Le guide des civilités à l'usage des gens ordinaires
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:
Le guide des civilités à l'usage des gens ordinaires
English translation:
The guide to disability etiquette in the workplace
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
French to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Human Resources / Disability in the workplace
French term or phrase:Le guide des civilités à l'usage des gens ordinaires
The document I am working on refers to a number of guides that have been set up on the issue of the employment of disabled people. I can't seem to find any valid translation for the above guide but believe it relates to the way in which non-disabled people interact with disabled persons in the workplace, something along the lines of social etiquette but am not sure how to render the above into an accurate translation. Any input would be welcomed TIA :)
After much thought, I think "The guide to disability etiquette in the workplace" appears to be the most succinct and appropriate way of rendering this into English. Thanks to all for your input :)
Thank you for your comments. I would like to reiterate that I was referring to the title (which I found derogatory) and never intended to "have a go" at you! I apologise for the misunderstanding. We are all in the same boat and need to help each other out when source text is unclear. Good luck with your translation!
Well thank you for your help Steve it is much appreciated, I was merely pointing out the fact that although the term "gens ordinaires" in French could be directly translated as "ordinary/normal people" it would be inappropriate to use such a phrase in English in this context. You asked me if I understood les gens ordinaires to mean people who are not disabled....I was simply saying yes this is what the meaning is in French but that I agree that this kind of differentiation is somewhat derogatory. I don't want to get into any arguments with my fellow translators! It is true that we should be sensitive to such wording in this day and age but we should also avoid being overly PC about such issues for eg. I cannot see why the term "disabled" cannot be used (@Polyglot), think this is being slightly overly sensitive...
I don't know how you've interpreted my words as a personal attack! I was referring to the French title. I wasn't inferring anything! I was actually trying to help.
Steve hi, in answer to your question, no I personally do not hold the view that people without disability are "normal" and that people with disabilities are "abnormal" if that is what you are inferring here...I didn't write the source text, I'm merely attempting to translate it!!!
Well, that would indicate to me that "des gens ordinaires" are those of us who are not disabled. I find the term somewhat derogatory with regard to the disabled. Given that the UK and States are VERY PC, I would suggest to Julie not to write "ordinary people".
Do you understand "les gens ordinaires" to be people who are NOT disabled? I ask because it is now heavily stressed that disabled people are "normal people" except that they have a disability ("look at the person not the disability").
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
27 mins confidence:
Getting closer to the disabled.
Explanation: I'll start the ball rolling. I really think it's necessary to get right away from the French personally for the reasons I stated earlier.
Steve Melling France Local time: 18:11 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Explanation: I do agree that there is greater awareness in the UK and US, than there is in France, of the rights and sensibilities of minority groups, including disability groups. I do not agree that this should be labelled "PC", though it is indeed "political" in the broad sense of the term, because "PC" is now generally used in a dismissive way.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-10-29 14:06:55 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
It might also be worth considering, though the French source fails to, whether people with one sort of disability might need guidance on how to behave towards people with another. E.g. a deaf person might not know how to guide a blind person, or might talk over the head of a person in a wheelchair to the person accompanying them.
B D Finch France Local time: 18:11 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 56 1 corroborated select project in this pair and field
The translation workplace 
