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voorsprong

English translation: Our superior knowledge and......


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19:43 May 4, 2011
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Agriculture
Dutch term or phrase: voorsprong
My question concerns grammar, please, tell, is this "voorsprong" singular or plural in the sentence. Should it be translated into English as advantage or advantages? If 'advantage' then may I translate further as 'is not the only aspect that makes'?

Onze grote voorsprong in kennis en ervaring zijn niet de enige aspecten die van XYZ dé specialist maken

Our great advantage in knowledge and experience are not the only aspects that make XYZ company a specialist.
Alexander Taguiltsev
Russian Federation
Local time: 01:15
English translation:Our superior knowledge and......
Explanation:
I think "voorsprong" in this context would mean "a lead" over the competition' which makes them "superior". You don't always have to translate literally.

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Note added at 18 mins (2011-05-04 20:01:39 GMT)
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"Superior" automatically solves the singular plural issue.

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Note added at 28 mins (2011-05-04 20:11:28 GMT)
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If there was an issue - couldn't see anything wrong with the sentence myself.

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Note added at 56 mins (2011-05-04 20:40:00 GMT)
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Alexander - if you say "Our superior knowledge and experience is not the only reason why........." this solves your problem.
Selected response from:

Dave Greatrix
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:15
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6Our superior knowledge and......
Dave Greatrix
4 +1Our (great) advantage in knowledge and all our experienceKirsten Bodart
4[see my explanation below]philgoddard


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
[see my explanation below]


Explanation:
The Dutch is ungrammatical, which is probably what's confusing you. I think it should be either
Onze grote voorsprong in kennis en ervaring is niet de enige aspect
or
Onze grote voorsprongen in kennis en ervaring zijn niet de enige aspecten.



philgoddard
Local time: 16:15
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: Sure, that is what confused me.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Kirsten Bodart: I suppose the Dutch text should read 'onze grote voorsprong in kennis en onze ervaring' or something of the sort, a common mistake./ Normally one cannot have 'voorsprong in ervaring', one either has it or not.
8 mins
  -> No, I think "kennis en ervaring" is correct.
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Our (great) advantage in knowledge and all our experience


Explanation:
I believe that this an example of a writer who has used a faulty 'samentrekking'. He has put together 'onze grote voorsprong in kennis' and 'onze (grote) ervaring' by only mentioning 'onze grote' once, but has forgotten that 'voorsprong' does not apply to 'ervaring'. Hence, he uses a plural verb, but there is only one advantage, namely the knowledge one. So, you may translate 'advantage in knowledge' and then make a new start by adding 'our' again to 'experience'. I would add 'all' because otherwise it sounds odd, and as we are blowing our own trumpet, we can make it a bit better. ;)

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Note added at 41 mins (2011-05-04 20:24:28 GMT)
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POssibly 'omission' in English, although not sure.

Kirsten Bodart
Germany
Local time: 23:15
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Dave Greatrix: An "advantage" can be a matter of opinion, "a lead" or "superiority" can be demonstrated.
23 mins
neutral  Lianne Van De Ven: In het Nls kun je prima een grote voorsprong in kennis EN ervaring hebben (een grote voorsprong in ervaring, dus). Maar voorsprong is en blijft wel enkelvoud.
25 mins
agree  W Schouten
12 hrs
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Our superior knowledge and......


Explanation:
I think "voorsprong" in this context would mean "a lead" over the competition' which makes them "superior". You don't always have to translate literally.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2011-05-04 20:01:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Superior" automatically solves the singular plural issue.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2011-05-04 20:11:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If there was an issue - couldn't see anything wrong with the sentence myself.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 56 mins (2011-05-04 20:40:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Alexander - if you say "Our superior knowledge and experience is not the only reason why........." this solves your problem.

Dave Greatrix
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:15
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes, I agree about literal translation, I was confused with grammar. Then I need this text to be translated in Russian. :))) I addressed to here because our Dutch-Russian pair is almost dead. :(

Asker: Thank you, Dave, but is the original Dutch text correct?

Asker: Thanks to all


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Frank van Thienen: sounds good :-)
18 mins
  -> Thanks Frank
agree  Lianne Van De Ven: One should rarely translate literally... (the original Dutch is not correct, see my comment for Kirsten).
30 mins
  -> Exactly! Thanks Lianne
agree  Sindy Cremer
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Sindy
agree  Olly Pekelharing
11 hrs
agree  Kirsten Bodart: I do think this sounds better, though I still think the writer meant for knowledge and experience to be separate entities./It makes a difference as to the verb (sing/plur). That was what the question was about./ The end result will be in Russian.
11 hrs
  -> Sorry Kirsten, I can't really see your point. Does that really matter? They may be separate, but they are both covered by "superior". Surely the end result is of paramount importance.
agree  Marjolein Snippe
17 hrs
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Voters for reclassification
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PRO / non-PRO		Non-PRO (1): Buck


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