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Siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in Italy

English translation: are but a small percentage of / represent a minor portion of


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in Italy
English translation:are but a small percentage of / represent a minor portion of
Entered by: Nick Lingris
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

18:14 May 29, 2005
English to English translations [PRO]
Agriculture
English term or phrase: Siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in Italy
I am revising a translation, and the above doesn't sound right to me. I always thought that 'minority' can only be used for people, or am I wrong? Can you suggest a better way of writing this?
Lietta Warren-Granato
Italy
Local time: 21:47
Siliceous sands are but a small percentage of the sands available in Italy
Explanation:
Another alternative.
Selected response from:

Nick Lingris
Local time: 22:47
Grading comment
This is the answer I found most helpful, but thank you all for helping me.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +9siliceous sands represent a minor portion of the sands available in ItalyRefugio
4 +3Siliceous sands are but a small percentage of the sands available in Italy
Nick Lingris
5siliceous sands are the lesser (known/used) of sands available in ItalyAnna Maria Augustine at proZ.com
4siliceous sands are of the rarer sands available in italy
Johan Venter
4Siliceous sands are not common in Italy
Balasubramaniam L.
3siliceous sands represent a small proportion of the sands available in Italy
Rachel Fell


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in italy
siliceous sands are of the rarer sands available in italy


Explanation:
I have to agree, minority is for people. Here is the dictionary entry for minority:

n. smaller group as opposed to the majority; part of a population differing in some characteristic (race, sex, etc.); state of being under legal age



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Note added at 5 mins (2005-05-29 18:20:14 GMT)
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or even \"Of the more unusual sand types\"

Johan Venter
Local time: 21:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in italy
Siliceous sands are but a small percentage of the sands available in Italy


Explanation:
Another alternative.

Nick Lingris
Local time: 22:47
Native speaker of: Native in GreekGreek
PRO pts in category: 6
Grading comment
This is the answer I found most helpful, but thank you all for helping me.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Melanie Nassar : Only a small percentage of the sands available in Italy are siliceous. I didn't add anything, just changed the order. And I don't see a real difference between small percentage and minor portion that would warrant a new entry either, BTW.
7 mins
  -> This is very elegant, armaat. Why not your own entry? You would definitely get my 'agree'.
agree  Robert Donahue
15 mins
  -> Thank you, Robert. But Ruth's point is valid too.
neutral  Refugio: A minority means less than half. A small percentage might seem to imply a minsucule amount, and we don't know that from the text.//Why would you want to bet against yourself?
17 mins
  -> I was betting my bottom dollar you were going to say that. :-) // Cause I thought of it only as I was going into the kitchen to make myself some fresh coffee. Blame it on venter who led me astray.
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
5 days
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +9
siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in italy
siliceous sands represent a minor portion of the sands available in Italy


Explanation:
+

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2005-05-29 18:46:38 GMT)
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[PDF] MANAGEMENT PLAN Lesueur National Park and Coomallo Nature Reserve ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
... system; soils are leached siliceous sands with an. organically enriched surface
layer; ... Dunes occupy only a minor portion of the Lesueur area; ...
www.calm.wa.gov.au/national_parks/ management/pdf_files/lesueur.pdf - Similar pages

Carolina Bays in the upland gravels of Virginia
... igneous rocks, and chert constitute a minor portion of the gravels. ...
and its fine matrix with scattered siliceous cobbles and pebbles. ...
abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/cbayvirg.html - 76k - Cached - Similar pages

[PDF] ARKANSAS RESOURCES FOR CRUSHED-STONE CONSTRUCTION AGGREGATE
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
... Thinly bedded dark-gray chert interbedded with black siliceous shale and.
occasional thin limestone layers. ... minor portion being calcite cement. This ...
www.state.ar.us/agc/csca.pdf - Similar pages

8th INTERNATIONAL KIMBERLITE CONFERENCE (8IKC)
... be subdivided into a lower siliceous microfossil (eg diatoms, chrysophyte),
... with a minor portion of the kimberlite dyke emplaced within overlying ...
www.venuewest.com/8IKC/s1post.htm - 137k - Cached - Similar pages

Refugio
Local time: 12:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Robert Donahue: or "small percentage"
1 min
  -> See my note to SS
agree  Clare Barnes
6 mins
  -> Thanks, Clare
agree  Nick Lingris: If we're talking about 60-40 :-)
8 mins
  -> The thing is, we simply don't know; better to err on the side of caution. In the real world of translating/editing, the translator must have chosen that word for a reason, and will more likely accept a correction that is close to his attempt.
agree  Anna Maria Augustine at proZ.com
30 mins
  -> Thank you, Anna Maria
agree  aglaya
1 hr
  -> Merci, Aglaya
agree  cmwilliams
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, CMW
agree  Sven Petersson
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Sven
agree  Alp Berker
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Alp
agree  Alfa Trans
19 hrs
  -> Thanks, Marju
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43 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in italy
siliceous sands are the lesser (known/used) of sands available in Italy


Explanation:
This seems to be a major/minor comparision, so assuming "minorité" was in the original text here are some synonyms:

2. minority - being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts; "when the vote was taken they were in the minority"; "he held a minority position"
number, figure - the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals; "he had a number of chores to do"; "the number of parameters is small"; "the figure was about a thousand"
bulk, majority - the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part; "the majority of his customers prefer it"; "the bulk of the work is finished"

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Note added at 55 mins (2005-05-29 19:10:20 GMT)
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Least might work too.

Anna Maria Augustine at proZ.com
France
Local time: 21:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in italy
Siliceous sands are not common in Italy


Explanation:
Siliceous sands are not common in Italy.

Or

Siliceous sands are not commonly found in Italy.

Or

Siliceous sands do not constitute a common variety of sand in Italy.

Balasubramaniam L.
India
Local time: 01:17
Native speaker of: Native in HindiHindi
PRO pts in category: 4
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
siliceous sands are a minority of the sands available in italy
siliceous sands represent a small proportion of the sands available in Italy


Explanation:
or "... are just a small..." and/or "...proportion of sand available..."

Rachel Fell
Local time: 20:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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