This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Mechanics / Mech Engineering

n’est plus fonction que des dangerous failures non détectées

English translation: will now depend only on the undetected dangerous failures

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:n’est plus fonction que des défaillances dangereuses non détectées
English translation:will now depend only on the undetected dangerous failures
Entered by: Tony M

11:22 Apr 20, 2015
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Mechanics / Mech Engineering / probability of failure
French term or phrase: n’est plus fonction que des dangerous failures non détectées
Please help me get my head round the grammar of this sentence:
De ce fait la PFH n’est plus fonction que des dangerous failures non détectées
(PFH = Probability of Failure per Hour)
Is it: ...is no longer only a function of....?

Here is the preceding paragraph, for some context:
L’architecture 1oo1D intègre du diagnostic. Ce système met en œuvre des fonctions de diagnostic déclenchant des réactions sur le système, mettant ainsi l’installation dans un état de sécurité. Les défaillances dangereuses détectées deviennent sûres (DD). De ce fait la PFH n’est plus fonction que des défaillances dangereuses non détectées (DU).
janisct
Local time: 20:46
from that point on, the ... is a function of only (the) undetected dangerous failures
Explanation:
In your own version, you have changed the meaning because you seem to have assumed one too many 'ne'

I think you need to break it down like this
ne... que...

n'est fonction que de... is a function of only...

Then the 'plus' needs to be included, and I ahve sought to convey that notion by the idea of 'from that point on' — but of course there are many other possible ways of expressing it, such as for example 'from there, ...' etc. The idea is simply 'once the foregoing has been taken into account (i.e. these dangerous failures have been confirmed), the only dangerous failures to be accounted for in the PFH are going to be the ones that have NOT been detected'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 heures (2015-04-20 14:05:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

So what I was really getting at is that it is 'ne... que...' but NOT 'ne.. plus...' — the idea really is 'is no longer anything but...', but of course that wouldn't be at all a natural way of expressing the notion in EN!
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 21:46
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2(As a result, the PFH factor) will now only depend on.....
polyglot45
4is only a function of
Julius Ngwa
4from that point on, the ... is a function of only (the) undetected dangerous failures
Tony M
4 -1is nothing but a function of undetected, dangerous failures
Francois Boye
4 -1no longer functions as undetected dangerous failures
narasimha (X)


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
is only a function of


Explanation:
It means it is only a function of undetected dangerous failures.

Julius Ngwa
Canada
Local time: 15:46
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: You have glossed over the 'plus', which may well be what was really giving Asker the problem.
5 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
n’est plus fonction que des 'dangerous failures' non détectées
from that point on, the ... is a function of only (the) undetected dangerous failures


Explanation:
In your own version, you have changed the meaning because you seem to have assumed one too many 'ne'

I think you need to break it down like this
ne... que...

n'est fonction que de... is a function of only...

Then the 'plus' needs to be included, and I ahve sought to convey that notion by the idea of 'from that point on' — but of course there are many other possible ways of expressing it, such as for example 'from there, ...' etc. The idea is simply 'once the foregoing has been taken into account (i.e. these dangerous failures have been confirmed), the only dangerous failures to be accounted for in the PFH are going to be the ones that have NOT been detected'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 heures (2015-04-20 14:05:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

So what I was really getting at is that it is 'ne... que...' but NOT 'ne.. plus...' — the idea really is 'is no longer anything but...', but of course that wouldn't be at all a natural way of expressing the notion in EN!

Tony M
France
Local time: 21:46
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 630
Notes to answerer
Asker: Goodness Tony, this is making me dizzy! I've had a glass of wine with dinner so I need to wait until morning to try and make sense of this...

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(As a result, the PFH factor) will now only depend on.....


Explanation:
undetected dangerous failures. Not so sure about "dangerous" but can't say more without knowing more about context.

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: 'dangerous failures' is indeed the term that is commonly used. Thanks for the suggestion.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jane Vazzotti
4 hrs
agree  Tony M: Yes, your suggestion is much more natural and idiomatic than my own (which was only intended to help Asker unravel the underlying meaning!) / Are you happy with the glossary entry I've made?
5 days
  -> it's OK though there may be better ways of saying it if you have the full context
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
is nothing but a function of undetected, dangerous failures


Explanation:
my take

Francois Boye
United States
Local time: 15:46
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Tony M: "is nothing but" slants the meaning too much — and you have glossed over the 'plus', which may well be what was really giving Asker the problem.
5 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
no longer functions as undetected dangerous failures


Explanation:
Here, I think ne..plus..que should be considered while translating it.

narasimha (X)
India
Local time: 01:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 90

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Tony M: Completely distorts the meaning, not least by treating 'fonction de' as if it were a verb.
4 days
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.

Return to KudoZ list

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:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search