1995_ATA Annual Conf Proceedings_Car Terminology_Moskowitz

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(From “Car Terminology in the Spanish-Speaking World.” Proceedings of the 36th Annual

Conference of the American Translators Association, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A., November

8-12, 1995. Peter W. Krawutschke, comp. American Translators Association, 1995. 331-340.)

CAR TERMINOLOGY IN THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD

Abstract

This paper presents regional Spanish terms for eighteen car-related items corresponding to the

following US English terms:

1) car

2) bumper

3) clutch

4) gasoline

5) hood

6) horn

7) hubcap

8) inner tube

9) jack

10) license plate or auto tag

11) rim

12) roof rack

13) steering wheel

14) tire

15) trunk

16) speed bump

17) stop sign

18) dump truck

Because Spanish is spoken in twenty countries, the study of its regional and national variation is

important to translators, terminologists and lexicographers as it bears directly on questions such

as, “What term should a translator use when the name of a particular item varies by region?”, and

“How should a lexicographer define a term that is used differently in different regions?”

The primary goal of this paper, however, is not to indicate the terms that should be used when

translating into Spanish. That choice will often depend on the translation’s intended audience.

The objective is to present dialectological data concerning which terms are actually used in the

regions under study.

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0 INTRODUCTION

This paper presents a summary of the results of a motor vehicle terminology usage survey

carried out on approximately 200 Hispanic informants. Each section is divided into two

subsections:

1) Data by Country

2) Observations

0.1 Data by Country

The data by country subsections consist of tables in which the terms used by the informants in

each of the twenty Spanish-speaking countries are presented. The countries are given in a

geographical rather than alphabetical order:

SPAIN

CHILE

ARGENTINA

URUGUAY

PARAGUAY

BOLIVIA

PERU

ECUADOR

COLOMBIA

VENEZUELA

CUBA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

PUERTO RICO

PANAMA

COSTA RICA

NICARAGUA

HONDURAS

EL SALVADOR

GUATEMALA

MEXICO

The countries are presented in this order to highlight what may be called “lexico-geographic

blocs”, or groups of countries that are in geographic proximity and also share the same lexical

usage for a given item.

Following each Spanish word, a numerical proportion is given indicating the number of

informants out of the total who gave that particular response. The question was posed as follows:

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“¿Cómo se llama el objeto de la foto?”, at which time a picture of the object was shown to the

informant.

Thus, in the first table,

SPAIN coche (7/7), auto (2/7).

is to be interpreted as, "Of the seven Spaniards who were shown a picture of a car, all seven gave

the term coche and two also gave the term auto.” In a number of cases (such as this one)

informants gave several terms as their response, and not all informants answered all questions.

The terms in italics refer to spelling, not pronunciation. Where spelling is not standardized,

pronunciation is given in broad Spanish transcription (the International Phonetic Alphabet is not

used). When informants offered two similar variants, words or letters appear in parentheses.

Thus, where (camión de) volteo appears, both volteo and camión de volteo were given by the

informants. Also "o/a" at the end of a word means both masculine and feminine were given.

Thus maletero/a means that both maletero and maletera were given as responses by the

informants.

0.2 Observations

In these subsections the data collected are summarized and various observations are made

regarding how the Spanish-speaking world appears to be divided on the use of automobile terms.

1. CAR

1.1 Data by Country

SPAIN coche (7/7), auto (2/7).

CHILE auto (8/8).

ARGENTINA auto (12/13), coche (10/13).

URUGUAY auto (5/5), coche (3/5).

PARAGUAY auto (4/5), coche (4/5).

BOLIVIA auto (6/7), carro (5/7).

PERU carro (13/15), auto (11/15).

ECUADOR carro (12/13), auto (8/13).

COLOMBIA carro (11/11).

VENEZUELA carro (5/5).

CUBA carro (6/9), máquina (6/9).

DOMIN. REP. carro (6/6).

PUERTO RICO carro (6/6).

PANAMA carro (5/5).

COSTA RICA carro (4/4).

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NICARAGUA carro (4/4).

HONDURAS carro (5/5).

EL SALVADOR carro (4/4).

GUATEMALA carro (6/6).

MEXICO coche (14/17), carro (11/17).

1.2 Observations

Carro is used in parts of Mexico, all of Central America, the Hispanic Antilles (Cuba, the

Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) and in about half of South America.

Auto and/or coche are the most commonly used terms in Spain, the Southern Cone (Chile,

Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) and much of Mexico.

Auto is used everywhere in technical language and in advertising.

There is evidence that in Mexico carro is more common in the north, while coche is preferred in

the central region, including the Distrito Federal.

In Cuba máquina appears to be used more in popular and familiar speech; carro is more formal.

As you move south in South America, auto becomes increasingly more common at the expense

of carro and in Peru and Bolivia, the two terms appear to be in open competition.

2. BUMPER

2.1 Data by Country

SPAIN parachoque(s) (5/5).

CHILE parachoque(s) (7/7).

ARGENTINA paragolpe(s) (12/12).

URUGUAY paragolpe(s) (6/6).

PARAGUAY paragolpe(s) (5/6), parachoque(s) (2/6).

BOLIVIA parachoque(s) (8/8).

PERU parachoque(s) (10/10).

ECUADOR guardachoque(s) (11/12), parachoque(s) (3/12).

COLOMBIA bómper (11/17), defensa (10/17), guardachoque(s) (6/17), parachoque(s) (4/17).

VENEZUELA parachoque(s) (9/9).

CUBA defensa (8/8).

DOMIN. REP. bómper (5/7), parachoque(s) (4/7).

PUERTO RICO bómper (6/6).

PANAMA bómper (7/7), defensa (5/7).

COSTA RICA búmper (5/5).

NICARAGUA bómper (7/7).

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HONDURAS bómper (7/7), guardachoque(s) (2/7).

EL SALVADOR bómper (5/5).

GUATEMALA bómper (7/7).

MEXICO defensa (14/14).

2.2 Observations

Parachoques or parachoque is used in Spain and some Spanish American countries, mostly

South American.

Bómper is used in Central America and in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Defensa is used in Colombia, Panama, Cuba and Mexico.

In most of Central America people say (BOM-per) whereas in Costa Rica many people

pronounce the word (BUM-per). This may be due to the fact that a large percentage of Costa

Ricans read English.

3. CLUTCH (PEDAL)

3.1 Data by Country

SPAIN embrague (6/6).

CHILE embrague (8/8).

ARGENTINA embrague (11/11).

URUGUAY embrague (4/4).

PARAGUAY embrague (4/4).

BOLIVIA embrague (7/7).

PERU embrague (11/11).

ECUADOR embrague (11/11).

COLOMBIA cloch(e) (10/12), embrague (3/12).

VENEZUELA cloch(e) (7/7), croche (7/7).

CUBA cloch(e) (8/8), embrague (3/8).

DOMIN. REP. cloch(e) (6/6).

PUERTO RICO cloch(e) (5/5).

PANAMA cloch(e) (7/7).

COSTA RICA cloch(e) (5/5).

NICARAGUA cloch(e) (4/4).

HONDURAS cloch(e) (4/4).

EL SALVADOR cloch(e) (5/5).

GUATEMALA cloch(e) (7/7).

MEXICO cloch(e) (9/9).

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3.2 Observations

Embrague is used in Spain and in South America from Ecuador to the south. In Colombia, the

three informants who gave embrague were all from southern Colombia (Valle, Cauca and Nariño

Departments).

Cloch(e) is used in Mexico, Central America, the Hispanic Antilles, Colombia and Venezuela. It

is pronounced (CLO-che), (CLOCH), (CLOSH) and (CLUCH), and the choice generally

depends more on social class and familiarity with English than on region. In Venezuela,

however, the pronunciation (CRO-che) is common, especially in popular speech.

4. GASOLINE

4.1 Data by Country SPAIN gasolina (5/5).

CHILE bencina (7/7).

ARGENTINA nafta (5/5).

URUGUAY nafta (5/5).

PARAGUAY nafta (4/4).

BOLIVIA gasolina (4/4).

PERU gasolina (7/7).

ECUADOR gasolina (10/10).

COLOMBIA gasolina (4/4).

VENEZUELA gasolina (6/6).

CUBA gasolina (6/6).

DOMIN. REP. gasolina (5/5).

PUERTO RICO gasolina (5/5).

PANAMA gasolina (3/3).

COSTA RICA gasolina (3/3).

NICARAGUA gasolina (3/3).

HONDURAS gasolina (4/4).

EL SALVADOR gasolina (3/3).

GUATEMALA gasolina (3/3).

MEXICO gasolina (5/5).

4.2 Observations

Gasolina is the most frequently used term everywhere except the Southern Cone.

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5. HOOD

5.1 Data by Country

SPAIN capó (6/6).

CHILE capó (8/8).

ARGENTINA capó (14/14).

URUGUAY capó (5/5).

PARAGUAY capó (5/5).

BOLIVIA capó (7/9), capote (2/9).

PERU capó (9/10), capote (4/10).

ECUADOR capó (10/10).

COLOMBIA capó (13/15), capote (2/15).

VENEZUELA capó (8/9), capota (4/9).

CUBA capó (9/9).

DOMIN. REP. bonete (6/6).

PUERTO RICO bonete (9/9).

PANAMA tapa (7/7).

COSTA RICA tapa (6/6).

NICARAGUA tapa (6/6).

HONDURAS tonó (5/5).

EL SALVADOR caperuza (6/6).

GUATEMALA capó (6/6).

MEXICO cofre (11/11).

5.2 Observations

Capó is the most commonly used term throughout South America and also in Spain. In South

America, it is often spelled capot, and in a number of countries the variants capote and capota

are also used.

Bonete is used in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Tapa is used in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Tonó, used in Honduras, probably comes from English tune-up.

6. HORN

6.1 Data by Country

SPAIN bocina (10/10), claxon (9/10), pito (7/10).

CHILE bocina (8/8).

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ARGENTINA bocina (12/12).

URUGUAY bocina (6/6).

PARAGUAY bocina (5/5).

BOLIVIA bocina (9/9).

PERU claxon (15/16), bocina (11/16).

ECUADOR pito (11/11).

COLOMBIA pito (13/13).

VENEZUELA corneta (9/9).

CUBA claxon (6/9), pito (5/9), bocina (3/9), clauso (3/9), fotuto (2/9).

DOMIN. REP. bocina (6/6).

PUERTO RICO bocina (9/9).

PANAMA pito (8/8), bocina (3/8).

COSTA RICA pito (6/6).

NICARAGUA pito (5/5).

HONDURAS pito (7/7).

EL SALVADOR pito (6/6).

GUATEMALA bocina (7/7).

MEXICO claxon (17/18), pito (10/18), bocina (3/18).

6.2 Observations

Bocina is used in South America from Bolivia to the south and in the Hispanic Antilles.

Pito is used in Colombia and Ecuador and in Central America with the exception of Guatemala.

In Spain there is evidence that claxon is the prestige term and bocina the more popular term in

many regions. Pito appears to be more often used in southern Spain than in northern and central

Spain.

Cuba is the only country in which more than three terms compete and Cuba and Venezuela are

the only countries that have terms not used elsewhere.

The three Mexicans that gave bocina were all from southern Mexico (note that Guatemala is a

bocina country).

The term claxon is used in Spain and also in three countries that historically have had close ties

to Spain, namely, Peru and Mexico, where the seats of the colonial vice-royalties were located,

and Cuba, which achieved its independence from Spain much later than most Spanish American

countries.

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7. HUBCAP

7.1 Data by Country

SPAIN tapacubos (6/6).

CHILE tapa (de rueda) (8/8).

ARGENTINA taza (9/9).

URUGUAY taza (4/4).

PARAGUAY taza (3/3).

BOLIVIA plato (6/9), taza (4/9), tapa de rueda (4/9), tapa (de) aro (2/9).

PERU vaso (11/13), plato (7/13).

ECUADOR tapacubos (9/9).

COLOMBIA copa (9/11), plato (2/11).

VENEZUELA taza (8/11), copa (5/11), tapa (2/11).

CUBA bocina (4/6), tambora (3/6).

DOMIN. REP. tapabocina (5/5).

PUERTO RICO tapabocina (6/6).

PANAMA copa (7/7).

COSTA RICA copa (4/4).

NICARAGUA copa (5/6), corona (2/6), plato (2/6).

HONDURAS copa (4/4).

EL SALVADOR copa (5/6), tapa (2/6).

GUATEMALA plato (5/5).

MEXICO tapón (7/11), copa (5/11), polvera (4/11), cubrepolvos (2/11).

7.2 Observations

Taza is used in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Tapabocina is used in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Copa is used in most of Central America and in Colombia.

8. INNER TUBE

8.1 Data by Country

SPAIN cámara (4/4).

CHILE cámara (4/4).

ARGENTINA cámara (5/5).

URUGUAY cámara (4/4).

PARAGUAY cámara (4/4).

BOLIVIA neumático (5/5).

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PERU cámara (7/7).

ECUADOR tubo (5/5).

COLOMBIA neumático (7/7).

VENEZUELA tripa (9/9).

CUBA cámara (6/6).

DOMIN. REP. tubo (6/6).

PUERTO RICO tubo (7/7).

PANAMA tubo (4/4).

COSTA RICA neumático (4/4).

NICARAGUA neumático (4/4).

HONDURAS neumático (7/7).

EL SALVADOR tubo (5/6), neumático (3/6).

GUATEMALA tubo (6/6).

MEXICO cámara (8/8).

8.2 Observations

Cámara is used in Spain and the Southern Cone.

Tubo is used in Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, El Salvador and

Guatemala.

Neumático is used in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Tripa is used only in Venezuela.

9. JACK

9.1 Data by Country

SPAIN gato (6/6).

CHILE gata (4/4).

ARGENTINA gato (10/10), cricket (6/10).

URUGUAY gato (4/4).

PARAGUAY gato (5/5).

BOLIVIA gata (5/6), gato (4/6).

PERU gata (7/7).

ECUADOR gata (5/5).

COLOMBIA gato (7/7).

VENEZUELA gato (10/10).

CUBA gato (3/3).

DOMIN. REP. gato (5/5).

PUERTO RICO gato (8/8).

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PANAMA gato (5/5).

COSTA RICA gata (5/5).

NICARAGUA gata (6/6).

HONDURAS gata (4/6), jack (3/6).

EL SALVADOR mica (6/6), gato (4/6).

GUATEMALA gato (4/5), tricket (4/5).

MEXICO gato (9/9).

9.2 Observations

Usage generally centers around a choice between gato and gata, with the masculine term

winning out in thirteen of the twenty countries.

There are two gata blocs, namely, the South American countries that have Pacific coasts and no

Atlantic or Caribbean coast__

Chile, Peru and Ecuador__

and the Central American countries of

Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Only in Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have terms other than gato/a been

registered.

For some Argentines cricket (CRI-que) refers to a smaller, manual jack, while gato is thought of

as a more heavy-duty jack, whether manual or hydraulic.

In Honduras jack is pronounced (YA[C]) and in Guatemala, tricket is pronounced (TRI-que).

In Bolivia gato and gata compete. (Note that Bolivia is neither an Atlantic nor a Pacific South

American Country, but rather lies between the two regions.)

10. LICENSE PLATE or AUTO TAG

10.1 Data by Country

SPAIN matrícula (10/11), placa (3/11).

CHILE patente. (7/7).

ARGENTINA patente (12/14), chapa (9/14).

URUGUAY chapa (6/6).

PARAGUAY chapa (6/6).

BOLIVIA placa (6/6).

PERU placa (11/11).

ECUADOR placa (11/11).

COLOMBIA placa (11/11).

VENEZUELA placa (7/7).

CUBA chapa (9/9).

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DOMIN. REP. placa (7/7).

PUERTO RICO tablilla (10/10).

PANAMA placa (6/6).

COSTA RICA placa (4/4).

NICARAGUA placa (5/5).

HONDURAS placa (6/6).

EL SALVADOR placa (6/6).

GUATEMALA placa (5/5).

MEXICO placa (9/9).

10.2 Observations

Placa is used in Mexico, Central America, and also in South America as far south as Bolivia.

Chapa is used in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and also in Cuba.

Matrícula, the term that is predominant in Spain, appears to be a shortened version of placa

matrícula. In several Spanish American countries matrícula, in the context of cars, refers to the

“(motor vehicle) registration”, rather than to the “license plate”.

Tablilla is used only in Puerto Rico.

11. RIM (OF TIRE)


SPAIN llanta (6/6).

CHILE aro (6/8), llanta (3/8).

ARGENTINA llanta (13/13).

URUGUAY llanta (4/5), aro (1/5).

PARAGUAY llanta (3/5), aro (3/5).

BOLIVIA aro (7/7).

PERU aro (12/12).

ECUADOR aro (12/12).

COLOMBIA rin (11/11).

VENEZUELA rin (8/8).

CUBA llanta (5/6), aro (2/6).

DOMIN. REP. aro (6/6).

PUERTO RICO aro (9/9).

PANAMA rin (8/8).

COSTA RICA aro (6/6).

NICARAGUA rin (7/7).

HONDURAS rin (4/4).

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EL SALVADOR rin (6/6), aro (2/6).

GUATEMALA aro (7/7).

MEXICO rin (11/11).

11.2 Observations

Aro is used in much of South America, the Hispanic Antilles, and parts of Central America.

Rin is used in Mexico and parts of Central America, as well as in Colombia and Venezuela; it is

not commonly used in any country south of Colombia.

Llanta is used in Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba and Paraguay. In most of Latin America

llanta means “tire” (see section fourteen below).

12. ROOF RACK


SPAIN baca (9/9).

CHILE parrilla (6/6).

ARGENTINA portaequipajes (14/14).

URUGUAY baca (6/6).

PARAGUAY portabultos (3/4), parrilla (1/4), baca (1/4).

BOLIVIA parrilla (8/8).

PERU parrilla (11/11).

ECUADOR parrilla (12/12).

COLOMBIA parrilla (10/10).

VENEZUELA parrilla (8/8).

CUBA parrilla (6/6).

DOMIN. REP. parrilla (6/6), tarima (3/6).

PUERTO RICO rack (6/6).

PANAMA parrilla (7/7).

COSTA RICA canasta (5/5).

NICARAGUA parrilla (4/4).

HONDURAS parrilla (5/5).

EL SALVADOR parrilla (4/4).

GUATEMALA parrilla (7/7).

MEXICO parrilla (14/18), canastilla (9/18).

12.2 Observations

Parrilla is not used in Spain and the River Plate region, but is used almost everywhere else.

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13. STEERING WHEEL


SPAIN volante (6/6).

CHILE manubrio (5/5), volante (3/5).

ARGENTINA volante (6/6).

URUGUAY volante (4/4), manija (3/4).

PARAGUAY volante (4/4).

BOLIVIA volante (7/7), manubrio (3/7).

PERU timón (7/7).

ECUADOR timón (3/5), volante (3/5).

COLOMBIA timón (8/8).

VENEZUELA volante (6/6).

CUBA timón (2/2).

DOMIN. REP. el guía (4/4).

PUERTO RICO el guía (10/10).

PANAMA timón (5/5).

COSTA RICA manivela (4/5), rueda (3/5), volante (3/5).

NICARAGUA timón (7/7).

HONDURAS timón (6/6).

EL SALVADOR timón (5/5), volante (2/5).

GUATEMALA timón (4/4).

MEXICO volante (8/8).

13.2 Observations

Volante is understood by educated speakers everywhere. However, it has competition from other

terms in at least fifteen out of twenty countries.

Timón is common in all of Central America except Costa Rica and also in Peru, Ecuador and

Colombia.

Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic form a block with el guía.

Manivela is used only in Costa Rica.

In Colombia two informants from the Atlantic coast also gave the term cabrilla in the sense of

“steering wheel”.

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14. TIRE


SPAIN neumático (6/9), cubierta (4/9).

CHILE neumático (9/9).

ARGENTINA cubierta (11/12), goma (6/12), neumático (5/12).

URUGUAY cubierta (5/5), goma (3/5).

PARAGUAY cubierta (2/3), rueda (2/3).

BOLIVIA llanta (7/7).

PERU llanta (11/11).

ECUADOR llanta (11/11).

COLOMBIA llanta (13/13).

VENEZUELA caucho (8/8).

CUBA goma (8/9), rueda (6/9).

DOMIN. REP. goma (6/7), rueda (3/7).

PUERTO RICO goma (10/10), llanta (5/10), rueda (2/10).

PANAMA llanta (6/6).

COSTA RICA llanta (5/5).

NICARAGUA llanta (5/5).

HONDURAS llanta (6/6).

EL SALVADOR llanta (4/4).

GUATEMALA llanta (7/7).

MEXICO llanta (10/10).

14.2 Observations

Llanta is used in all of Mexico and Central America and in South America from Colombia to

Bolivia.

For many Argentines, cubierta is a more technical term referring specifically to the “tire”

whereas goma and neumático refer to the “wheel” without distinguishing between its main

components, the “tire”, “inner tube” and “rim”.

In Spain neumático can refer to the entire wheel and cubierta specifically to the tire, but many

Spaniards do not make the distinction.

Caucho is used only in Venezuela.

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15. TRUNK


SPAIN maletero (10/12), maletera (2/12), baúl (2/12).

CHILE maleta (7/9), maletero (2/9).

ARGENTINA baúl (11/11).

URUGUAY baúl (6/6), valija (5/6).

PARAGUAY valijera (6/6), baúl (3/6).

BOLIVIA maletera (9/10), maletero (4/10).

PERU maletera (12/12).

ECUADOR maletero/a (10/16), cajuela (9/16).

COLOMBIA baúl (14/15), maletero (3/15).

VENEZUELA maleta (8/9), maletera (4/9).

CUBA maletero (9/9), baúl (3/9).

DOMIN. REP. baúl (7/7).

PUERTO RICO baúl (9/9).

PANAMA baúl (6/7), maletero (6/7).

COSTA RICA joroba (6/6), cajuela (2/6), maletero (2/6).

NICARAGUA valijera (8/8).

HONDURAS baúl (7/7).

EL SALVADOR baúl (5/5).

GUATEMALA baúl (5/5).

MEXICO cajuela (13/13).

15.2 Observations

Baúl and maletero/a are the most common terms.

Almost all of the terms used are derived from one of four types of luggage containers: baúl, caja,

maleta and valija.

In Ecuador maletero/a appears to be more common in the Costa and cajuela more common in

the Sierra; one serrano also gave cajón.

In Costa Rica, joroba, according to some, comes from the shape of the Volkswagen Bug, which

used to be the most popular car in that country.

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16. SPEED BUMP


SPAIN NOT COMMON (4/5), tope (1/5).

CHILE NOT COMMON (4/6), lomo (2/6).

ARGENTINA lomo de burro (13/13).

URUGUAY (lomo de) burro (3/4), despertador (3/4), NOT COMMON (2/4).

PARAGUAY mataburros (4/5), lomada (3/5), lomo de burro (1/5).

BOLIVIA rompemuelles (6/6).

PERU rompemuelles (11/11).

ECUADOR policía acostado (11/11).

COLOMBIA policía acostado (14/16), policía muerto (5/16).

VENEZUELA policía acostado (13/15), burro (9/15).

CUBA policía acostado (4/4).

DOMIN. REP. policía acostado (8/8).

PUERTO RICO muerto (8/8).

PANAMA policía muerto (7/7).

COSTA RICA muerto (5/6), policía dormido (5/6).

NICARAGUA policía acostado (8/8).

HONDURAS túmulo (7/7).

EL SALVADOR túmulo (7/7).

GUATEMALA túmulo (7/7).

MEXICO tope (11/11).

16.2 Observations

(Lomo de) burro is used in Argentina and Uruguay.

Rompemuelles is used in Bolivia and Peru .

Policía acostado is used in Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela

Túmulo is used in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

In Spain and Chile the object appears to be less common than in the rest of the Spanish-speaking

countries, and two Uruguayans also stated that the object was not that common in their country.

In the countries where policía terms are used, other slang words for police officer are also used

with the corresponding adjective. For example, in Ecuador chapa can mean “police officer” and

chapa acostado can mean “speed bump”.

18

One Paraguayan stated that lomada refers to a cement speed bump, whereas mataburros refers to

a series of metal bars or wood beams that are placed on roads to serve the same purpose. A

Uruguayan gave a similar description of mataburros.

17. STOP SIGN


SPAIN stop (5/5).

CHILE pare (6/6).

ARGENTINA pare (7/7).

URUGUAY pare (4/4).

PARAGUAY pare (4/4).

BOLIVIA pare (5/5), alto (3/5).

PERU pare (8/10), stop (3/10).

ECUADOR pare (10/10).

COLOMBIA pare (6/6).

VENEZUELA pare (8/8).

CUBA pare (5/5).

DOMIN. REP. pare (6/6).

PUERTO RICO pare (9/9).

PANAMA alto (6/6), stop (4/6).

COSTA RICA alto (5/5).

NICARAGUA alto (5/5).

HONDURAS alto (7/7), stop (2/7).

EL SALVADOR alto (5/5).

GUATEMALA alto (5/5).

MEXICO alto (8/8).

17.2 Observations

Pare is used in all of South America and the Hispanic Antilles.

Alto is used in all of Mexico and Central America.

In Panama stop signs generally say alto, but in the Canal Zone they generally say stop or

occasionally are bilingual with both stop and alto appearing on the sign.

In Puerto Rico, the signs say pare, but on military bases they say stop.

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18. DUMP TRUCK


SPAIN volquete (5/6), volqueta (3/6).

CHILE camión tolva (6/6).

ARGENTINA (camión) volcador (9/11), volquete (4/11).

URUGUAY (camión con) volcadora (4/6), (camión) volcador (3/5).

PARAGUAY camión tumba (6/6).

BOLIVIA volqueta (6/6).

PERU volquete (13/15), volqueta (2/15).

ECUADOR volqueta (12/12).

COLOMBIA volqueta (17/17), volteo (2/17).

VENEZUELA (camión de) volteo (10/10).

CUBA (camión de) volteo (7/8), volqueta (4/8).

DOMIN. REP. (camión de) volteo (7/7).

PUERTO RICO camión (de) tumba (3/3).

PANAMA volquete (6/6).

COSTA RICA vagoneta (6/6).

NICARAGUA volqueta (5/5).

HONDURAS volqueta (8/8), valastrero (5/8).

EL SALVADOR camión de volteo (6/7), volqueta (2/7).

GUATEMALA camión de volteo (6/7), camión de palangana (5/7).

MEXICO (camión de) volteo (14/14).

18.2 Observations

Volqueta/volquete and camión de volteo are the most frequently used terms.

The terms camión de volteo, camión volcador and camión con volcadora are often shortened to

volteo, volcador and volcadora, respectively.

The two Colombians that gave volteo were both from the Atlantic coast and their usage is

consistent with that of much of the Hispanic Caribbean.

Chile, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Honduras appear to have terms not found anywhere else.

1995_ATA Annual Conf Proceedings_Car Terminology_Moskowitz

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