My native language is Spanish and I'll take "Hojas" over "Pliegos" 100% of
the time. We refer to MSDSs as "Hojas de Datos de Seguridad de Materiales".
That is what we use as translation in all of our trainings.

Winston R. Esteves
PE, DEE, QEP, CHMM
Environmental Consulting Associates
Phone 787-790-7931
Fax     787-790-7989
Cell     787-644-5684

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
ILPI
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 6:02 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Spanish translation of term "MSDS"

We are distributors of bilingual MSDS binders (among other products). 
The front of the binders say MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS in English, 
and PLIEGOS DE DATOS SOBRE SEGURIDAD DE MATERIALES in Spanish.

A Spanish-speaking (potential) client called today and said he did 
not recognize the word "Pliegos" which, from a web search, I 
determined is a valid Spanish term for "sheets".   He seemed 
concerned that his hundreds of Spanish-speaking employees (they are a 
farming company) wouldn't understand it either.  The word "hojas" 
might be a better match.

Not to rely on foreign translation on the web, but a search on the 
exact term PLIEGO DE DATOS SOBRE SEGURIDAD DE MATERIALES returns only 
one match at Google whereas the same term with HOJA substituted for 
PLIEGO returns 706.

I've already sent an inquiry to the manufacturer.  I've also asked 
the client to run the word pliegos by some of his employees.

My question for the list is this - are there any native Spanish 
speakers here who can comment on the nuances of "hojas" versus 
"pliegos" and whether or not the latter term is likely to be 
recognized correctly by non-professionals who read/speak (Mexican 
dialects of) Spanish.

Thanks,

Rob Toreki
-- 
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