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経済の自立性が高いとは言い難く

English translation: The economy is far from being fully independent


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21:50 Sep 26, 2010
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Economics
Japanese term or phrase: 経済の自立性が高いとは言い難く
Hi, professional translators! I'm struggling with the phrase above. I'm clueless about how to translate that into English.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!

Thanks.
idechan
Ecuador
Local time: 23:20
English translation:The economy is far from being fully independent
Explanation:
I don't think it's usually appropriate to translate "とは言い難い" literally, and the words "high" and "independence" do not usually correlate in English.
Selected response from:

Kieran Bradley
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:20
Grading comment
I liked your translation the best. Thanks for your contribution :-)
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3The economy is far from being fully independentKieran Bradley
5the economy cannot be said to display a high level of independence
JpBaugh
4 +1It is hard to say...
Kendriya
4It's difficult to say whether economic independence is high...
Joyce A
4great economic independency is unlikely
Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.)
3Although I would like to say that the economy displays a high level of self-sustainability...kazari


  

Answers


39 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
the economy cannot be said to display a high level of independence


Explanation:
OK, a little literal but that's what it says. will need brushing up stylistically.

JpBaugh
Local time: 05:20
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
great economic independency is unlikely


Explanation:
See example in : http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15138420.html

Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.)
Thailand
Local time: 11:20
Native speaker of: Native in ThaiThai
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your contribution, too!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Raitei: The good news is that there are two hits on Google for "great economic independency." The bad news is that both of the hits are yours.
5 days
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
It is hard to say...


Explanation:
Just another suggestions:

1. It is hard to say that the economy is very/high independent/autonomous.
or
2. The economy is hardly independent/autonomous.

Kendriya
Bulgaria
Local time: 07:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in BulgarianBulgarian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  tuapleepasaa: the first phrase I thought of by looking at this question is "hard to say". Coincides. -
7 days
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
It's difficult to say whether economic independence is high...


Explanation:
1) 自立経済 = economic independence
2) 性 = nature, disposition; quality; attribute
3) いい難い = difficult to say, unmentionable, inexpressible

---(Source for above definitions: Nelson's Japanese Character Dictionary)

--- Rather than use phrasing such as "independence in the economy", I am using "economic independence" for 経済の自立性. (literally: independent nature of the economy --> economic independence)

It's difficult to say whether (the characteristic of) economic independence is high.

Joyce A
Thailand
Local time: 11:20
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Raitei: Japanese say 「いい難い」 when they have been placed in an awkward situation. This is the type of thing you cannot learn from a book. There is a difference between the way it goes and the way we think it goes.
5 days
  -> Uh-huh....Geez, Raitei. I grew up in Japan, so I pretty much know what the "Japanese say." But, I blew it here. Dang! :-)
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
The economy is far from being fully independent


Explanation:
I don't think it's usually appropriate to translate "とは言い難い" literally, and the words "high" and "independence" do not usually correlate in English.

Kieran Bradley
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
I liked your translation the best. Thanks for your contribution :-)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  JpBaugh: Better flow.>>>I don't think it's appropriate to translate "とは言い難い" Amen to that. >>>'the words "high" and "independence" do not correlate in English.' Used with "level" gets about 500,000 google hits, though few are from settings dealing with economics.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Raitei: Nice to see that some make it to the other side.
5 days
agree  tuapleepasaa: I think it says it good. -
7 days
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56 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Although I would like to say that the economy displays a high level of self-sustainability...


Explanation:
I think "self-sustainability" could be a bit more descriptive in suggesting that the current economy could be independant on external factors for its continued success (eg. currency exchange rate, availability of certain raw materials from foreign countries for products manufactured domestically etc.)

I also think "言い難い" can translate to "hard/difficult to say". The speaker of the original phrase could have easily picked a different word/phrase to express how dependant the (local?) economy is on external factors (eg. 高い自立性を示さない).

Also, sorry if I am wrong on this but I also get the impression (from its usage on TV programs, news etc.) that this phrase is used with a nuance of wanting to say something is A but it is really B. In the case of the original phrase, the speaker is trying to convey bad news with a soft and objective choice of words saying implicitly that it cannot be helped....?

kazari
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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