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Inkomstenvrijlating
vaste bronnen
May 16, 2008 13:53
16 yrs ago
20 viewers *
Dutch term

arbeider & bediende

Dutch to English Bus/Financial Management Employment contracts
Flemish to English
What is a good translation for arbeider (labourer??)
What is a good translation for bediende (clerical worker??)
Appreciate your input.
Proposed translations (English)
3 -4 worker and servant
4 +5 blue-collar and white-collar workers
3 factory and clerical staff

Discussion

Ken Cox May 16, 2008:
These terms are specific to Belgium, where they are anchored in law and have a host of legal implications. There are no fully equivalent terms in English, where the distinction is often irrelevant, so translation is tricky and context-sensitive.
MoiraB May 16, 2008:
Dennis, any general points should be placed here (under Ask Asker). It's confusing to put a note to Wilhemina under Annabel's answer and people might not immediately see it. Add a summary note here of your final decision, since question is already closed?
Edith Kelly May 16, 2008:
You picked the wrong answer, one should always wait 24 h before grading.

Proposed translations

-4
6 mins
Selected

worker and servant

Just a guess, and after refering to IATE
Note from asker:
Just to clarify: English term for a shop floor worker and an office worker. I gues that's the difference in the Flemish Arbeider/ Bediende. Clerical worker sounds longwinded and labourer that of a beast of burden.
Thank you Willemina. Love your term 'factory' but the contracts I'm translating are for a consultancy without own industrial premises.
Ladies, I think I'm just going to term it 'manual workers' and 'clerical' workers' as I don't see another way out. Thanks all for sharing your thinking caps.
Peer comment(s):
disagree MoiraB : sorry, no way
12 mins
disagree Edith Kelly : with Moira
15 mins
disagree Sabine Piens : also with Moira
31 mins
neutral Robert Kleemaier : IATE is a useful tool, but can be misleading
1 hr
disagree writeaway : with others. this is well and truly wrong
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you Annabel. But 'servant' sounds derogatory in English and there has to be a distinction between a 'manual' worker and a 'white collar' worker."
31 mins

factory and clerical staff

Als het om een fabriekssituatie gaat.
Something went wrong...
+5
17 mins

blue-collar and white-collar workers

This is how I would generalise them. Not all arbeiders are labourers!

Think you meant to add a note rather than award points to Annabel's answer!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2008-05-16 14:14:13 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Emire for Belgium offers the same solution:
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/emire/BELGIUM/BLUECOLLARWORKE...
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/emire/BELGIUM/WHITECOLLARWORK...

See also some discussion on the difference at http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Sci/sci.lang.transla...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2008-05-16 14:30:40 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

You've already awarded points so I don't think you can do anything about that (contact moderator perhaps?).

You didn't mention the context so can hardly expect the perfect answer! Manual employees and clerical employees? Check the Emire links above, as these have specific significance in Belgian labour law.
Note from asker:
Ah, ok, first time I've asked a question. Will award points at end of discussion. I can however hardly term blue and white-collar in contracts of employment. I have to make the distinction between a manual worker and one who pushes a pen.
Peer comment(s):
agree David Walker (X) : If we are talking generalised terms these are the ones that apply
24 mins
agree writeaway : as long as people in NL think they can do Belgian Dutch without really knowing it, this sort of thing will happen
2 hrs
agree Ken Cox : ditto David's comment
7 hrs
agree sindy cremer
1769 days
agree Michael Beijer
3542 days
Something went wrong...
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