ProZ.com global directory of translation services
The translation workplace
Ideas
KudoZ home » French to English » Journalism

elle pèche

English translation: the Union is lacking


Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:elle pèche
English translation:the Union is lacking
Entered by: Nadia Ayoub
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

20:31 Mar 2, 2010
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Journalism
French term or phrase: elle pèche
L’Union pour la Méditerranée a nommé hier son secrétaire général. Voulue par le président français, elle pèche par manque de financement et absence d’ambition diplomatique.
http://www.humanite.fr/2010-01-13_International_La-Mediterra...
Nadia Ayoub
Egypt
Local time: 20:32
the Union is lacking
Explanation:
The secretary nominated is a MAN, the feminine pronoun is going with the Union not the secretary...so no gendered pronoun possible in English!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2010-03-02 21:43:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the Union is suffering from a lack of financing and diplomatic ambition.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2010-03-02 21:45:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'...suffering from a lack of financing and AN ABSENCE of diplomatic ambition'
Selected response from:

Lucy-Jane Michel
France
Local time: 20:32
Grading comment
Many thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6the Union is lacking
Lucy-Jane Michel
5it is lackingSprout6t
3 +2its Achilles Heel is/its problem is//it is plagued bypolyglot45
4 +1It is lacking
Gabella inc
5 -1her weakness / shortcomings
Liliane Hatem
4 -1she is struggling by
Tony.J.A.@DT
2her shortcomings include
Jonathan MacKerron


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
her shortcomings include


Explanation:
is how I read it

Jonathan MacKerron
Local time: 20:32
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jean-Louis S.
0 min
agree  margaret caulfield
4 mins
disagree  Rosa Paredes: 'her'? Absolutely not.
10 hrs
disagree  Rob Grayson: "Elle" is referring to "l'Union", not a person
11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
her weakness / shortcomings


Explanation:
Collins

Liliane Hatem
Local time: 21:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ArabicArabic

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Rosa Paredes: The sentence refers to the Union not the person
10 hrs
  -> even the union has its weakness
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
she is struggling by


Explanation:
Another option

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2010-03-02 20:39:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...by lack of financing [...]

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2010-03-02 20:39:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or "due to... etc

Tony.J.A.@DT
Local time: 14:32
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Rosa Paredes: Text is talking about the Union not a person; and 'struggling by'?
10 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
It is lacking


Explanation:
The English translation of "pécher" includes " lacking" in the sense of "pécher par manque de qch"

Example sentence(s):
  • to be lacking in financial means
Gabella inc
Local time: 14:32
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: I think you forgot to explain that "IT"!
56 mins
  -> oups, i did not clarify it enough! Thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
the Union is lacking


Explanation:
The secretary nominated is a MAN, the feminine pronoun is going with the Union not the secretary...so no gendered pronoun possible in English!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2010-03-02 21:43:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the Union is suffering from a lack of financing and diplomatic ambition.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2010-03-02 21:45:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'...suffering from a lack of financing and AN ABSENCE of diplomatic ambition'

Lucy-Jane Michel
France
Local time: 20:32
Native speaker of: English
Grading comment
Many thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: I guess you hid your previous answer, which I believe had several nice alternatives to merely 'lacking'!
7 mins
  -> Thanks Carol, and you're quite right - I'd rephrased the paragraph with the secretary as the subject, then realised that the Union had to remain the subject...:-)
agree  Jeux de Mots
15 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  reliable
5 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Philippa
9 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Jacqui Audouy: ..except that I'd go for "lacks" rather than "is lacking"
11 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Sébastien GUITTENY: the Union unfortunately lacks in... le problème étant qu'on a à nouveau"manque"...juste après
1 day14 hrs
  -> Bit late, I know, but thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
it is lacking


Explanation:
'Elle' definitely refer to 'L'Union'; 'Pêcher par' ... like in 'pêcher par négligence' which means 'to be careless'.

Sprout6t
United States
Local time: 13:32
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Carol Gullidge: true, but this is a duplicate of Gabella's suggestion at 20 minutes
10 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
its Achilles Heel is/its problem is//it is plagued by


Explanation:
other ways of handling it... the Union set up at the instigation of XXX is sadly lacking in//its main failing is//is handicapped by

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: plenty of good alternatives here!
1 hr
agree  Gilla Evans: I think adding "sadly" makes the phrase work in English, good call.
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Voters for reclassification
as
PRO / non-PRO		Non-PRO (3): writeaway, Catharine Cellier-Smart, Rob Grayson


Return to KudoZ list


Changes made by editors
Mar 3, 2010 - Changes made by Rob Grayson:
LevelPRO => Non-PRO


KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.



See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations

Terminology | Jobs and directories | Member activities | Education | Tools
About ProZ.com | ProZ.com basics | Advertising | Support | FAQ | Terms of use
ProZ.com social network linksFacebookLinkedInTwitterDiggStumbleUpondel.icio.us
Print page
Copyright © 1999-2012 ProZ.com - All rights reserved. Privacy