Jan 4, 2012 18:01
12 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term

que la nécessité (..) les appelle - grammatical?

French to English Bus/Financial Business/Commerce (general) discourse on Change Management
Hm - as I see it and in a nutshell, the urgency (regarding change) is mainly down to what the shakers & movers feel is required. Am I missing something? Here is the surrounding text.

Préalablement au traitement de la problématique du changement en général et de celui d’une entreprise en particulier, il est nécessaire d’observer quelles étaient les données de contexte global d’abord, transactionnel ensuite, motivant la nécessité d’un changement ou non.

On réalise en effet que le degré d’urgence d’un changement résulte moins d’une réalité qui s’impose, tant pour des critères objectifs ou quantifiables, que d’une perception par les agents du changement que la nécessité d’un changement les appelle. C’est notamment, ce qui explique que le changement soit adopté précocement pour certains, collectivement pour la moyenne des individus et tardivement pour d’autres.

Discussion

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Jan 4, 2012:
Yes, it is grammatical You have "la réalité qui s'impose" on the one hand and "la nécessité d'un changement [qui] les appelle" on the other.

Proposed translations

+3
14 mins
Selected

a construction with "rather"

This can be turned round in a number of ways. Dropping the "en effet", the use of which is overseasoned in French, play around with 'rather' and 'indeed' to make it read as though it does actually mean something! Here's one :

The extent to which change is a priority is rather less the result of a clearly defined reality, both objective and quantifiable, than a perception by those implementing the change that it is indeed necessary.

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Note added at 14 mins (2012-01-04 18:16:07 GMT)
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comma after "priority"
Peer comment(s):

agree Tony M : No need for comma after 'priotity', though I do think you need to repeat 'of' before 'a perception'
2 mins
Perhaps right about the comma after all. Too many commas kill a comma (or lead to coMa?)
agree Rosa Paredes : Yes. And no comma.
5 hrs
agree Edward Tully
2 days 1 hr
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3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
4 mins
French term (edited): que la nécessité (..) les appelle

that there is a need for change

I don't think you can translate "les appelle" literally.
Peer comment(s):

agree Tony M : Yes, "they perceive a need for change"
11 mins
agree AllegroTrans
1 hr
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+1
4 mins
French term (edited): que la nécessité (...) les appelle

that they have 'heard the call' of a need for...

I don't see it as ungrammatical, just a convoluted way of expressing it!

I think you're right in your interpretation, and of course my suggestion above is no more than an aid to unravelling the sense, and should in no way be considered as a serious suggestion for a finished translation!

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Note added at 4 mins (2012-01-04 18:06:22 GMT)
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Or indeed 'are hearing the call'

It is merely their perception that change is called for...

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Note added at 25 mins (2012-01-04 18:26:49 GMT)
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Couldn't agree more! I'm not sure it so much implies pressing, perhaps more the idea of 'crying out for...' — i.e. more obvious than just a 'vague feeling...'?
Note from asker:
I would rather avoid being convoluted myself! they perceive that a need for change has come to their attention is a bit of a pleonasm. Perhaps 'appelle' indicates more of a 'pressing' need ? Phil, without translating it literally?
Peer comment(s):

agree Verginia Ophof
2 mins
Thanks, Verginia!
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32 mins

that necessity for a change calls

There are times in life when necessity calls...
Note from asker:
hard to work into the sentence (and 'needs must' !)
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2 hrs

that they feel the need for a change

The 'need' may be anything from justifying their own existence and salary, to a genuinely perceived improvement.

I also think that you can drop the "en effet" without using anything to replace it.
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