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  3. Business/Commerce (general)

Im Auftrag / In Vertretung

English translation: leave them out *or* for

06:57 Jul 8, 2005
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general)
German term or phrase: Im Auftrag / In Vertretung
Es handelt sich hierbei um drei behördliche Briefe, die ins Englische zu übersetzen sind. Etwas problematisch sind hier die Grußformeln:

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Im Auftrag
- bedeutet, dass irgendein Sachbearbeiter der Behörde das Schreiben unterzeichnet

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
In Vertretung
- bedeutet, dass der Vertreter des Behördenleiters das Schreiben unterzeichnet

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

- bedeutet, dass der Behördenleiter selbst dieses Schreiben unterzeichnet


Normalerweise übersetze ich nur die Grußformel "Mit freundlichen Grüßen", wohingegen ich den Zusatz "Im Auftrag" nicht übersetze, da er m. E. für den englischsprachigen Adessaten irrelevant ist.

Wie verhält es sich aber mit diesen behördlichen Schreiben? Der Auftraggeber möchte in der englischen Übersetzung eine ähnliche Unterscheidung haben wie im Deutschen. Wie soll man das aber übersetzen, wenn es hierfür keine genauen Entsprechungen im Englischen gibt? Any ideas?
Christian
Local time: 14:40
English translation:leave them out *or* for
Explanation:
I'd leave these out in correspondence, as they don't have equivalents in English (although that wouldn't necessarily hold if the text in question were a contract or a translation for legal purposes, where rendering the German in full is what counts, not producing a style that is appropriate for the target language/country).

In the UK at least, it is simply assumed that a person signing business or official correspondence has the authority to do so. "On behalf of" might be used when someone signs on behalf of another *individual*, e.g. a relative who is unable to write, and "pp" is often used when letters are signed by a secretary or assistant 'on behalf' of a colleague or manager.

You could suggest to your client that people's job titles are written under their names (below the signature). This is fairly standard and gives an indication of the seniority of the person signing.

Another option is the brief "for". I've seen this a few times and it might be a fallback if your client insists on something. See for example:
http://www.unisa.edu.au/staff/guidelines.asp

See also the discussion at:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/868268
Selected response from:

Ian M-H (X)
United States
Local time: 08:40
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your detailed answer.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1leave them out *or* for
Ian M-H (X)
4 -2pp.
Michael Bailey


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
pp.


Explanation:
pp. (per pro) is used in formal correspondence

Michael Bailey
Austria
Local time: 14:40
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Ian M-H (X): This is used when e.g. a secretary signs on behalf of her/his boss in the latter's absence (and the boss's name is typed under the signature, not the secretary's). It doesn't correspond to the German use of i.V. or i.A.
41 mins
disagree  Edward Bradburn: As Ian says, the German usage is to do with representing the company, not "covering for someone".
4828 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
im Auftrag / in Vertretung
leave them out *or* for


Explanation:
I'd leave these out in correspondence, as they don't have equivalents in English (although that wouldn't necessarily hold if the text in question were a contract or a translation for legal purposes, where rendering the German in full is what counts, not producing a style that is appropriate for the target language/country).

In the UK at least, it is simply assumed that a person signing business or official correspondence has the authority to do so. "On behalf of" might be used when someone signs on behalf of another *individual*, e.g. a relative who is unable to write, and "pp" is often used when letters are signed by a secretary or assistant 'on behalf' of a colleague or manager.

You could suggest to your client that people's job titles are written under their names (below the signature). This is fairly standard and gives an indication of the seniority of the person signing.

Another option is the brief "for". I've seen this a few times and it might be a fallback if your client insists on something. See for example:
http://www.unisa.edu.au/staff/guidelines.asp

See also the discussion at:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/868268


Ian M-H (X)
United States
Local time: 08:40
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your detailed answer.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Edward Bradburn: This is correct. There is a situation where a secretary might use "i.A." when sending a letter the boss hasn't signed. But the prime intention is to indicate the letter is not legally binding. It is not a "p.p." usage at all. Job title idea is v. good.
4828 days
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