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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

spécification

English translation:

specification

Added to glossary by Thomas Miles
Oct 2, 2023 11:53
8 mos ago
33 viewers *
French term

spécification

French to English Bus/Financial Manufacturing invitation to tender
This document, referred to as a 'cahier de charges', details the process by which packaging is to be developed and includes the standards to be achieved.

It mentions a 'spécification' that will define the characteristics of a packaging item, and with which the successful tenderer is expected to comply. This 'spécification' takes the form of another document.

Clearly there is a conflict between the usual translation of 'cahier de charges' and this 'spécification'. In this text they refer to different concepts.

My working translation is 'characterisation' (and indeed 'caractérisation' is used in its French definition). Does any one have another solution?

Thanks
Proposed translations (English)
3 +5 specification
4 (packaging) design brief
References
technical specifications / cahier des charges

Proposed translations

+5
16 mins
Selected

specification

One option would be to change your translation of cahier de charge to "schedule of requirements", a common alternative (I use it myself), freeing up specification for use with spécification. If you google schedule of requirements and technical specification, you'll see they are a relatively common pairing.
Note from asker:
That is helpful
Peer comment(s):
agree writeaway
16 mins
agree philgoddard : I don't see any issue with using 'specification' for both French terms.
19 mins
Maybe not in general and indivdually but in a context where both exist, perhaps with a qualifier? (e.g. general s. and technical s.) Otherwise could be confusing if e.g. there is a cross-reference like "see page 4 of the specification" - which one? :-)
agree JaneD
24 mins
agree abe(L)solano
3 hrs
agree Mpoma
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I used your suggested alternative for the 'cahier de charges' as a whole."
3 hrs

(packaging) design brief

Having worked in export, methinks a packaging specification is so ambiguous as almost to be a faux ami: 'The packaging specification defines all the necessary *packing levels for a product* in order, for example, to put away or transport the product. For a product, a packaging specification mainly describes in which *quantities you can pack the product into which packaging materials in which sequence*.'

Otherwise, cahier des charges: as mentioned in the first answer or general spec.
Example sentence:

To become Packaging Specification Officer, you are/have: Educational background (Higher Vocational (MBO level 3-4) or Bachelor (HBO)) in relevant subject

A packaging design brief is a very important document that provides an overview of the design request that you would then hand over to an agency ..

Reference:

http://www2.proz.com/personal-glossaries/entry/2182221-cahier-des-charges-specification?phpv_redirected=1

http://www2.proz.com/personal-glossaries/entry/1632025-spécification-particularization?phpv_redirected=1

Something went wrong...

Reference comments

6 hrs
Reference:

technical specifications / cahier des charges

On google:
"A technical specification document typically contains information about the requirements, specifications and functionalities of a product or project. It may include sections on project scope, requirements gathering, design specifications, system architecture, testing criteria and other relevant information."

In a reference from Law Insider:
"'Cahier de charges' means the technical annex setting forth the technical specifications for the purpose of the Management Contract ..."
Reference:

http://https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/cahier-des-charges

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