Another interesting phrase - levantar ampollas

Question

I was reading an article about the controversial requirement that college professors in Cataluña be certified as C level proficient in Catalan, and I ran across the phrase levantar ampollas. Literally it means to raise blisters, but a better English translation would be to raise hackles.

Pero la exigencia de acreditar el catalán a los nuevos profesores y a los eventuales que renueven sus contratos por más de dos años -aunque puedan dar sus clases en el idioma que quieran- ha levantado ampollas.

But the demand that new and prospective teachers be accredited in Catalan to renew their contracts for more than two years, even though they can give their classes in the language they want, has raised hackles.

I don't have a question. I just thought it was an interesting contrast in how the same idea was expressed differently in the two languages.

¿El idioma antes que el talento?

Hi KevinB, As you did not have a question it is better to post under a different category. - Eddy, Sep 6, 2010

I have changed it to "general discussions". - Eddy, Sep 6, 2010

OK. The original post was about the phrase, but this may evolve into a discussion. - KevinB, Sep 6, 2010

Answer 1

To me levantar ampollas is like saying it infuriates, makes furious!

Good one. - KevinB, Sep 6, 2010

Answer 2

Sounds similar to the short-lived discussions here in the US about teachers having to be certified in ebonics to be able to speak street level languages rather than more traditional languages..

On the other hand, I had several professors and teaching assistants that were certainly not C-level in English. That requirement would gut the science and engineering colleges in the U.S. - KevinB, Sep 6, 2010