Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
privilégier x au y
English translation:
au = rather than
Added to glossary by
Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
Oct 18, 2007 07:11
16 yrs ago
10 viewers *
French term
privilégier x au y
Non-PRO
French to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Press article about European naval defence group DCNS, which is about to sign a procurement contract with Bulgaria for four corvettes (frigates). First ship to be built in France, but the rest in Bulgaria as part of a technology transfer. DCNS unions are concerned about the implications of technology transfer.
La CFDT partage cette crainte, s'interrogeant sur une éventuelle stratégie visant à « s'implanter dans ce pays [Bulgaria] par le biais d'une filiale ou d'un partenariat, en bénéficiant d'une main d'oeuvre locale à bas coût, et de s'en servir ensuite de tête de pont pour d'autres marchés export. DCNS **privilégierait alors les résultats financiers à court terme au maintien des emplois dans l'industrie navale militaire en France**. Avec les conséquences que l'on sait : plans de charge insuffisants dans plusieurs établissements entrainant de nombreux départs, donc des pertes irrémédiables de compétences et de savoir-faire.
Does this mean that DCNS would give priority to short-term financial results over keeping jobs (I'd have expected 'sur' instead of 'au')? Advice appreciated before 12 noon CET!
La CFDT partage cette crainte, s'interrogeant sur une éventuelle stratégie visant à « s'implanter dans ce pays [Bulgaria] par le biais d'une filiale ou d'un partenariat, en bénéficiant d'une main d'oeuvre locale à bas coût, et de s'en servir ensuite de tête de pont pour d'autres marchés export. DCNS **privilégierait alors les résultats financiers à court terme au maintien des emplois dans l'industrie navale militaire en France**. Avec les conséquences que l'on sait : plans de charge insuffisants dans plusieurs établissements entrainant de nombreux départs, donc des pertes irrémédiables de compétences et de savoir-faire.
Does this mean that DCNS would give priority to short-term financial results over keeping jobs (I'd have expected 'sur' instead of 'au')? Advice appreciated before 12 noon CET!
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Oct 18, 2007 07:25: Tony M changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Oct 19, 2007 09:37: Ghyslaine LE NAGARD Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+6
6 mins
Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
Native in French
&
English
New Caledonia
Professional, reliable and confidential
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) 
, English (Variants: British, US)
Works in: English to French, French to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
au = rather than
.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Michael H G (X)
3 mins
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| agree |
XXXphxxx (X)
8 mins
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| agree |
Bashiqa
14 mins
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| agree |
Charles Hawtrey (X)
4 hrs
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| agree |
emiledgar
8 hrs
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| agree |
Valeska Nygren
16 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This or my own (and Suezen's) 'give priority to X over Y' would be equally suitable. Thanks, everyone!"
17 mins
privilege x over y
Other suggestions also good, same meaning, but the straightforward option also works fine I think.
Why isn't it "sur"? There are lots of places where French prepositions are a bit different, eg. depender de = depend on (& not depender sur)... this is one of them.
Why isn't it "sur"? There are lots of places where French prepositions are a bit different, eg. depender de = depend on (& not depender sur)... this is one of them.
20 mins
Jennifer Forbes
Native in English
Specializes in field
Finance, law, property development, art
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
to favour X over Y
Or "to favour X to the detriment of Y" - "favour" was my first thought, before I saw the other answers you've received.
27 mins
would prioritise short-term financial results over maintaining jobs.
This
30 mins
prefer ...(money now to jobs later)
just one last an easy way of saying it
21 hrs
L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
South Africa
South Africa
Native in English
Specializes in field
South Africa
Willing & Ready to be of service to YOU!
Native in: English , Dutch
Works in: Dutch to English, Afrikaans to English, French to English, and 3 more.
au = in order to
change "au" to "a fin de"
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2007-10-19 08:51:46 GMT)
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au maintien, you can also say pour maintenir thus in order to.
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2007-10-19 08:51:46 GMT)
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au maintien, you can also say pour maintenir thus in order to.
Note from asker:
| Sorry, several colleagues have confirmed this is an incorrect interpretation. Doesn't make sense in the context in any case. |
+1
7 mins
give priority to/choose to (do) X over y
as you said, it means choose X as opposed to y
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2007-10-19 08:53:06 GMT)
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Hi Moira ...if it meant to keep jobs, then it would read "pour le maintien d'emplois" or "pour maintenir les emplois" IMO
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2007-10-19 08:53:06 GMT)
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Hi Moira ...if it meant to keep jobs, then it would read "pour le maintien d'emplois" or "pour maintenir les emplois" IMO
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: I always remember this one by thinking 'prefer X to Y'
6 mins
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yes exactly ... thanks Tony :-)
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Discussion