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third world countries

English translation: the poorest countries of the world (but see further for fourth world info)

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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	third world countries
English translation:	the poorest countries of the world (but see further for fourth world info)
Entered by:	langclinic

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12:43 Apr 23, 2003

English to English translations [Non-PRO]
Bus/Financial

English term or phrase: third world countries

Kindly inform me as to what is meant by third world countries.

langclinic KudoZ activity Questions: 482 (1 open) (3 without valid answers) (4 closed without grading) Answers: 1488 India
Local time: 12:29

the poorest countries of the world (but see further for fourth world info)

Explanation:
... Are there first, second, and fourth world countries ... The concept of the "third world" still rings true as ... | © 2000-2003 Family Education

www.infoplease.com/askeds/11-27-01askeds.html

Tibetan Women's Association
A non-governmental organization based in Dharamsala, India with 37 branches in India and abroad.
Includes the National Report on Tibetan Women, and Tibetan Women's Delegation Final Report on
UN Fourth World Conference on Women, and other documents

United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women

INTERESTING - new terminology

Selected response from:

RHELLER
Local time: 23:59

Grading comment

Thanks to all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +9

see definitions below

Sarah Ponting

5 +1

países del tercer mundo

Miquel

developing countries/ países en vías de desarrollo

Raquel Iglesias

See explaination below

DGK T-I

the poorest countries of the world (but see further for fourth world info)

RHELLER

developed, developing and third world countries

SwissTell

countries where the majority of the population live in Third World conditions

wendyzee

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

países del tercer mundo

Explanation:
just that

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-04-23 12:56:51 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That is, countries regarded as to pertain to what is universally known as \"third world\" / \"tercer mundo\"

Miquel

7 mins confidence:

developed, developing and third world countries

Explanation:
are the definition with the developed countries being those of Western Europe and Northern Hemisphere (to give an example, and the third world countries being the very poor ones, mostly in Africa.

SwissTell
Local time: 01:59
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in pair: 170

11 mins confidence:

developing countries/ países en vías de desarrollo

Explanation:
tercer mundo or third world is no longer used because of its negative connotations (not PC, in other words)

Raquel Iglesias
Spain
Local time: 07:59
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 3

13 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +9

see definitions below

Explanation:
"Third World:
Underdeveloped or developing countries, especially those not allied with Communist countries."

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

"Third World, name applied to the technologically less-advanced, or developing, nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The term was originally used to distinguish these countries from the Western nations and those that formed the Eastern bloc. The term usually excludes China."

The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia

Sarah Ponting
Italy
Local time: 07:59
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 67

1 hr confidence:

the poorest countries of the world (but see further for fourth world info)

RHELLER
Local time: 23:59
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 1252

Grading comment

Thanks to all!

2 hrs confidence:

See explaination below

Explanation:
Historically (in English) "The Old World" was originally Europe and
"The New World" was North & South America.
This was the origin of name "The Third World" - a name given much later to countries, (eg: in the Indian subcontinent or Africa) to emphasise their claim to be not allied geo-politically with either the Soviet and Western groupings.

I agree with other contributions (such as Sarah Ponting's) that the meaning of the first two worlds changed(!) to mean the Soviet and Western groupings, and now means (whether it is a good or bad thing) an (economically) poor country with an "undeveloped" or "developing" economy or infra-structure.

I believe it may originate as an echo of a famous historical figure who declared, "I have brought a new world into existance, to balance the old!".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-04-23 15:05:50 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, slight typing error above - \"and now means....\" in the 2nd paragraph should read, \"and \"Third World\" now means......\"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-04-30 17:07:55 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

and in para.1 line 3 (above) - which should read:
\"This was the origin of THE name, \"The Third World\".....

DGK T-I
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:59
PRO pts in pair: 401

1 day22 hrs confidence:

countries where the majority of the population live in Third World conditions

Explanation:
third world conditions - no amenities i.e. running water, electricity, access to medical attention etc.

wendyzee
Local time: 08:59
Native speaker of:

Afrikaans,

English
PRO pts in pair: 7

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third world countries

English translation: the poorest countries of the world (but see further for fourth world info)

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English translation: the poorest countries of the world (but see further for fourth world info)

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KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

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