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10:03 Jan 28, 2012
French to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Automotive / Cars & Trucks / Batteries and Tyres
French term or phrase:ajustement
Context: Document about software for motor maintenance and repairs. Canadian English.
I'm hesitating about the translation of 'ajustement' in this extract. I see from some dictionaries (Larousse, Harraps) that 'ajustement' can be translated as 'fitting' as well as 'adjustment'. Please only answer if you have experience in this area and you know which answer is most likely.
*AJUSTEMENT* DE BATTERIE
Pour un *ajustement* de batterie ou de pneus, il faut faire le claim dans [logiciel A] et faire ensuite une facture [logiciel B].
Malgré que le formateur nous ait dit que la facture [logiciel B] était suffisante pour le client, pour un éventuel *ajustement*, nous avons remarqué qu’il était essentiel de donner une copie de l’*ajustement* fait dans [logiciel A] au client en plus de sa facture [logiciel B].
En effet, la date d’achat d’origine de la batterie n’est pas inscrite sur une facture [logiciel B].
Lorsque le client est dans sa période de remplacement gratuite, pour un premier *ajustement* , nous serons capable d’inscrire la bonne date d’achat d’origine sur le claim dans [logiciel A], puisque, le client nous donnera sa facture originale [logiciel B].
Cependant, si durant sa période de remplacement gratuite, nous devons refaire un *ajustement* de batterie dans [logiciel A], nous n’aurons pas sa date d’achat d’origine car celle-ci n’est pas inscrite sur la facture [logiciel B].
Explanation: termes courants en British English dans un garage automobile et correspondant à ajustage / ajustemeent.
Adjusting and adjustement sont éventuellement possible dans un texte français avec du franglais comme claim "bonne date d’achat d’origine sur le claim"
Thanks to all who suggested answers. In the end I went with "fitting" after seeing lots of entries on Termium for "ajusteur" as being a "fitter" (motor vehicles). 3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Il me semble qu'il s'agit d'une modification/correction/ajustement des donnees dans la base des donnees, et non dans la facture (soit on va y ajouter une note, soit on fera une facture supplementaire)
Ah, now you've given us some important extra context there by saying it's Canada!
I don't know if the usage is different over there, but here in FR, 'ajustement' only means 'fitting' in the sense of 'to size' — like a fitting for a new dress; if it means 'putting a new battery in your car', that kind of fitting is 'montage' (pneus, batteries)
Now there really isn't anything you can 'adjust' on a battery (or a tyre) — you might be able to balance a wheel or service a battery (and the mention of 'collants' possibly hints at the latter)
Then again, it could still be a financial adjustment — I note they talk about a 'ajustement de batterie' (but not tyres?) anywhere in Canada; could this simply be a discount that is given, for example, if the battery should fail prematurely?
Either way, I agree with your idea of just using 'adjustment', which would work for both up to a point, and not attempting to resolve the ambiguity — though I do find it astonishing that at this level and in this sort of document, anyone would be stupid enough to use the same word side-by-side like this in 2 different meanings.
because it's the adjustment or modification of a bill. However if they are talking about a client taking a bill or proof of sale to have a service performed on a battery, this would not be an adjustment. Maybe "maintenance" or "check" would work - in fact tire checks and battery checks are a routine part of service. It is a bit vague, but I do believe that it is discussing how to reference work performed in this software to ensure that it can follow the customer in any store within that same chain. It does however refer to specific work performed, in my opinion, that the company might take a loss on or might be a part of a protection package up until a certain limit of maintenance/checks/calibrations/etc are done. I assume tire and battery issues are covered in this package, as they mention having a free replacement period.
I agree that there is ambiguity in this text about whether 'ajustement' refers to accounting or fitting.
Here is another example, which seems to refer to fitting this time:
"Si le principe de base est qu’éventuellement un client pourra faire un ajustement de batterie partout au Canada avec sa facture [Logiciel B] sans avoir ses collants, comment pourrons- nous offrir un service de qualité à notre clientèle si l’information inscrite sur la facture [Logiciel B] est incomplète ou différente d’un magasin à l’autre???
Perhaps the best solution is to simply translate it as "adjustment" which works for accounting, and also can be understood in the context of "fitting", even if it's not necessarily the best English term for that context.
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Answers
38 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
modification
Explanation: "A few modifications can make your Power Wheels go faster so you can get more ... Try installing a bigger, more powerful battery in your Power Wheels car." www.ehow.com › Hobbies & Science
B D Finch France Local time: 07:44 Meets criteria Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 67