Talantiar - to guesstimate - estimar

[is]

Talantiar: pronounced Tah-lahn-TIAHR. To measure roughly. To weigh, estimate or judge the value or character or worth of something. To evaluate, take measure of the significance or extent of something.

Talantiar is also about measuring the dimensions, quantity or capacity of something, as ascertained by comparison with a standard.

In Central Asturian, a similar word is to do something ‘al tientu’, as in:

‘Xose dixo a la muyer que tuviera pesando al tientu les llambiotaes n’Alcampo. [Xose told his wife that he had been roughly weighing the goodies at the local Auchan supermarket.]

or

‘Nun tengo tientu pa eses coses.’ [I don’t have the gauging mechanism for that kind of stuff.]

Synonyms at measure, appraise, assay, calculate, evaluate, gauge, judge, rate, size up, valuate, value.

Listen to the meaning of talantiar as of minute 4:10 in this recording with Francisco, from Casa Camin, Rozadas (outside of Bual/Boal), in West Asturias.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woW1eNi_6uE

The parish priest once asked him what he meant with the verb talantiar. He answers from memory, mixing Galician-Asturian, the language spoken between the Navia and Eo River valleys, with Castilian Spanish. Try to follow the rest of the dialogue as he also addresses the similarity between Asturians and Galicians, referring to the folk saying: ‘Gallegos y asturianos, primos y hermanos’ [Galicians and Asturians are cousins and brothers].

Francisco: Fora ua vez un cura y diz el ‘pero, bueno, y que es eso de talantiar?’ Digo, bueno, pues pra min e ua satisfacion contestar a ua persona do carrera tan grande como usted, que nun...que nun comprenda neste momento lo que comprendemos nosotros que-lle poda traducir lo que e talantiar...

Bueno, eh, pues talantiar sinifica que cuando cousa ta na balanza, que pouco la lleva y pouco la trae...el talanteo.

Ambas: e talantear

Francisco: ye’l talantear...y como eso mas cousas!

[is]

It occurred to me that I forgot to mention the verb atalantar in relation to talantiar. It is chiefly Central Asturian and means to think, think of, be of the opinion, contend, reflect, guess...

Some usage examples:

Esi nun atalanta una. [That guy just doesn't get it.]

Nun se-y atalanta nada a Nolo. [It seems as if Nolo is never able to conjure anything up.]