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English to English translations [Non-PRO]
Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general) | | English term or phrase: method of granting status for a price | "Another monetary unit, no longer actually represented by a coin or note by the 1890s, was the guinea. Originally, the guinea was a coin equaling 21 shillings. Though no longer minted, prices were still listed in it - particularly those of higher-priced stores. and the fees of upper class professionals, which found this method of granting status for a price to be convenient and profitable. "
Part of a chapter describing everyday commerce activity in Victorian England. The book generally contains some epoch-specific terms and expressions. Overall it's not hard, the only problem I have with this text so far is this one: What the heck is "method of granting status for a price" supposed to mean hear?
My initial reading of it was "professionals pay to get more status", but it doesn't make sense in the context of discussing their chosen way of listing prices. Then I interpreted it as "professionals use guineas to grant status TO the price, i.e. make prices look noble" but the actual preposition used is "for", not "to". Now I think it is supposed to mean "professionals like it that other people are willing to pay them in guineas in order to look more prestigious", but I'm still totally confused, is that the right interpretation? |
| HattivatKudoZ activityQuestions: 1 (none open) Answers: 0
| Local time: 21:52
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| | make the goods/services seem more prestigious | Explanation:
I believe this is what the author wanted to convey. Since the guinea was used in later times only by higher-priced stores and upper class professionals, quoting prices in guineas conveyed the idea that the goods/services were of a superior quality and aimed only at the more wealthy, with the added advantage of representing an increase of 5% over the same quantity of pounds (a pound was 20 shillings, a guinea was 21).
I agree that the preposition should be "to" and not "for". |
| Selected response from:
 Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 16:52
| Grading comment Thank you for your very insightful answer!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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17 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +4 make the goods/services seem more prestigious
Explanation:
I believe this is what the author wanted to convey. Since the guinea was used in later times only by higher-priced stores and upper class professionals, quoting prices in guineas conveyed the idea that the goods/services were of a superior quality and aimed only at the more wealthy, with the added advantage of representing an increase of 5% over the same quantity of pounds (a pound was 20 shillings, a guinea was 21).
I agree that the preposition should be "to" and not "for".
| Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 16:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:  English, Portuguese
PRO pts in category: 12
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| | Grading comment | Thank you for your very insightful answer! |
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The translation workplace 
