This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Oct 4, 2007 17:39
16 yrs ago
Dutch term
ontbreekt het uw databasebeheerder soms aan kennis?
Dutch to English
Marketing
Computers: Software
marketing flyer
I am having trouble with this term as I find writing something like the DB manager is lacking knowledge is rather derogatory towards the person concerned. If anyone can think of a politer way of putting it, I'd be most grateful!
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Oct 4, 2007 18:56: Adam Smith changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Oct 5, 2007 07:06: Antoinette Verburg changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"
Proposed translations
-1
38 mins
Are your DB administrator's skills sometimes stretched beyond the limit?
It is still not very polite to the DB administrator - but it may help.
Note from asker:
thx Jonathan, I'm still working on it. Do you (and anyone else reading this) think the Dutch also comes across as rude? |
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
jarry (X)
: Not very idiomatic
47 mins
|
Totally disagree. I think it an excellent advertising heading.
|
|
disagree |
Edith Kelly
: with jarry
1 hr
|
neutral |
Deborah do Carmo
: with Jarry
1 day 20 hrs
|
I'm trying to work out what is not idiomatic about it. You stretch things to the limit - so why not beyond the limit?
|
58 mins
Do you feel your DB admin does not always meet your needs?
Or something like this - live up to expectations, fulfill. I'm just trying to give you an idea here. This really is a 'native speaker' thing, I trust you'll come up with something good.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
jarry (X)
: Sounds too personal in the context
31 mins
|
+1
1 hr
Database management requires excellent knowledge and skills
Why not leave it up to the reader (potential customer) to ask themselves whether or not their DB manager/administrator satisfy their database requirements. Surely the object of the text is to promote the service offered by the company and not to undermine the ability of (any) DB manager(s).
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
jarry (X)
: I don't think this is what is intended. As Jonathan rightly points out, it is administration and not management. In the IT (database) context, administration and management are two very different things. Just Google :-)
14 mins
|
Thank you for your comment Jarry, in my opinion in this context (marketing) a translator should look beyond the literal meaning of the words. As for administration v. management, hardly a valid point since these words are synonymous.
|
|
agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: Not literally what it says, but I think this is nice and avoids any derogatory connotations.
44 mins
|
Thank you, Tina.
|
|
neutral |
telraam
: I think it rather flat. Doesn't make me want to read further.
1 day 21 hrs
|
+1
1 hr
Is your database manager not up to scratch?
Meaning:
If something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required or expected.
If something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required or expected.
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
telraam
: beheerder is not manager but administrator.
30 mins
|
In this context you are quite right. It should be data administrator. The rest of my suggested answer still stands, however.
|
|
agree |
Siobhan Schoonhoff-Reilly
: A little bit informal perhaps, but this could work. And, 'database manager' is a job title (77,400,000 hits on google).
13 hrs
|
Thank you
|
|
agree |
Deborah do Carmo
: or "Does your DB Administrator never put a foot wrong?" or "Could your DB Administrator sometimes do with a helping hand?"
1 day 19 hrs
|
Thanks Debbie
|
-1
55 mins
Need to replace your database adminstrator?
The possibilities are endless. It's negative advertising suggesting that "your" database needs "their" professional touch. Boring, and not at all negative in Dutch.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-10-04 19:54:51 GMT)
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This is obviously an advertising slogan.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-10-04 19:54:51 GMT)
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This is obviously an advertising slogan.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
jarry (X)
: Is not really the catch phrase that is wanted here
33 mins
|
disagree |
Edith Kelly
: that's really derogatory
1 hr
|
4 hrs
Maybe your database administrator could use some additional knowledge?
Could be conceived both very friendly and tersely, so goal-oriented, in my opinion.
15 hrs
Can your database administrator keep up?
This may be a little ambiguous, since it could refer to the issue of time as well as skills, but I still think it might work in the given context.
Perhaps you could also insert the word 'always' to address the use of 'soms' in the source.
Perhaps you could also insert the word 'always' to address the use of 'soms' in the source.
+4
2 hrs
Can your DB administrator walk on water?
Personally, I don't see the Dutch text as rude, but instead as a good opening line to get attention, but this sort of thing is very culture-specific and a direct translation wouldn't go down well everywhere.
As you mention that the DB admin isn't mentioned anywhere else in the text, you could turn it around as per my suggestion, perhaps with a little intro to the effect of 'if he can't, we can help'.
This is PR, and rule number 1 in PR is that it has to work.
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Note added at 15 hrs (2007-10-05 09:19:52 GMT)
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Further comment: IMO the intention of the Dutch slogan is to provoke the response 'Hmmm, maybe we *could* use a bit of help'. If you simply said 'We can help you with your DB administration', the response would more likely be 'So what?' or 'We don't need any help'', and the flyer would land directly in the waste-paper basket.
As you mention that the DB admin isn't mentioned anywhere else in the text, you could turn it around as per my suggestion, perhaps with a little intro to the effect of 'if he can't, we can help'.
This is PR, and rule number 1 in PR is that it has to work.
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Note added at 15 hrs (2007-10-05 09:19:52 GMT)
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Further comment: IMO the intention of the Dutch slogan is to provoke the response 'Hmmm, maybe we *could* use a bit of help'. If you simply said 'We can help you with your DB administration', the response would more likely be 'So what?' or 'We don't need any help'', and the flyer would land directly in the waste-paper basket.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Edith Kelly
: I like it.
9 hrs
|
agree |
Deborah do Carmo
: or "Does your DB Administrator never put a foot wrong?"
1 day 18 hrs
|
agree |
jarry (X)
1 day 18 hrs
|
agree |
telraam
: Great line
1 day 19 hrs
|
10 hrs
Database management, to be effective, has to be up to date!
Date base is the crucial point.
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Note added at 2 days17 hrs (2007-10-07 10:51:03 GMT)
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Mu suggestion is based on the point that an effective "database manager" is always up to date.
The asker wanted to move away from the "person" and the I believe that the next crucial point is the base.
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Note added at 2 days17 hrs (2007-10-07 10:51:03 GMT)
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Mu suggestion is based on the point that an effective "database manager" is always up to date.
The asker wanted to move away from the "person" and the I believe that the next crucial point is the base.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: Another option I like .
8 hrs
|
disagree |
telraam
: Doesn't have the challenging nature of the original
1 day 11 hrs
|
Discussion