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alternats

English translation: signing, in order of precedence,

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase: alternats
English translation:signing, in order of precedence,
Entered by: Wendy Streitparth

16:39 Jun 26, 2012
French to English translations [PRO]
Government / Politics / Diplomatic terminology
French term or phrase: alternats
In a caption to a photo on a Press Release ... "lors de la signature des alternats portant établissement des relations diplomatiques."

The Press Release refers to a signing ceremony for an agreement establishing diplomatic relations.

I have never come across "alternats" before. I can only find one reference to the English word "alternat" in a dictionary, as a noun referring to a diplomatic term used for signing treaties, etc., in a specific order according to rank.

Can one say ... "signing the alternats establishing diplomatic relations?" I'm not sure how this word should be used.

All suggestions appreciated!
Jane Golding
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:27
signing, in order of precedence,
Explanation:
He was fourth in precedence signing official documents
http://www.wjray.net/shakespeare_papers/ROLLETT_IN_REVERSE.p...

But does it really contribute anything to the caption? I think I would leave it out.
Selected response from:

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 15:27
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your suggestion.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +2signing, in order of precedence,
Wendy Streitparth
Summary of reference entries provided
Rotation in precedence
Catharine Cellier-Smart

Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
signing, in order of precedence,


Explanation:
He was fourth in precedence signing official documents
http://www.wjray.net/shakespeare_papers/ROLLETT_IN_REVERSE.p...

But does it really contribute anything to the caption? I think I would leave it out.

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 15:27
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your suggestion.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: I would not omit it as the signing has to be done in ranking order e.g. President/Chair/Queen first then next in rank
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Gallagy2 / Yes, but this is just a photo caption, so what order they are signing in is not visible - the message is the fact that they are signing.
agree  B D Finch: Agree with your suggestion to omit it. I think it is just used in the source text as an alternative word for documents.
15 hrs
  -> Thanks, BDF
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Reference comments


1 hr
Reference: Rotation in precedence

Reference information:
My dictionary translates this in a diplomatic context as "Rotation in precedence (in signing treaties etc)".
Unfortunately that's not a very easy answer to work with though.

Catharine Cellier-Smart
Reunion
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
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