chance behind the battle

English translation: awkward...see below

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:chance behind the battle
Selected answer:awkward...see below
Entered by: mockingbird (X)

03:23 Jun 23, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Journalism
English term or phrase: chance behind the battle
War Journalism makes news coverage of an ongoing battle by presenting the figures of the victims, ammunition used and so forth while peace journalism tries to explore chances behind the battle to stop the war.

Chance behind the battle? does this sound natural english?
mockingbird (X)
awkward...see below
Explanation:
It means
-chances to stop the war
-those chances are "behind the battle", ie, not on the battlefront.

I think "behind the scenes" would sound more natural; "behind the battle" is a little strange.

How about
..."while peace journalism tries to explore behind-the-scenes opportunities [chances] to stop the war"?
Selected response from:

KNielsen
Japan
Local time: 03:57
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +2awkward...see below
KNielsen
5See how other authors put it:
Alexander Demyanov
4the cause or reasoning behind the battle
Fan Gao
4behind the front lines, chances
Jeffrey Lewis
3 +1methods/theories of conflict resolution
Bailatjones


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
awkward...see below


Explanation:
It means
-chances to stop the war
-those chances are "behind the battle", ie, not on the battlefront.

I think "behind the scenes" would sound more natural; "behind the battle" is a little strange.

How about
..."while peace journalism tries to explore behind-the-scenes opportunities [chances] to stop the war"?

KNielsen
Japan
Local time: 03:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  perfecta: Imagine commas inserted thus: "...explore chances, behind the battle, to stop the war."
1 day 17 hrs
  -> Thanks, perfecta!

agree  Alfa Trans (X)
4 days
  -> Thanks, Marju!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the cause or reasoning behind the battle


Explanation:
I think cause or reasoning would sound better and more natural.
Please see examples.


Example sentence(s):
  • "tries to explore the cause of the battle to stop the war."
  • "tries to explore the reasoning behind the battle to stop the war."
Fan Gao
Australia
Local time: 05:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: Chinese
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
behind the front lines, chances


Explanation:
Another in a series of American journalistic clichés. Je m'en excuse...

Jeffrey Lewis
United States
Local time: 13:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
methods/theories of conflict resolution


Explanation:
'Conflict resolution' might be a one way to get at what you're trying to express. This would necessitate a going-being-the-scenes (historically, culturally, etc) with an end goal to prevent/stop war.

a example phrase - while peace journalism attempts to explore methods/theories/means of conflict resolution

from http://www.mediachannel.org/atissue/warpeace/

On the other hand, peace journalism insists that the techniques and intentions of war coverage must change in the coming century, and change radically. This theory of reportage denies the two-party, tug-of-war model of violent conflict and looks deeper into the complexities of the differing interests, and even shared goals, of the combatants. Peace journalism reports not merely the causes of conflict but also explores possible solutions; it undergirds covering conflict with the goal of ending wars. But peace journalism is hardly getting a fair public hearing. Often shunned by the established media, this alternative is seldom discussed and rarely practiced. Ironically, the technology and institutions which created the communications revolution and the information society are now denying us information on both war and peace options, leaving us a dumber, more dangerous world.

.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2006-06-23 05:33:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just a quick note on the first part of your sentence (I hope you do not mind, apologies if you do) 'presenting the figures' also rings strange to a native speaker... perhaps 'presenting images of victims'

Bailatjones
Switzerland
Local time: 19:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Darya Kozak
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
See how other authors put it:


Explanation:
Peace journalism explores the roots of a conflict and ideas how to resolve it, instead of reporting only about the ongoing violence. ...
www.codep.org.uk/newsletters/ default.asp?intNewsletter=58

In general, if you Google "peace journalism explores", you will find a number of fine ways to express the same thought

Alexander Demyanov
Local time: 14:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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.

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:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search