Valentín Arias López


Category: Teacher and translator
Birth Date: 22nd april 1934 (†25th march 2011)
Birth Place: Vilerma-Maside-Sarria (Lugo)
 Curriculum

After studying Primary Education at 'Escola Primaria de Orientación Agrícola da Granxa de Barreiros', created by Antonio Fernández López and directed by Avelino Pousa Antelo, he studied Secondary Education and Teaching. He worked as a teacher and directed this centre from 1955 to 1965 and at a school in Vigo from 1969 until he retired in 1994. He gave many courses on Galician language for teachers, doctors and civil servants. He worked at 'Penzol' Foundation (1970-1975) and was the manager of 'Galaxia' publishing house (1975-1978). He has collaborated in Galician newspapers and magazines since 1954. He gave lectures on education, culture and Galician language in many Galician villages as well as in Salamanca, Palmas de Gran Canaria, Geneva, etc. He was one of the founders and directors of the Association of Galician Translators. From the linguistical point of view, he checked many works to be published in Galician.

 Work & Activities

He wrote the following works: A lingua galega na escola, A escola rural en Galicia, Lois e Sabela, Catro nenos, ¿Cómo se fai un libro?, Libro de estilo, Prontuario ortográfico de galego, Antonio Fernández López (with A. Pousa) and Avelino Pousa Antelo. He also carried out the following translations: As aventuras de Tintín (Hergé), A volta ó mundo en oitenta días, Viaxe ó centro da terra and Da terra á lúa (Verne), Contos á máquina (Rodari), Voo de noite (Saint-Exupéry), O xardín (M. Duras), O estranxeiro (Camus), Marcelino pan e viño (Sánchez Silva), O conto de Serea y O hostal dos deuses amables (Torrente Ballester), Un espía chamado Sara and Memorias dunha vaca (B. Atxaga), O sobriño de Rameua (Diderot)...

 Other Interesting Aspects

He collaborated with the Agricultural Service in Sarria (1959-1965), directed fruit tree exploitations in Chantada and Outeiro de Rei (1965-1968), promoted a cooperative of horticultural products (1968-69) and fought against Franco's dictatorship in the nationalist party.