Sep 5, 2006 15:13
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
le plus petit commun dénominateur des socialistes.
French to English
Social Sciences
Government / Politics
The following sentence discusses a PS convention in preparation for the election.
Face à la multiplication des candidatures potentielles, les propositions issues de ces états généraux pourraient ne représenter que le plus petit commun dénominateur des socialistes.
should "le plus petit commun dénominateur des socialistes" be translated simply as "the lowest common denominator of socialists"? Thank you for your assistance
Face à la multiplication des candidatures potentielles, les propositions issues de ces états généraux pourraient ne représenter que le plus petit commun dénominateur des socialistes.
should "le plus petit commun dénominateur des socialistes" be translated simply as "the lowest common denominator of socialists"? Thank you for your assistance
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +6 | the very few issues that the socialists have in common |
Angelo Berbotto
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| 4 +2 | the smallest common denominator |
JH Trads
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| 3 | the most trifling issues |
Aisha Maniar
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Proposed translations
+6
4 mins
Angelo Berbotto
Australia
Australia
Specializes in field
Australia
A lawyer for your legal translations
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Argentine, Rioplatense, Uruguayan, Standard-Spain, Canarian) 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
the very few issues that the socialists have in common
I think that you could say:
the very few issues that the socialists have in common
I understand that they have lots of candidates and not much of a common front, but that they are divided... what they may get out of the convention is just some ideas, proposals, but not much.
cheers
ab
the very few issues that the socialists have in common
I understand that they have lots of candidates and not much of a common front, but that they are divided... what they may get out of the convention is just some ideas, proposals, but not much.
cheers
ab
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
8 mins
Aisha Maniar
Native in English
Specializes in field
French/Arabic-English legal translator
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK)
Works in: Arabic to English, French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
the most trifling issues
the most unimportant or insignificant issues facing the Party and/or the electorate...i.e. splitting hairs
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Angela Dickson (X)
: not sure this is quite right - for me, it's not the significance of the issues but rather the small quantity of common issues, given the large number of candidates, that is being talked about here
10 mins
|
+2
3 mins
the smallest common denominator
as "lowest" could have bad moral connotations, I prefer smallest here
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Note added at 5 mins (2006-09-05 15:19:02 GMT)
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of the socialists
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Note added at 23 mins (2006-09-05 15:36:40 GMT)
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Get a common denominator - the smallest number that both denominators can divide into ... Note: The smallest common denominator is called the "least common ...
regentsprep.org/Regents/mathb/3A2/addfrac.htm - 24k
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Note added at 5 mins (2006-09-05 15:19:02 GMT)
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of the socialists
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2006-09-05 15:36:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Get a common denominator - the smallest number that both denominators can divide into ... Note: The smallest common denominator is called the "least common ...
regentsprep.org/Regents/mathb/3A2/addfrac.htm - 24k
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Angela Dickson (X)
: 'lowest common denominator' is a set phrase - 'smallest' sounds strange
2 mins
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thanks Angela :)
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| agree |
Julie Barber
: agree for lowest/smallest comment
3 mins
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thanks juliebarba :)
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| agree |
Fiorsam
: I see no reason to paraphrase this. It's perfectly good idiomatic English.
18 mins
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thanks Fiorsam :)
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| neutral |
Richard Benham
: Angela is right. "Lowest common denominator" is a set phrase, occasionally also "least common denominator". You are right about "of *the*".
1 hr
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thanks Richard :)
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