Satz

English translation: sentence

08:32 Mar 23, 2017
German to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general) / Medicinal Products Act
German term or phrase: Satz
This has probably been asked numerous times before, but nothing I can find really seems to answer it. The EU Style Guide tells us to use closed up brackets when numbering legislation - e.g. "Article 107(3)(d) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union". In the text I am translating it refers to § 40 Abs. 1 S. 3 Nr. 2 AMG and § 42 Abs. 1 S. 7 Nr. 2 AMG - but Satz refers of course to the actual "sentence" of each Abs. 1 after which the "Nrs." follow (i.e. count the full stops and after the 3rd and 7th sentences, then you get the "Nrs"). Would we not just leave out the sentence reference in English? The Satz seems completely irrelevant in English - we are not in the habit of telling people how many sentences there are before the "subsubsection". So in my case it would be section 40(1)(2), rather than section 40(1)(3)(2), and section 42(1)(2), rather than section 42(1)(7)(2).... Otherwise you end up looking for a number "3" and a number "7" that simply aren't there when you look at the actual Act. If there was no "Nr" following it then I normally stick the sentence in front - so "the seventh sentence of section 42(1)". Any thoughts welcome because this is becoming a bit of a cat's cradle. I don't really want to spell out section... subsection... etc. when the EU advise us to use closed up brackets. Even then I cannot see a need to put "sentence" - seems completely irrelevant.
Charles Stanford
Czech Republic
Local time: 19:43
English translation:sentence
Explanation:
When it comes to legislation, you have to leave everything in (you're not localising the text, after all). It allows a reader to compare the translation with the original, so the format has to be identical. Equally, if the German sentence is split in two by a semi-colon (giving you two "Halbsätze"), you have to do the same with the English. The fact that e.g. UK legislative drafting conventions don't do this is not relevant. BTW, closing up the subsection in brackets with the section number is UK legislative practice that was taken over by the EU.

For your example, this gives:

"section 40(1) sentence 3 no. 2 of the AMG and section 42(1) sentence 7 no. 2 of the AMG".

Some people abbreviate sentence to "sent." - I don't particularly like it myself, but I wouldn't change it.

For an example of how this works in action, you can refer to my translation of Book Three of the HGB (Deutsches Bilanzrecht/German Accounting Legislation). I've translated a lot of other legislation too, but not all of it has been published.
Selected response from:

RobinB
United States
Local time: 13:43
Grading comment
Thanks Robin, you are a star.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5sentence
RobinB
4sentence
Miriam Bonn


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
sentence


Explanation:
I fully agree with the translation "sentence".

Miriam Bonn
Germany
Local time: 19:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4
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6 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
sentence


Explanation:
When it comes to legislation, you have to leave everything in (you're not localising the text, after all). It allows a reader to compare the translation with the original, so the format has to be identical. Equally, if the German sentence is split in two by a semi-colon (giving you two "Halbsätze"), you have to do the same with the English. The fact that e.g. UK legislative drafting conventions don't do this is not relevant. BTW, closing up the subsection in brackets with the section number is UK legislative practice that was taken over by the EU.

For your example, this gives:

"section 40(1) sentence 3 no. 2 of the AMG and section 42(1) sentence 7 no. 2 of the AMG".

Some people abbreviate sentence to "sent." - I don't particularly like it myself, but I wouldn't change it.

For an example of how this works in action, you can refer to my translation of Book Three of the HGB (Deutsches Bilanzrecht/German Accounting Legislation). I've translated a lot of other legislation too, but not all of it has been published.

RobinB
United States
Local time: 13:43
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
Grading comment
Thanks Robin, you are a star.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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