Work Matters

Chega de Babaquice: Portuguese for The No Asshole Rule?

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supermoxie

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Chega_de_babaquice_2
The Portuguese edition of The No Asshole Rule just came out in Brazil. They call it Chega de Babaquice — I also understand that, given the strangeness of markets, that there will be a different Portuguese edition coming out in  Portugal.

Here is a link to the book — and if anyone out there could tell us what Chega de Babaquice translates to precisely English, I would appreciate it! As I recall, it means something like "no more silliness."  If so, it is quite toned down, apparently unlike the French version, Objectif Zéro-sale-con : Petit guide de survie face
aux connards, despotes, enflures, harceleurs, trous du cul et autres personnes
nuisibles qui sévissent au travail

A French journalist recently wrote me that "The
English tagline of your book is a sweet lullaby compared to the French one.
Your publisher not only bought into the glorification of slang but obviously ran
with it (listing all the synonyms of "asshole" in one concise,
explosive sentence). I had to laugh…”

I guess the French are less touchy about dirty talk.  In fact, my French editor suggested that I call the sequel "The Asshole Shits Again." I think she was joking, but I am not entirely sure!

 

Comments

2 responses to “Chega de Babaquice: Portuguese for The No Asshole Rule?”

  1. Mauro Mello Jr. Avatar
    Mauro Mello Jr.

    Bob – howdy!
    As you mentioned, the title ‘Chega de Babaquice’ (try /’shay-gah day bah-bah-‘key-ce/) is really a toned down, almost sanitized translation of ‘The No Asshole Rule’.
    The noun ‘babaquice’ (/bah-bah-‘key-ce/) in Brazilian Portuguese translates in English as stupidity. The noun ‘babaca’ (/bah-‘bah-ka/) has two main meaning in Brazilian Portuguese: vagina (er, more like cunt, though it is not the meaning intended in the title) and fool (silly, blockhead, idiot). In everyday usage, I would say it is a mildly pejorative expression, unlikely to raise any eyebrows.
    As it has been used in the book, with (to me) an almost uplifting self-help book-type tag line, it is closer (in impact) to ‘Enough with the Foolishness/Stupidity/Nonsense!’ Mildly amusing, lacking the blunt directness of the English title or the much more expressive and vicious French title and tag line (that one is very good indeed).
    Having read The No Asshole Rule (and the associated blog posts), I feel the title is disappointing, as it is a festering problem over there that needs a much less sanitized approach.
    It just occurred to me that the issue may be with the use of ‘chega’, as in ‘enough!’; maybe if it were ‘don’t be an asshole’ might have made it more forceful…
    I will think about it for a couple of days then send you some alternatives.
    Regards,
    Mauro Mello Jr.
    A Brazilian expat in Sydney, Australia
    P.S.: And yes, there are some differences between the Portuguese language in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Macau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor.

    Reply
  2. Rodolpho Avatar
    Rodolpho

    Good point Mauro.
    The first time I saw this book in a bookstore I thought it was just another self-help/self-improvement title. It even recalled me the famous “For Dummies” collection, so it didn’t catch my attention at all.
    The second time I saw it was when I picked up another title that was sitting right next to it in the bookshelf. When I looked at the author last name I could see it was Bob’s book! What a wicked surprise.
    “No, this can’t be the ‘No asshole’!”, I thought. I’ve got so dissapointed… not only because of the stupid title (see Mauro’s comments) it was given, but also because of the cover art. “Enough with Stupidity” + a Delete button full of strange symbols looks more like a book on some teenager Internet lingo used in chat rooms and IMs; and definitely not a book on organizational culture and managerial styles.
    What a pitty…

    Reply

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