Glossary entry

Finnish term or phrase:

kulttuurimummo

English translation:

culture vulture

Added to glossary by Punavuori
Dec 12, 2011 10:36
12 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Finnish term

kulttuurimummo

Finnish to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
In Finland there is the well-known character of the 'kulttuurimummo", the oldish lady, retired or nearing retirement, who goes to the opera, theatre, exhibitions, etc., but is not any guru. A dilettante one might say. I've been asked to translate a painting title (a vibrant work!) depicting such a person. The direct translation is 'culture granny'. Another alternative is 'culture mamma'. But these don't mean much to an English-speaker. Perhaps an alternative title altogether should be proposed - I had initially suggested 'The dilettante', but it was felt the gender issue was not being addressed. Suggestions welcome!
Proposed translations (English)
3 culture vulture

Discussion

Punavuori (asker) Dec 13, 2011:
Thank you for your suggestions! Culture vulture sounds excellent. However, it carries far more negative connotations than kulttuurimummo. Ladies attending classes at the työväenopisto refer to themselves as a kulttuurimummo, but it would be with a heavy irony for someone in an equivalent situation in an English-speaking country to call herself a culture vulture. "Cultured grandma" is suitably descriptive, but in this case it was for a title of a painting by a professional artist.
Reijo Oksanen Dec 13, 2011:
cultured grandma, or cultured gran, or cultured granny
Spencer Allman Dec 12, 2011:
sorry Timo that is an irrelevant quote - as I imagine you will realise
Timo Lehtilä Dec 12, 2011:
Bu the way, 'culture-vulture grandmother' appears at least once in the Net:

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1996_1385625/a...

Proposed translations

4 mins
Selected

culture vulture

Of course, it makes no referncev to sex or age
Peer comment(s):

neutral Timo Lehtilä : This may be somewhat more negative that the original. What about adding 'granny': 'culture vulture granny'?
2 hrs
Then we would get something unnatural
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "In the end it was decided to go for culture culture, despite the fact it could not be regarded as a wholly appropriate translation. Again, thanks for the suggestions and links"
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