Translation excercise for Spanish learners 5: Pancho Villa y Emiliano Zapata. Answered.
Have a look at the previous threads, in case you wish to do the translations
I am almost finished with this little book about the Mexican revolution written by Rius.
There will be a bigger challenge in the next post to this thread.
The author is up to his usual cynical, mischief.
This exercise is much more straightforward ( thought everyone deserved a break this time).
Context: Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata ( both rebel generals) now have control of most of the country. They were obsessed with the land itself and therefore:
This short paragraph goes like this:
Pero ahí estaba,latente y desperdiciada, la fuerza obrera... electricistas, alijadores, textileros, carpinteros, impresores, panaderos, albañiles, pintores, metalúrgicos, ferrocarrileros, etc.¿quién la conquistará?
A vote for all who try the translation. And "best answer" for the best translation
There is a hidden meaning in these few lines, if you can find it make a second answer as a bonus
12 Answers
Hmm. . . well, I'm certainly late to this game and I rather hate to add another redundant translation to the mix, but as intriguing as is this whole subject, I can't resist. . .
Pero ahí estaba, latente y desperdicíada, la fuerza obrera.. electricistas, textileros, alijadores, carpinteros, impresores, panaderos, albañiles, pintores, metalúrgicos, ferrocarrileros, etc.¿quién la conquistará?
My raw translation, little different from others here, would be:
But there it was, latent and squandered, the labor force -- electricians, stevedores, weavers, carpenters, printers, bakers, masons, painters, metalworkers, railroad workers, etc. Who will conquer it?
Doubting, however, that Ruis meant "conquer" in the sense of physically or militarily defeating the workers, he probably (given his own politics) would have meant "conquer" in the sense of "winnng over" or "gaining" the support of the workers and thereby putting to use their potential to sway the outcome of the ongoing struggle.
Also, it seems to me that Zapata and Villa, whose perspectives were rural, were understandably concerned with "the land." But even if they did have control of most of the country, they would have been shortsighted to think they could prevail without support in the urban centers of the country -- so, my interpretation would something like:
But there, with latent and untapped potential, was the working class -- >electricians, stevedores, weavers, carpenters, printers, bakers, masons, >painters, metalworkers, railroad workers, etc. Who will win their support?
Can't wait for the "final answer." (See? 
Don't always need subject pronouns in English, do ya?)
"Conquer" can also take on the meaning of "win their hearts" or "merit their vote"... something along those lines... Johnny-come-lately but hey! Mis dos centavos....
Pero ahí estaba,latente y desperdiciada, la fuerza obrera... electricistas, alijadores, textileros, carpinteros, impresores, panaderos, albañiles, pintores, metalúrgicos, ferrocarrileros, etc.¿quién la conquistará?
But there was hidden and misused, the strong worker... electricians, stevedores, textile workers, carpenters, bakers, printers, bricklayers, painters, metalworkers, railroad workers, etc. Who will be the conquerer?
Pero ahí estaba,latente y desperdiciada, la fuerza obrera... electricistas, alijadores, textileros, carpinteros, impresores, panaderos, albañiles, pintores, metalúrgicos, ferrocarrileros, etc.¿quién la conquistará?
But there was the hidden and wasted work force, electricians,smugglers dockers, textile workers, carpenters, printers, bakers, bricklayers, painters, metal workers, railway men, etc ¿Who will conquer them?
But there was existing and wasted work forces....electricians, cotton workers, textile workers, carpenters, printers, bakers, bricklayers, painters, engineers working with metals, railroad workers and more. Who will conquer?
My attempt for the bonus.
The generals: "now have control of most of the country. They were obsessed with the land itself and therefore:..."
They were so concerned about the land they wasted the talent of the people. They will not conquer because it's the people and their talents, abilities, love and desires that really create a strong country.
Then what did the workers do ? jejej - pacofinkler
Uh, rebelled against the generals?
But there was, hiden and unused the working man ... electricians, textile workers, lightermen, carpenters, printers, bakers, bricklayers, painters, metalworkers, railroad workers, etc.. who could / would conquer that?
Pero ahí estaba, latente y desperdicíada, la fuerza obrera... electricistas, textileros, alijadores, carpinteros, impresores, panaderos, albañiles, pintores, metalúrgicos, ferrocarrileros, etc.¿quién la conquistará?
But there was the labor force, latent and squandered ... electricians, stevedores, weavers, carpenters, printers, bakers, bricklayers, painters, metalworkers, railroad workers, etc. Who will conquer it?
Pero ahí estaba,latente y desperdicíada, la fuerza obrera... electricistas, textileros, alijadores, carpinteros, impresores, panaderos, albañiles, pintores, metalúrgicos, ferrocarrileros, etc.¿quién la conquistará?
But there, the workforce was hidden and wasted... electricians, longshoremen, textile workers, carpenters, printers, bakers, bricklayers, painters, metal workers, railroad workers, etc. Who will win over the support of the workforce?
Creo que la clave está en "la fuerza obrera"
I would say something like "the power of the working class"
But the labor force was there, hidden and wasted... electricians, dockworkers, textile workers, carpenters, typographers, bakers, bricklayers, painters, metalworkers, railroad workers and many others. Who will conquer it?
Pero ahí estaba,latente y desperdiciada, la fuerza obrera... electricistas, alijadores, textileros, carpinteros, impresores, panaderos, albañiles, pintores, metalúrgicos, ferrocarrileros, etc.¿quién la conquistará?
But there was existing and wasted work forces....electricians, cotton workers, textile workers, carpenters, printers, bakers, bricklayers, painters, engineers working with metals, railroad workers and more. Who will conquer?
Thank you all for participating in this thread.
Everyone did so well this time that I wish I could give everyone "best answer"
¡ Enhorabuena a todos!
Here is the translation:
But here they were, latent and wasted (squandered), the labor force ( of Mexico) -- electricians, stevedores, weavers, carpenters, printers, bakers, masons, painters, metalworkers, railroad workers, etc. Who will conquer them ?
Conquer, in the case of this phrase carries the meaning of " to organize" or "to lead". The result of the neglect of Villa and Zapata resulted in the Mexican labor movement.
The next post to this thread will be the last from the same book, it will me more challenging, Ready?
