values/assets

English translation: assets

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:values/assets
Selected answer:assets
Entered by: Anna Herbst

12:53 Jun 14, 2010
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research
English term or phrase: values/assets
Is it possible to use ”value” as a term covering a company's values (=norms) as well as its assets (=money).

The phrase will be used in a marketing context. My intuition tells me no, but perhaps I'm wrong. Natives, please share your opinions :-)

- making your values safer and easier to handle.
Barbara Østergaard
Denmark
Local time: 06:16
assets
Explanation:
We talk about the value OF something I.e. the worth of something, and it is generally used in the singular. Can be used in combination with asset as in "asset value" or "the value of assets".

Values in the plural is mostly only used when we mean ethical/moral/intrinsic etc values or beliefs/norms.

With this in mind (and at this late hour where I am) I would recommend you use "assets" in your example. Or perhaps you could say "your valued assets" which would then put emphasis on intangible assets such as those mentioned in the example sentence below.
Selected response from:

Anna Herbst
Australia
Local time: 14:16
Grading comment
Thanks to all of you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6assets
Anna Herbst
4 +1Use both to avoid misunderstandings
British Diana
4yes...possibly
Constantinos Faridis (X)


  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
yes...possibly


Explanation:

A personal and/or cultural value is an absolute or relative ethical value, the assumption of which can be the basis for ethical action. A value system is a set of consistent values and measures. A principle value is a foundation upon which other values and measures of integrity are based. Those values which are not physiologically determined and normally considered objective, such as a desire to avoid physical pain, seek pleasure, etc., are considered subjective, vary across individuals and cultures and are in many ways aligned with belief and belief systems. Types of values include ethical/moral values, doctrinal/ideological (religious, political) values, social values, and aesthetic values. It is debated whether some values which aren't clearly physiologically determined are intrinsic such as altruism and whether some such as acquisitiveness should be valued as vices or virtues. Values have typically been studied in sociology; anthropology; social psychology; moral philosophy and business ethics.
In financial accounting, assets are economic resources. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset. Simplistically stated, assets represent ownership of value that can be converted into cash (although cash itself is also considered an asset).[1] The balance sheet of a firm records the monetary[2] value of the assets owned by the firm. It is money and other valuables belonging to an individual or business.[3] Two major asset classes are tangible assets and intangible assets. Tangible assets contain various subclasses, including current assets and fixed assets.[4] Current assets include inventory, while fixed assets include such items as buildings and equipment.[5] Intangible assets are nonphysical resources and rights that have a value to the firm because they give the firm some kind of advantage in the market place. Examples of intangible assets are goodwill, copyrights, trademarks, patents and computer programs,[5] and financial assets, including such items as accounts receivable, bonds and stocks.

Constantinos Faridis (X)
Greece
Local time: 07:16
Native speaker of: Greek
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
assets


Explanation:
We talk about the value OF something I.e. the worth of something, and it is generally used in the singular. Can be used in combination with asset as in "asset value" or "the value of assets".

Values in the plural is mostly only used when we mean ethical/moral/intrinsic etc values or beliefs/norms.

With this in mind (and at this late hour where I am) I would recommend you use "assets" in your example. Or perhaps you could say "your valued assets" which would then put emphasis on intangible assets such as those mentioned in the example sentence below.

Example sentence(s):
  • How Intangible Assets Affect Business Value: When pricing your business for sale, intangible assets--such as people, knowledge and marketplace position--can be even more important than tangible

    Reference: http://www.entrepreneur.com/growyourbusiness/sellingyourbusi...
Anna Herbst
Australia
Local time: 14:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks to all of you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Patricia Rosas
13 mins
  -> Thanks, Patricia.

agree  Richard McDorman: I agree. We do not use the term "value" to mean "assets" in English.
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Richard.

agree  Rolf Keiser
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Goldcoaster.

agree  cmwilliams (X)
6 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Phong Le
10 hrs
  -> Thanks Phong Le.

agree  Mona Helal: yes, I'd second this: Values in the plural "are" mostly only used when we mean ethical/moral/intrinsic etc values or beliefs/norms
23 hrs
  -> Thank you Mona.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Use both to avoid misunderstandings


Explanation:
"The values of a company guide the actions of its people. We have therefore taken great care to define our values, because they in turn will define us. Our goal is to have our values permeate our culture and guide our employees in how they treat our clients, passengers, each other and the planet."

This excerpt from a firm's "mission statement" shows that the word "values" is used referring to the ethical mores. "Assets" can be used to mean the purely monetary values. If you want to refer to both, I suggest using both terms. This will avoid misunderstandings.

British Diana
Germany
Local time: 06:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): To make a nice slogan, you could say 'values and valuables'.
9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tina - "valuables" has too many other connotations, I fear

neutral  cmwilliams (X): from the context ("making your values safer and easier to handle") I don't think they are referring to ethical mores.
16 hrs
  -> No, this is true. I was trying to explain the difference to the Asker
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search