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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

professionnels de métiers

English translation:

tradespeople/trade professionals

Added to glossary by Marie-Helene Dubois
Sep 20, 2013 08:36
11 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term

professionnels de métiers

French to English Tech/Engineering Construction / Civil Engineering Public works
Hello, my fellow translators. I'm doing a translation about a company that specialises in environment-related public works. There's a pie chart that shows the qualifications of the workforce as follows:

*Diplômés supérieur et moyens
*Techniciens qualifiés et Administratifs
*Professionnels de métiers

I strongly suspect that the latter refers to the people actually doing the work, i.e. construction workers, asphalt layers and the like. However, I'm not 100% sure that's the case, and I hope native French speakers or English speakers with a comprehensive knowledge of French staff qualifications can clear up my doubts about this. Do you think my interpretation is accurate? How would you translate this? Thanks a lot.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 tradespeople/trade professionals
4 qualified tradesmen
Change log

Sep 24, 2013 08:32: Marie-Helene Dubois Created KOG entry

Discussion

Daryo Sep 21, 2013:
yes, but ... ST: "There's a pie chart that shows the qualifications of the workforce as follows: ..." the workforce found in a construction company / on a building site practicing "les métiers" is not the same as what is referred to as "les professionels du métier" when a whole sector in consulted for various reasons. I'm sure that with a bit of digging, one or two more possible meanings would emerge, applicable to some totally different context.

Notice also the order in which this qualifications are presented:

"Diplômés supérieur et moyens" is a higher level of qualification than "Techniciens qualifiés et Administratifs", which logically leaves the next slot down the list for what is considered as an even lesser qualification: those practicing what is called "trades" in the building industry.

Last but not least: these are not "professionnels du métier" (as would be architects in an architects practice) but "professionnels de métiers" i.e. those working in "les métiers"; and "les métiers" has no two possibles meanings on a building site.
SafeTex Sep 20, 2013:
Hello

Here are some articles with the source words.

I believe that in each case, you can see that these people are negociating at high levels. They are delegations of bosses in their sector, spokesmen and negociators, not simple 'tradesmen'

http://www.lesechos.fr/entreprises-secteurs/finance-marches/...

http://www.maghrebemergent.com/actualite/breves/fil-maghreb/...

http://www.lesoir-echos.com/societe/centres-dappels-destinat...

http://parolesdactu.canalblog.com/archives/2013/08/23/278711...
SafeTex Sep 20, 2013:
NOT tradesperon or anything similar Hello

I've lived in France for over 20 years so I'm pretty sure of this.
When the government wants to change something like the mobile network or housing laws concerning rent, they often invite 'les professionels du métier' to discuss the issue.

You get the leading figures in the sector, the top bosses, who form the delegation.

They may not have a degree in telecommunications or construction, (but probably have one from a business school)

It has almost become a synonym for 'big bosses' in the relevant sector.
Daryo Sep 20, 2013:
"les métiers" FR = "trades" EN i.e. professions requiring training and manual skills - not all manual work is considered a "trade" (simple "labourer"); can also be used figuratively to mean just any profession, but is in reality mostly limited to those needed on a building site
Walid Abdellaoui (X) Sep 20, 2013:
Je ne suis pas sûr, mais j'aurais tendance à penser que "Professionnel de métier" désigne quelqu'un qui n'a pas nécessairement de diplômes, mais a acquis ses compétences par l'éxpérience.
philgoddard Sep 20, 2013:
Marie-Helene Of course I wasn't suggesting it meant doctors and nurses.
SafeTex Sep 20, 2013:
Outsourcers, partners, consultancy agencies etc. ? Hello

I have a sneaky suspicion that it is being used to refer to outsourcers, consultants and other 'professionals' needed to work on the project.
Marie-Helene Dubois Sep 20, 2013:
I'm not sure that "skilled professionals" works in this particular context. A skilled worker can be an accountant or a software developer. I don't think that a company doing public works is likely to hire doctors and nurses and equally, I think that "métiers" in this particular context relates to "trades" as opposed to any work/job in general.
Alistair Ian Spearing Ortiz (asker) Sep 20, 2013:
Hello, Gilla and Phil. I considered "skilled professionals", but I'm not sure just how skilled they are. However, seeing at least one person endorses this interpretation makes me feel more confident about it.
philgoddard Sep 20, 2013:
I'm not sure it does mean tradespeople (not tradesmen, please!). For example, in this document, nurses and doctors are "professionels de métier":
http://gsite.univ-provence.fr/gsite/document.php?pagendx=632...
I think "skilled professionals" would be closer.
Evans (X) Sep 20, 2013:
I think, but I'm not absolutely sure, that these refer to what in the UK we would call "skilled tradesmen". A line of enquiry to pursue, at least.

Proposed translations

+4
6 mins
Selected

tradespeople/trade professionals

Hi Alistair,

I would say that "professionnels du métier" are people who have skills in a trade, and more specifically manual labour. I therefore agree with your interpretation. I think these people are those who are qualified in a particular trade such as carpenters, plumbers etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree Bashiqa
0 min
thanks!
agree writeaway : trade professionals
22 mins
thanks writeaway
agree Yvonne Gallagher : "tradesmen" is used far more than the PC "...people".
2 hrs
it probably is but not always by careful writers, which we translators ought to be :)
agree narasimha (X)
3 hrs
thanks
agree Bertrand Leduc
5 hrs
thanks
disagree SafeTex : SafeTex against the world: But I have just posted 5 links in discussions to back up what I say.
11 hrs
Hi SafeTex. It's always worth having a discussion because you never know...I do think though that there is a nuance between "les professionels DU métier" and "DE métierS". I am convinced that the latter refers to "trades"
neutral Daryo : I think "qualified" is more appropriate and also far less misleading / potentially confusing - doesn't associate in any way with "the professions" / "the professionals" (doctors, solicitors, architects etc...)
23 hrs
I don't think there was much need to post this as a neutral on my answer since you already posted this as an answer.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks a lot, Marie-Hélène. I think your second suggestion fits better in my text. Have a nice day!"
11 mins

qualified tradesmen

I would understand "professionnels" more as "qualified", rather than "doing this for a living" (which can be a pretty thin guaranty of quality on its own)

"les métiers" like bricklayers, plumbers etc...: "trades"
Peer comment(s):
neutral Marie-Helene Dubois : they're not necessarily "men" though.
26 mins
true, that's changing slowly but surely; but the term in use - so far - is tradesmen / you still won't find many women on building sites doing "trades"
Something went wrong...
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