does this translation have racist or derogatory cultural references?

I have a mobile game written in English. My brother, having lived in Mexico for a few years, is translating the game to Spanish for me. One of the game elements is a slingshot and his translation was 'Tirachinas'. However, he was concerned (because of the literal translation of the word) that it could have racist or derogatory implications in some cultures. Can anyone verify this one way or the other? I would really appreciate any input.

I was born in Mexico and lived there for 30 years, but I never heard the word 'tirachinas'; we called them resorteras. Anyway, I know in some Hispanic countries the verb "tirar" has some kind of sexual connotation. Maybe you can use a synonym that can be understood in most Hispanic countries. (Unless your mobile game is directed to a specific Hispanic market.) I will suggest you to open another thread asking Hispanics how they call slingshots in their countries.

Xóchitl

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a slingshot and his translation was 'Tirachinas'...that it could have racist or derogatory implications in some cultures

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I think the translation is OK because that is the name of the slingshot. But there is a difference between using a tirachinas and being a tirachinas, the latter can be an insult that implies the person is aggressive and likes to pick up fights, etc.

Here in Vzla., we call it only china (sling) which is the Y shaped thingy with the rubber band. And we call the action of the person using dar un chinazo. I guess we would say tirachinas to the person using it. It could have a derogatory implication if you use it as an insult rather than to indicate the action a person is doing.

Guauuuu!! This is way different than what is used in my native Argentina: honda. :-) Down there tirachinas can definitely have a negative meaning (but only in a twisted mind ;-)).

Hi my dearest gentle :) long time....

Pero explica cómo se interpretaría...o sea, por lo de tirar? como dijo Xóchi?

Hi!
In Spain, "tirachinas" is how we call a slingshot. It has not racist connotations at all. A "china" is a small rock, the ones that are used to throw with those instruments. It has nothing to do with chinese people.
Maybe this Tirachinas - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre could help

Pero estas seguro que china es la piedra? Aquí la china es el aparatito con que se lanzan.

Sí, al menos en España, se le llama china a las piedrecillas pequeñas. Y de ahí "tirachinas", es decir, algo así como lanza-piedras.
Real Academia Española. Diccionario Usual.

Ahí también aparece la acepción venezolana ;)

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Originally Posted by Eruemu

Sí, al menos en España, se le llama china a las piedrecillas pequeñas. Y de ahí "tirachinas", es decir, algo así como lanza-piedras.
Real Academia Española. Diccionario Usual.

Ahí también aparece la acepción venezolana ;)

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Totalmente de acuerdo contigo, Eruemu.

Sip...ya lo ví yo también ;)

No, but if you want to use a more broadly used term in Spanish it would be "honda".

I'm from Argentina and I've never called it "Honda"..I call it "Gomera", but I do agree that Honda would be more of a neutral spanish term! (Tirachinas has kind of a sexual meaning here..)

Yes, yerlem, here in Venezuela if they say honda, no one would understand either.

Ultimately, as a translator you need to cater to your audience.

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Originally Posted by Cotty

Hi my dearest gentle :) long time....

Pero explica cómo se interpretaría...o sea, por lo de tirar? como dijo Xóchi?

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Oooops Cotty! Sorry but I was away for a few days. Down there "tirar" means to go scre.... all the "chinitas" (paisanas locales).

Gotcha! ;)