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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:
brochure / leaflet / booklet / pamphlet
French translation:
documentation commerciale / dépliant OU plaquette / livret / plaquette OU tract [see question for fuller details]
English to French translations [PRO] Printing & Publishing / Children\'s health
English term or phrase:brochure vs leaflet vs pamphlet
These terms appear again and again in my text.
Ex: Brochures and leaflets should be available in front of the entrance...
My dictionaries give the same translations for these words (a mix of the same French words).
Are there clear differences between them, or are they rough synonyms?
Explanation: I'm not sure that there is an 'official' definition of the difference between them, but I've seen different translations used in FR.
My own 'feeling' is that a 'brochure' is likely to be fatter, might be stapled, and may well be glossy and printed in colour --- for example, a 'sales brochure' for a car, fitted kitchen, etc., or a holiday brochure. The sales / promotional aspect is probably a key factor --- I don't think you would ever say 'an instruction brochure', for example. I think this is 'prospectus' in FR, isn't it?
To me, a 'leaflet' suggests probably little more than a single folded sheet, like those 3-panel twice folded A4 sheets that are so ubiquitous. 'dépliant' ? 'plaquette' ?
A 'pamphlet' suggests something similar, maybe a few more pages --- the sort of thing often printed in black-&-white and used to provide basic instructions for simple items of domestic equipment. Probably have more text content. cf. 'political pamphlet'. 'tracte'?
HTH!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 16 mins (2006-02-15 17:50:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
OED:
brochure - A booklet or pamphlet, esp. giving information about the amenities of a place etc.
leaflet - A small sheet of paper or a sheet folded into two or more leaves but not stitched, containing printed matter (often advertisements), usu. distributed free of charge.
pamphlet - A group of several printed or (formerly) written pages, fewer than would make a book, fastened together without a hard cover and issued as a single or (formerly) periodical work; esp. one of which the text is of a minor, ephemeral, or controversial nature; a booklet; a leaflet.
Michel, I've taken the liberty of editing your question so as to generate a possibly more useful glossary entry. Please could you review and correct / validate the FR side? TIA!
Explanation: think of "brocher", Michel ;-)
If it's a few pages stapled together, it's a brochure.
If it's a single page folded over, it's a leaflet.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 9 mins (2006-02-15 17:43:43 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
pamphlet - several pages folded together, as you often get from Pharmaprix in your PubliSac on Fridays ;-)
NancyLynn Canada Local time: 12:45 Native speaker of: English
10 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +3
brochure describes product; leaflet is more general
Explanation: A brochure sets out what is available at e.g. a hotel, or what products are available from a certain manufacturer, etc.
A leaflet can be anything, including political. It is just a single sheet for wide distribution, on any subject you like.
The word pamphlet has political connotations, for me at any rate. It may be on several sheets. I don't think you could use it for a brochure as described above.
Jack Doughty Local time: 17:45 Native speaker of: English
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
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