English translation: to have ## years of service or more
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French to English translations [PRO] Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general)
French term or phrase:accumuler un certain nombre d'années
A consultant is writing an analysis of a company and notes that "Dans cette compagnie, si vous avez accumulé un certain nombre d'années (+30) vos chances d'avancement sont assez limitées."
In business, I think "accumuler années" usually means how many years a person has been with the company or years of experience in the same field, rather than the person's age. But I'm not sure in this case. Could a French speaker please confirm whether the French wording is clear or ambiguous? If it's ambiguous, I'm in a bind because I can't think of anything equally ambiguous in English that allows for both meanings.
Thanks! Turns out this is the right answer. And by the way, the apostrophe *is* correct: 30 years' service. Any grammar book will tell you that, but since most people don't seem to know this rule (which means it's on its way to becoming an archaism) I generally avoid using it. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
A friend of mine used to work at a cable TV network where people were more or less forced out once they were about 35. You'd walk around the place and it was like a scene out of "Logan's Run." There's my quandry: non-promotion after 30 could be the meaning, but so could non-promotion after 50 or 55. I guess I'll just keep it vague.
It is an objective analysis of the company and it sounds very much like the quandry of the faceless bureaucrat: if you've worked in the same position for a certain number for years (+30) then your chances of promotion are limited.
See the same phrase (in a Canadian document) with another meaning here:
You could consider what it's saying and its implications. If someone is just over 30 years of age, they are not yet exactly the old decrepit thing consigned to the dustbin of history. Not for even the most age-ist organisation or company.
On the other hand, if someone spent 30+ years with a company they probably have achieved the max they are going to achive there. So I would be inclined to accept this meaning.
In case this makes a difference: the document is in Canadian French. Unfortunately there's no additional context, as the surrounding sentences deal with other subjects. I'm tempted to put something like "In this company, once you pass the 30-year mark, your chances of promotion are fairly limited" (paraphrasing Philippe's solution). But I'll wait to see what additional discussion arises.
Nobody is saying they "haven't heard (of) it", but that it could mean two different things: that if you've been working at the company 'too long' you won't get promoted, or if you're 'too old' you won't get promoted. It could be either, there are plenty of age-ist companies out there...
indeed this is bad (ambiguous) French; I first read it as 'années d'ancienneté' ie yrs within the company, but most likely it means 'age' in a badly formulated French; you are in a bind Stevie; ok what about 'if you've topped 30 yrs', couldn't be just as ambiguous in English
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Answers
5 mins confidence:
accumuler années
cumulated/count over (30 years)
Explanation: En matière de retraite etc on 'cumule' des années qui ouvrent ensuite certains droits (ex: 40 ans de cotisations minimum pour bénéficier d'une retraite à taux plein).
Cependant ici, d'après le maigre contexte, on dirait plutot en français "vous comptez/cumulez" un certain nombre d'années.
So yes it is ambiguous in French ;-)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 mins (2010-12-06 13:58:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
In EN I guess you could say: "given you have spent over 30 years in this company you have little chances to get promoted"
Sylvie Mathis Spain Local time: 09:28 Specializes in field Native speaker of: French PRO pts in category: 8
40 mins confidence:
accumuler années
if you have topped 30 years
Explanation: with Philippa's backup!
philippe vandevivere France Local time: 09:28 Works in field Native speaker of: French PRO pts in category: 4
1 hr confidence:
clock up a certain numbr of years
Explanation: not sure I like "topped" - sounds as if someone's in for the chop!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2010-12-06 15:04:25 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
number - saw the mistake as it was flying off into the ether
polyglot45 Native speaker of: English, French PRO pts in category: 72
Explanation: I believe that In the original 'accumulé un certain nombre d'annés (de service)' is meant
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2010-12-06 19:17:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Rather, 30 years' service
Louis Cyril P Local time: 11:28 Specializes in field Native speaker of: French PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Thanks! Turns out this is the right answer. And by the way, the apostrophe *is* correct: 30 years' service. Any grammar book will tell you that, but since most people don't seem to know this rule (which means it's on its way to becoming an archaism) I generally avoid using it.
The translation workplace 
