Confusion on use of the word "tabicada"
I am reading a very important scientific paper on architecture that is in English but was originally written in Spanish. The word I'm confused by is "tabicada" - it doesn't show up in the machine translation section of this website.
I found the verb "tabicar" which has gerund "tabicando" and participle "tabicado". And it is in the proper context. Here are two sections of the document that I have trouble with knowing the true meaning of "tabicada":
"The proposed paper places itself in the above described framework focusing the attention on the structural aspects of elements realized with the tabicada technique which, as it will be deeply explained later in the paper, combines the tradition (since its origin starts in ancient age) together with the modernity (since it has been widely adopted by many of the most important architects of the XXth century). Mainly this technique has been used for building a particular type of vaulted structures also known as bóveda tabicada, Catalan vaults or timbrel vaults."
and another section of the document:
"The research of the origins of Catalan vaults can be conducted thanks to some considerations on the three peculiarities of tabicada construction: brick, mortar made of gypsum and the absence of ribs during construction."
I understand the architectural technical meanings perfectly well but am at a loss to understand how the word "tabicada" properly refers to the thin cross section layered masonry arches and domes that the technology describes.
Please can someone help with this context and the use of "tabicada" and how it is different from the participle "tabicado"? Thanks so much! Kerry
4 Answers
Please can someone help with this context and the use of "tabicada" and how it is different from the participle "tabicado"
If you will notice, there is one place in your text that gives a clue as to why the feminine form might be used:
Mainly this technique has been used for building a particular type of vaulted structures also known as bóveda tabicada.
It seems that the full expression combines the feminine noun "bóveda" (vaulted ceiling) with the feminine form of the adjective "tabicada." It appears that in order to remain consistent with the full expression, the feminine form has been maintained.
I understand the architectural technical meanings perfectly well but am at a loss to understand how the word "tabicada" properly refers to the thin cross section layered masonry arches and domes that the technology describes.
As to why the descriptive word "tabicada" has been used, you might find the following quote helpful:
Entiendo por bóveda catalana la tabicada, esto es, formada por ladrillos puestos de tabla, unos a continuación de otros en toda su vuelta, cintra o curvatura, de modo que viene a ser toda ella como un tabique...Su nombre, por lo tanto, deriva del tabique como elemento constructivo, aunque desde el punto de vista de la ejecución difiere de este. La bóveda tabicada está formada por varias capas superpuestas de ladrillos puestos de plano, siguiendo una curvatura fijada.
The full text of this article can be found at the following link:
Una nueva expresividad de las bóvedas tabicadas. Las Escuelas Nacionales de Arte de La Habana
Perhaps you are confused because tabicado is not only the participle form, but also the masculine adjective form where tabicada is only a feminine adjective form.
You can never know for sure why the masculine or feminine adjective form is used without knowing the context or seeing the original Spanish variant, which will then provide the modified noun. This document is using a Spanish gender adjective in English, which doesn´t use gender nouns and adjectives. Of course there is going to be confusion.
Maybe this helps from my dictionary.
to brick sth up
tabicar una ventana - to brick up a window
or
una ventana tabicada - one partitioned window
A walled up window - Una ventana tapiada
Maybe you need a English Spanish dictionary for architecture.
Why is it that nobody will venture a response? Is the question that difficult or is it a silly question or some other reason that no one will address this? Is my document a poor translation from the original Spanish and another word should be used? It seems that tabicado (the participle of tabicar) is related to the subject but not very well descriptive of the actual technology. Can someone please refer this to a smarter person that would understand the question or please tell me why it is not a good or smart or appropriate question? Thanks, Kerry
