the dialect (my >neighbor is Argentinean and often comments on the different usage in >"Spanish"). > >Since you originated the issue, I think it a great contribution for you to >suggest to the Division leadership for the CHAS website to be a location to >accumulate these terms in all the languages of the world. A great service >from the ACS, and one with lots of curiosity factor! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 4 At 8:56 PM -0400 6/18/07, Eng. Winston R. Esteves wrote: >My native language is Spanish and I'll take "Hojas" over "Pliegos" 100% of >the time. We refer to MSDSs as "Hojas de Datos de Seguridad de Materiales". >That is what we use as translation in all of our trainings. > >Winston R. Esteves >PE, DEE, QEP, CHMM >Environmental Consulting Associates >Phone 787-790-7931 >Fax 787-790-7989 >Cell 787-644-5684 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 5 >Hi. I am spanish speaking and I think the term >"Hojas de Datos sobre Seguridad de Materiales" >is more adecuated for us spanish speakers, >although "pliegos" is used too, depending of the >country. > >I understand what is a MSDS, but the translation >is difficult, since it would seem in spanish >that the safety is refered to the materials and >not to the people working with them. The class I >took in spanish about safety was called "Hygiene >y Seguridad Industrial". > >Then a better approach could be "Hojas de Datos >para Hygiene y Seguridad" , or "Hojas de Datos >sobre Materiales". >I hope I did not confuse you more, but spanish is really tricky. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 6 At 7:49 AM -0500 6/19/07, Medina, Javier wrote: >My native language is also Spanish and hojas is a better used of the >word in this context. Pliego would be utilized better in the printing >and publishing industry. Rob Toreki, if you need any further assistance >with chemical name and/or toxicological name translation just e-mail me >directly. > >Javier Medina >Chemist/CHO >Office 915-587-3688 >Javier.medina**At_Symbol_Here**elpaso.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 7 At 9:19 AM -0400 6/19/07, antonio rodriguez wrote: >Like Winston Esteves, I prefer the word "hojas" >instead of "pliego," but both may be used. > >In Puerto Rico, I am used to the term "pliego" >always in reference to "bid documents", seldom >in other uses, most of them in legal circles. > >You may have a wider perspective if you look at >synonims for both words, from which you will see >the versatility of the word "hoja" and the >limited but perhaps more precise meaning of the >word "pliego". Please note that I added a single >English word. within brackets, to convey the >main meaning of each list. > >Diccionario de sinónimos y antónimos © 2005 Espasa-Calpe S.A., Madrid: > >hoja > a.. hojuela, pétalo, bráctea, fronda, verde [leaf] > b.. plancha, lámina, placa, chapa [sheet] > c.. folio, cuartilla, página, pliego, plana, >carilla, impreso, opúsculo, escrito [page] > d.. hierro, acero, filo, espada, cuchilla, pu"al, navaja, sable [blade] > > >Diccionario de sinónimos y antónimos © 2005 Espasa-Calpe S.A., Madrid: > >pliego > a.. folio, hoja, papel, cuadernillo, documento, nota, formulario [document] > > >A. Rodriguez, PhD, PE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE 8 At 9:28 AM -0400 6/19/07, Nabil Bissada wrote: >http://www.msds-mexico.com/ (which translates MSDS as Hoja de datos de seguridad). -- ===================================================== Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names you know and trust. Visit us at http://www.SafetyEmporium.com esales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com or toll-free: (866) 326-5412 Fax: (859) 523-0606, 4905 Waynes Blvd, Lexington, KY 40513-1469
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