Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
contribution entend dresser un etat des lieux de la reflexion
English translation:
This contribution aims/intends to draw up a summary of current thought/thinking on the subject
Added to glossary by
Barbara Cochran, MFA
Apr 14, 2007 14:22
17 yrs ago
French term
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
contribution entend dresser un etat des lieux de la reflexion
French to English
Social Sciences
Economics
Social And Economic Cohesion In The EU
I'm having a hard time coming up with a good translation of this phrase in the following context:
"Au centre de ces debats, une interrogation centrale: La difficile conciliation entre efficacite economique et justice sociale est elle un dilemme europeen? Cette interrogation est lourde de sens, car politiquement tres marquee. Cette **contribution entend dresser un etat des lieux de la reflexion** sur le sujet, en s'attachant a distinguer, pour le besoin de l'analyse, deux aspects de la question:.."
"Contribution" and "lieux" seem vague to me here.
Thanks for any light you can shed on this phrase.
femme
"Au centre de ces debats, une interrogation centrale: La difficile conciliation entre efficacite economique et justice sociale est elle un dilemme europeen? Cette interrogation est lourde de sens, car politiquement tres marquee. Cette **contribution entend dresser un etat des lieux de la reflexion** sur le sujet, en s'attachant a distinguer, pour le besoin de l'analyse, deux aspects de la question:.."
"Contribution" and "lieux" seem vague to me here.
Thanks for any light you can shed on this phrase.
femme
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | This contribution aims/intends to draw up a summary of current thought/thinking on the subject |
Martin Cassell
|
| 4 +1 | aims to review current thinking... |
Richard Nice
|
Proposed translations
+3
27 mins
Martin Cassell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
25 years as a specialist communicator
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
French term (edited):
Cette contribution entend dresser un état des lieux de la réflexion
Selected
This contribution aims/intends to draw up a summary of current thought/thinking on the subject
«état des lieux» is in effect a single noun -- it's an inventory or summary of the state of things. See for instance http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1227390 : "summarise, give a brief history of, review, take stock of "
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-04-14 15:47:36 GMT)
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Richard's variation would work, too.
or perhaps: "... aims to produce/present a review of ..."
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-04-14 15:47:36 GMT)
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Richard's variation would work, too.
or perhaps: "... aims to produce/present a review of ..."
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Both answers were excellent and a big help. "Inventory" actually appeared in the title of this particular article."
+1
1 hr
Richard Nice
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Works in field
Germany
Translator of Distinction
Native in: English (Variants: Australian, US, Canadian, British, New Zealand, UK) 
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
11
aims to review current thinking...
possible variant, more concise
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: sets out to review the latest thinking
43 mins
|
|
yes...or even '... contribution reviews' (is the modesty of 'entend' really necessary?)
|
Discussion
"Dresser un état des lieux"="draw up an inventory, take stock,...", here used figuratively. I would say "This contribution is intended as a survey of thinking on the subject...".