13:42 Dec 16, 2006 

corresponds to yr explication of "stake un the ground" above. It is setting a fixed point of reference. Ancrer could be used, but "ancrer n/votre position" sounds rather awkward in French... I only recently discoverd milestone (some hundred times in the same document), which is in fact an important step in a process, but not really a "jalon"
Tks fr yr explanations
Elisabeth

13:36 Dec 16, 2006 

As a native English speaker, ancrer seems to capture the English meaning better, but I would have hoped for something with a comparable allusion.

13:35 Dec 16, 2006 

A "milesotne" (jalon) is somewhat different in that it is a fixed event/status marking a projects progress toward meeting objectives.

13:31 Dec 16, 2006 

"Stake in the ground" is an allusion to surveying. It refers to setting a fixed point to which other decisions/features/objectives are referrenced, or anchored. Like marking a corner of a lot or foundation and then finding the other corners from it.

21:44 Dec 15, 2006 

to make a starting point