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  2. French to English

la raison pour laquelle

English translation: The reason why I have not written to you

13:40 Jul 1, 2001
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Tech/Engineering
French term or phrase: la raison pour laquelle
la raison pour laquelle que je ne t'ai pas ecrit
Bethsaida
English translation:The reason why I have not written to you
Explanation:
Regards,

BSD
Selected response from:

Bertha S. Deffenbaugh
United States
Local time: 08:46
Grading comment
Thank you to helped me
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
na +3The reason why...
Agius Language & Translation
na +3The reason why I did not write to you
Yves Georges
naThe reason why I have not written to you
Bertha S. Deffenbaugh
na -1My reason for not writing to you...
Dave Simons


  

Answers


1 min peer agreement (net): +3
The reason why...


Explanation:
I haven't written to you.

OR

The reason for not having written to you

HTH
Claire

Agius Language & Translation
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:46
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 69

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Guylaine Vidal
13 mins
disagree  DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X): good, but don't need the why
1 hr
  -> I agree with Bertha - In GB English it is very common. It sounds ok without it too but I think to disagree is harsh
agree  Bertha S. Deffenbaugh: Come on! Give us a break!!
1 hr
agree  Sarah Brenchley
1 hr
agree  Nigel Patterson: Some serious hair-splitting going on above. 'The reason why' is perfectly fine!
9 hrs
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1 min
The reason why I have not written to you


Explanation:
Regards,

BSD

Bertha S. Deffenbaugh
United States
Local time: 08:46
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 16
Grading comment
Thank you to helped me

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X): the "why" is superfluous
1 hr
  ->  I like it . My ex british teachers liked it too and my american husband thinks it is OK.- You are alone.
agree  Nigel Patterson: This British teacher thinks it's fine for formal or informal use!
9 hrs
  -> Thank you!
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1 hr peer agreement (net): +3
The reason why I did not write to you


Explanation:
Being a French nativ I am sure that the French is incorrect you should read :

"la raison pour laquelle je ne t'ai pas écrit."

This a first point. It may be what confused you.

A literal translation would be "the reason for which I have not written to you".
"The reason for which" should be changed for a more correct expression : "the reason why"
The French present perfect, under normal circumstances, should be translated by a preterit, ie. "I did not write (to) you. I prefer to leave the "to" to emphasize the effect.




    my modest English knowledge
Yves Georges
France
Local time: 17:46
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in pair: 75

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bertha S. Deffenbaugh: Yes. You are right!
7 mins
  -> Thank you for encouraging an engineer (I have no language certificate at all)
agree  DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X): I guess what they say is true: "50,000 Frenchmen can't be wrong!" ;>)
31 mins
  -> I know that the why is optional, however I have always thought it is better to write it
agree  Nigel Patterson: ... and a Brit would ALWAYS say 'to you' here. ('write you is American English.)
7 hrs
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12 hrs peer agreement (net): -1
My reason for not writing to you...


Explanation:
I wouldn't make an issue of it, but I don't like the "the reason why" either.
...
Strange isn't it that "write me a letter" is fine but "write me" on its own is offensive to the British ear. There must be a reason :^?


Dave Simons
Local time: 16:46
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 35

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Bertha S. Deffenbaugh: Yes, but YOU ARE making an issue.
1 day 3 hrs
  -> Kind of you to say so. I said I didn't like it - that's an opinion. "Don't use it" would have been an issue.
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