What does "NATAS!" mean in the following sentence?

[nkn]

(Thank you for helping me in another thread concerning "la porra" and "comehuevo." I have another question.)

I'm reading Juno Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
Because I'm a Japanese, there are so many Dominican Spanish expressions I don't understand. I would really appreciate if you help me!

There is a sentence like this:
[She] was finally taken out of school because she had a habit of screaming NATAS! in the middle of homeroom. (17)

What does "NATAS!" mean exactly?
I have found that someone writes, "something like "TITS!" (it is also "Satan" backwards in English, not sure if that's relevant)."
Chapter 1 ? The Annotated Oscar Wao ? Notes and translations for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

But I would like to make sure about the meaning and implication of NATAS!

Thank you!!
nkn

 

[PICHARDO]

(Thank you for helping me in another thread concerning "la porra" and "comehuevo." I have another question.)

I'm reading Juno Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
Because I'm a Japanese, there are so many Dominican Spanish expressions I don't understand. I would really appreciate if you help me!

There is a sentence like this:
[She] was finally taken out of school because she had a habit of screaming NATAS! in the middle of homeroom. (17)

What does "NATAS!" mean exactly?
I have found that someone writes, "something like "TITS!" (it is also "Satan" backwards in English, not sure if that's relevant)."
Chapter 1 ? The Annotated Oscar Wao ? Notes and translations for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

But I would like to make sure about the meaning and implication of NATAS!

Thank you!!
nkn

In the Dominican Republic's Spanish "Nata" refers to the top film that happens when you boil or heat milk to a certain point. That's when the fat present in the milk comes together and forms a thick layer, which floats atop the milk given that fat is repelled by the mostly water composition on the milk left after the boiling/heating.

In slang it's used to refer to the top or elite of society. Also for the same token for being removed from the milk when boiling takes place and discarded, is slangy used to denote "garbage" in vulgar slang.

In Junot's writing is easy to designate the use of "Natas" as a look down slur from the student to others in the homeroom.

Now if the word used was "?atas" then the meaning is totally different!!!

 

[nkn]

Hello PICHARDO,

Thank you so much!
Your explanation is very clear and helpful!
It makes more sense for me than "TITS" or "Satan" backwards in English.

I'm impressed!
nkn

 

[Hillbilly]

there is an expression: Flor y nata de la sociedad! The cream of society.

Junot D?az uses "NATAS" as 'scum', the part that floats to the top.

It is a difficult book to read if you are not versed in all things Dominican, you are to be congratulated.

よくやった。後で参照してください

Sorry I do not really speak Japanese, but I do know a few phrases.

"Matta a****a"

HB

 

[nkn]

Hello Hillbilly,

Thank you for your explanation! It helps me a lot.
Yes, as you say, it is very difficult for me to figure out what Junot Diaz wants to say.
But I really like the book, so I want to know subtle implications of Dominican Spanish expressions which only you know very well!

Anyway, thank you so much!
nkn