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beringiet
Jan 21, 2012 15:41
12 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Dutch term

baaldag

Dutch to English Other Human Resources
Hi all

I am translating a text on the history of mining in Belgium, and came across the above term in the following sentence describing the reason behind a miners' strike:

'In één ruk wil ze dan ook de vrije baaldag per maand afschaffen, wat al een verworven recht is sinds de jaren 1930.'

I see from internet searches that it is like taking a day off sick, but is there an implication that the employee is not really sick, and so would it be translated as 'pulling a sickie'? Or is it simply a day off sick which does not need to be supported by a doctor's note? I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 off-day
3 +1 mental health day
4 mental day off
3 extra day off
3 sickie

Discussion

helenindelft (asker) Jan 23, 2012:
Thanks so much for all the very helpful suggestions! I think in this case, and given the historical context, I'm going to go with Barend's suggestion and add a note on 'baaldag' (like in Lianne's note). I really appreciate everyone's help - thank you so much!
Kirsten Bodart Jan 22, 2012:
As I was talking to my parents about this it suddenly hit me that 'baaldag' is also something people say to say they are not up to scratch, they don't need to be off work for it to be a baaldag, you can also have one at work. At any rate, an off day you can have or you can take in this case, which pretty much equals the baaldag, je kan hem nemen en je kan hem hebben.
But indeed I would also put a small note.
sindy cremer Jan 22, 2012:
and sorry for not shutting up after all ;-))
sindy cremer Jan 22, 2012:
Since it is apparently very much a Dutch thing, wouldn't it be best to use Barend's option and add a translator's note?
I must admit I don't like either of the suggestions including 'mental' and I can't come up with anything better than 'low-spirits day' myself...
Barend van Zadelhoff Jan 22, 2012:
Hi Kirsten The way you describe this phenomenon of 'baaldag' is how I have understood it as well. This is why I wrote:

I believe this 'baaldag' was meant for taking a day off when you DID NOT FEEL LIKE WORKING for SOME reason, because you 'baalde', that is, because you 'WERE FED UP WITH' something

everyone has their off-days ...

I arrived at: 'free off-day day/ off-day day off' :-)

Wij willen ook een Officiële Baaldag zoals in Nederland

In Nederland bestaat er een Officiële Baaldag. Als je zo'n dag hebt kan je je ziek melden van je werk.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=267692403936
Kirsten Bodart Jan 22, 2012:
Even though I am Belgian I thought this word was never used in Flemish, but behold... The way it is used, and how it was introduced to us as an exotic Dutch thing in school ;), was that it was a day where you didn't feel right and did not want to go to work, but were not actually physically ill. Let's say you didn't sleep well or had a bout of food poisoning or something. It has cleared up but you feel rough. The doctor can't actually do anything apart from saying, 'Yes, indeed, you were ill last night, weren't you. Well, as you have only shown up today at the end of the day because you couldn't get out of your sofa, I'll hand you a sick note.' (pulls up eyebrows) In Belgium it used to be compulsory to go to the doctor even for one day off work. I believe, to cut down on doctors' charges, they've now converted that into the first day off is OK, but for the next you have to hand in a sick note. So I would also call it an off day like Barend.
Barend van Zadelhoff Jan 21, 2012:
Thank you for your entry, Angora. Interesting.

The problem with your suggestion is the addition 'monthly' and that it's specific to South Africa.
It means something over there but not necessarily in the Dutch language area, I guess, or in the UK.
It also doesn't linguistically account for the 'baal' factor.
Angora van Doorn Jan 21, 2012:
Leisure day Hallo, I am new to this site but the way I would translate that is by using "the monthly leisure day". It has been an old practice in South Africa for use by women during their monthly cycle (and misused if I might add) It is also accepted as the day workers have to go to the monthly clinic for medicines or to go to the banks. Nowadays it is simply called "all-Pay" day here although that would not be useful in your translation.
helenindelft (asker) Jan 21, 2012:
Thanks so much everyone for the helpful answers! Yes indeed, I guess the challenge is to find a term which covers both the reason behind taking a day off and the fact that this was something which was apparently explicitly provided for in the miners' working conditions. Perhaps I could use 'mental health day' with a footnote for explanation? I appreciate all the advice!
sindy cremer Jan 21, 2012:
oops I just noticed that your text reads 'verworven vrije baaldag' - so it is indeed an official day off... Sorry - it's been some time since I was employed in the Netherlands... I'll just shut up ;-)
sindy cremer Jan 21, 2012:
Hm... like Barend I associate a 'baaldag' with a 'bad hair day', whereas imho snipperdagen may be taken regardless of one's mood, e.g. for celebrations etc.
Imho 'baaldagen' more often result in pulling a sicky than snipperdagen, which are deducted from your official days off.
Barend van Zadelhoff Jan 21, 2012:
that's probably right, 'no questions asked', but there is clear difference between a 'snipperdag' and a 'baaldag' even if this 'baaldag' would be used as a 'snipperdag'

you can't just translate as a 'day off'

it doesn't account for the historical context

but Frank's suggestion might fit the bill because of similarity
Frank van Thienen (X) Jan 21, 2012:
balen - of niet "baaldag" is fairly explicit (and in my opinion somewhat negative), but, just like "mental health day" (explicitly considerate of your mental health), it implicitly gives one permission to take the day, for whatever reason. That's the interpretation at my daughter's school board, and in the Urban Dictionary (and others).
Tina Vonhof (X) Jan 21, 2012:
I agree with Lianne, it is like a 'snipperdag', an optional day off with no questions asked.
Barend van Zadelhoff Jan 21, 2012:
I don't agree with the 'for any reason' part

I believe this 'baaldag' was meant for taking a day off when you DID NOT FEEL LIKE WORKING for SOME reason, because you 'baalde', that is, because you 'WERE FED UP WITH' something

everyone has their off-days ...

I missed the example sentence for that matter and you can't just translate it as 'off-day', it would require something like 'do away with the 'free off-day day/ off-day day off' :-)
Lianne van de Ven Jan 21, 2012:
snipperdag Your interpretation is correct, Helen. It refers to the implicit or explicit right to take a day off "for any reason", also called "snipperdag"
http://www.etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/balen

Proposed translations

+2
31 mins
Selected

off-day

off-day - a day when things go poorly;

"I guess this is one of my off-days"

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/off-day
Peer comment(s):
agree Alexander Schleber (X) : Yes => Van Dale
46 mins
I am not sure, Alexander, I missed the example sentence; 'off-day' is I believe just the general translation for 'baaldag' and just 'off-day' doesn't suffice here. Thanks anyway.
neutral Tina Vonhof (X) : Doesn't cover the fact that it is a day off FROM work - you can have an 'off-day' AT work.
58 mins
You are right, Tina. See my discussion entry.
agree Kirsten Bodart : Nothin to do with metnal health, just non-sicky sicky day if that makes sense ;)
21 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks very much to everyone!"
+1
20 mins

mental health day

a shot in the dark >
My daughter is a teacher, and she has the right to a day off per month, for whatever reason she desires.
Lots of Google hits.
Example sentence:

Mental Health Day: A quasi-legitimate excuse to take a day off from school or work.

Reference:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mental%20Health%20Day

Peer comment(s):
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : In this context yes but not be confused with Mental Health (Awareness) Day.
1 hr
Something went wrong...
1 hr

extra day off

Another suggestion from Van dale. Probably an optional day off that employees can take whenever they really don't feel like it.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

mental day off

For my language area (US) it would popularly be called a "mental day" rather than a mental health day off.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/22/abbatacola-castro-get...

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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-01-21 17:49:21 GMT)
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Here is another, maybe better, example:
I would think that people using fake doctor's excuses likely have more problems than just taking a day off from work. They probably take off frequently, which in itself is grounds for termination. I, like you, have taken an occasional mental day off. You say it is hard to justify, but the reality is that our mental condition should be just as important as our physical one.
http://www.infobarrel.com/I_Need_a_Free_Doctors_Excuse_from_...

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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-01-21 18:18:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To be more accurate, for theis particular historical text, I would probably use:
"In one go she would also abolish the free day-off (the so-called mental day, or "baaldag") per month, which has been an acquired right since the 1930s."
Something went wrong...
1 day 8 hrs

sickie

I have never heard the expression, but may a 'sickie' is the right way to go.
Cheers
Louis
Reference:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sickie

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