River Plate. Disambiguation

[Albino]

Dear Teacher,

Here in Argentina, we have a well known soccer team named River Plate.

Its main stadium is in Buenos Aires and is facing a river named “Rio de la Plata” the name of the river is always translated as River Plate. There was also a Word War II battle named “The battle of River Plate” where the Graf Spee was sunk in the "Rio de la Plata" .

The question is that the Spanish word “Plata” means Silver. On the other hand, the word “Plate” is not a synonym of Silver. Plate means also Shield.

Is it there a possible explanation to this? Is it simply a translation error?

What is your opinion?


Best wishes.

Hector Albino

[BobK]

I wouldn't say it was 'a translation error', just a not-very-sensitive transliteration. There is, as a matter of fact, a cheap(er) sort of silver called EPNS (Electro-Plated Nickel Silver), often referred to as 'plate'.

(Incidentally, I wonder if de la Plata has anything to do with tha naming of Argentina - which itself means 'silver'.)

b

ps - I don't think 'Plate' (as in plate silver -> cheap) was a deliberate insult. As I said, it's a transliteration rather than a translation.

[Albino]

BobK,

Thank you for the explanation. I understand that it hasn’t been an offense. With your explanation of EPNS now it makes more sense to me. Let me explain:

Argentina is has it roots in the Latin word Argentum that means Silver. During the colonization period, around 16th century, Spanish fleet came to this lands looking of silver according to alleged legends. When they entered “Rio de la Plata” it is said that they were amazed for two reason: First, the vessels plunged because of river waters (sea waters are more dense, so the drifting level), but it was so huge that they couldn’t believe that it was a river. The second was the tranquility (almost a mirror) and silver glare of the water, from this it is said that the name came; A river that seems to be plated.

Best wishes.

Hector.

[BobK]

Thank you for the explanation, Hector. (We're all learning something here.)

b