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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

pijler (van het beleid)

English translation: key aspect/component/element

11:46 Jan 22, 2009
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dutch term or phrase: pijler (van het beleid)
Hi all. I work for a government-sponsored scientific research institution. In my job, I translate NL-EN and correct texts written in English.

This use of the word "pijler" appeared in a summary of social-scientific research:

Het duurzaam produceren van voedsel is een belangrijke pijler binnen het Vlaamse landbouwbeleid. Biologische landbouw wordt hierbij vanuit het beleid een voortrekkersrol toegedeeld. Naast een pioniersrol in verduurzaming, biedt de biologische landbouw ook nieuwe economische ontwikkelingskansen voor de Vlaamse landbouw.

Another context where "pijler" was used was this report from a working group on sustainability within our organisation:

Duurzaamheid is een zeer ruim begrip dat zich zowel in ecologische, economische als sociale actiepunten vertaalt. Een realistische aanpak leidt tot een afperking van het onderwerp waarbij de economische haalbaarheid gekoppeld aan de vigerende wetgeving primeert. Voor ILVO betekent dit dat we in hoofdzaak de ecologische pijler aanpakken.

The native Flemish speakers routinely translated "pijler" as "pillar," which can't be wrong per se, but I still think there is a better word out there somewhere. Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

And if I forgot to thank you for your input on "eigen vermogen," let me take the opportunity to do that now. It was a very interesting discussion.

Miriam
Miriam Levenson
Local time: 04:33
English translation:key aspect/component/element
Explanation:
I think cornerstone works in conjunction with policy, as Dave suggests, but it doesn't work so well in the second example. Key ecological/environmental aspects/components might be an option. And you could even talk about sustainable food production being a key aspect/component/element of Flemish agricultural policy
Selected response from:

MoiraB
France
Local time: 04:33
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for their input.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +8cornerstone
Dave Calderhead
4 +4key aspect/component/element
MoiraB
4pillar
Andre de Vries
4postulate
katerina turevich


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
pillar


Explanation:
much used in the Dutch speaking area.

Andre de Vries
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 15
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi, thanks for your comment, but pillar has already been suggested as a translation and I feel it doesn't quite fit the bill.

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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
postulate


Explanation:
an important postulate

as in groundwork, supporting the argument on premises.



katerina turevich
Netherlands
Local time: 04:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Lianne van de Ven: is a more theoretical concept
7 mins
  -> It's true. I happen to like "cornerstone" too.
neutral  Textpertise: With Lianne on this. I think you should use a building-allied term.
11 mins
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30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
key aspect/component/element


Explanation:
I think cornerstone works in conjunction with policy, as Dave suggests, but it doesn't work so well in the second example. Key ecological/environmental aspects/components might be an option. And you could even talk about sustainable food production being a key aspect/component/element of Flemish agricultural policy

MoiraB
France
Local time: 04:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for their input.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ken Cox
49 mins
  -> thanks, Ken
agree  Dave Calderhead
1 hr
  -> thanks, Dave
agree  Siobhan Schoonhoff-Reilly
2 hrs
  -> thanks, Siobhan
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Key aspect (or cornerstone) fits in the first example; component or element in the second.
7 hrs
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
cornerstone


Explanation:
or mainstay could be a good alternative to pillar in your context

See Van Dale:

3 ( figuurlijk )
pillar
mainstay, cornerstone

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-22 13:28:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the second sentence could translate as :

... mainly tackle the cornerstone of ecology

Dave Calderhead
Netherlands
Local time: 04:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Andre de Vries: cornerstone would be better I think
12 mins
  -> Thanks Andre :D
agree  MoiraB: works with policy but less appropriate in the second example
19 mins
  -> Thanks Moira :D
agree  Textpertise: Was about to enter mainstay when I saw Dave had suggested it. Pillar is the translation; cornerstone or mainstay close synonyms. Would avoid wordiness or terms from math/logic as a building term has been chosen in your original.
23 mins
  -> Thanks :D
agree  Lianne van de Ven: agree with all of the above
34 mins
  -> Thanks Lianne :D
agree  Dennis Seine
49 mins
  -> Thanks Dennis :D
agree  Ken Cox
1 hr
  -> Thanks Ken :D
agree  Jack den Haan
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Jack :D
agree  jarry (X)
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Jarry :D
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