Proper channels
I am trying to translate something;
Background information-Two employees are discussing a work situation. One says to the other:
"Have you gone thru proper channels?"
I have no clue as how to translate proper channels.
1 Answer
According to our dictionary, to go through the proper channels can be said as either seguir los trámites apropiados or seguir los cauces apropiados. Un trámite is a procedure. Un cauce is, in fact, a literal channel (like an agricultural channel or a riverbed) but can be used figuratively.
If the co-workers would not generally address each other as sir or ma'am in this situation (that is, if their relationship to each other is not formal), then you would probably use the tú form ¿Has seguido los trámites apropiados?
If the co-workers would normally address each other as sir or ma'am, then you would probably use the usted form: ¿Ha seguido los cauces apropiados?
Believe it or not, ha seguido and has seguido would sound exactly the same, but social context would let the hearer know whether the usted or tú form had been used. That is to say, someone who has been addressing you with the usted form doesn't suddenly use the tú form for a single sentence...and vice-versa.
