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au moins dans la moyenne

English translation: at least within the midrange


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20:43 Jun 7, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Science (general) / thermogravimetry
French term or phrase: au moins dans la moyenne
I know there are many glossary entries for "moyenne" but I am not sure if "average" works in this example from my source text, or what the alternatives would be.


In a document describing different thermogravimetric devices.

"Il sera abordé les divers appareils de thermogravimétrie actuellement proposés sur le marché. Il sera possible de voir en gros quelle stratégie adopte chacun des fabricants, et si l'appareil développé par Societeé X propose des caractéristiques techniques au moins dans la moyenne de ce qui se fait actuellement."

I am considering "at least within the mid-range"
Imogen Hancock
Local time: 22:39
English translation:at least within the midrange
Explanation:
;-)

If you were to overthink this one, you could reason that although the sample mean is just one number (and therefore of infinitesimal extent on the real number line), it is also a *statistic*, which you can think of as having error bars around it …

Or you could just conclude that "dans la moyenne" is of a piece with "en gros" and the writer doesn't want to be pinned down to any very precise statement of what is meant.
Selected response from:

rkillings
United States
Local time: 14:39
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1at least within the midrangerkillings
3 +2comparable to
Carolingua
3 +1average/mean
Stéphanie Denton
4at least within current standardspiazza d
3somewhere above the middle (range) of...
chris collister
3representative of
DLyons
3at least acceptable compared tomimi 254


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
average/mean


Explanation:
I would go with average, but failing that, mean is more mathmatical.

Stéphanie Denton
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bashiqa: Mean.
14 mins
  -> Thank you
neutral  DLyons: But nothing is being averaged here. It's a set of "caractéristiques techniques".
37 mins
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
representative of


Explanation:
I wouldn't say "within the mid-range". Maybe "at least mid-range features"

DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 22:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
at least within the midrange


Explanation:
;-)

If you were to overthink this one, you could reason that although the sample mean is just one number (and therefore of infinitesimal extent on the real number line), it is also a *statistic*, which you can think of as having error bars around it …

Or you could just conclude that "dans la moyenne" is of a piece with "en gros" and the writer doesn't want to be pinned down to any very precise statement of what is meant.

rkillings
United States
Local time: 14:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  B D Finch: Well, you wouldn't want to start on about semi inter-quartile ranges and suchlike!
2 hrs
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
somewhere above the middle (range) of...


Explanation:
what is currently on offer.
The "au moins" implies that quality or specifications are "greater than" some middle or average quality, however that may be defined. Since it is pretty much impossible to quantify "quality", precisely defined words like "average" or median" can't really apply, and the wording therefore needs to be a little vague.

chris collister
France
Local time: 23:39
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
at least acceptable compared to


Explanation:
see whether the technical features of the apparatus are at least acceptable compared to the current trends in the market

mimi 254
Local time: 22:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
comparable to


Explanation:
In my interpretation "at least within the average" means comparable to what is being offered in the market.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2011-06-08 23:54:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I meant to say "at least comparable to" (you need the "at least" to translate "au moins") as CFournier astutely pointed out.

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Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2011-06-08 23:59:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I meant to say "at least comparable to" (to include "au moins" in my translation, as CFournier astutely pointed out).

Carolingua
Local time: 16:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Richard Hedger
9 hrs
agree  cc in nyc
17 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
at least within current standards


Explanation:
I would be tempted by "standards" since "average" sounded wrong!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day13 hrs (2011-06-09 09:52:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think "at least" here stands for "not inferior" to...

piazza d
France
Local time: 23:39
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
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