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This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
French to English translations [PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
French term or phrase:ponctué
This term appears in a letter of recommendation for a medical student applying for a residency program, specifically, in the section of the letter that concerns the student's procedural skills. The sentence in question is as follows: "Elle a une bonne capacité d'analyse, est soucieuse du moindre détail, est calme et ponctuée". Any help would be appreciated. TIA
I realize this is irrelevant since the answer to medeast’s question has now been found, but just for the sake/pleasure of discussing words and how to use them, Termium disagrees with ‘Francine du Canada’ and with applying ‘articulé.e’ to a person. This word should not be used in Canadian French to describe someone who is articulate according to this entry: http://bdl.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/bdl/gabarit_bdl.asp?id=3548. Incidentally, the same applies to French from France, but that’s even more irrelevant!
This is from a Canadian contributor ("Francine du Canada") who referred to Queen Letizia of Spain as "articulée" and was met with a joke about dolls from someone in France who clearly didn't understand what she meant:
"Une langue, plusieures cultures et différents usages; chez nous, une personne articulée est une personne qui s’exprime bien, elle a les idées claires, le verbe facile et livrera facilement un message clair, précis, concis et compris de tous." http://www.noblesseetroyautes.com/les-souverains-espagnols-p...
I just heard from the person who wrote the letter. He said that "ponctuée" is the wrong word. It should be "articulée". Some of the ideas floated by the posters for my question are pretty clever and insightful. Thanks again. Regards,
Some good ideas have been proposed here, but there are too many possibilities. I will contact the author for clarification and post the answer here. I thank all of you for your input. Greatly appreciated.
Ponctué(e) comes from the verb ponctuer. The definition of ponctuer is: diviser(un texte) au moyen de la ponctution (source from Le Robert Illustré, 2014). So I would say it is related to the capability of the punctuation of the person.
It could well be a mistake for the word ponctuel. At least that makes sense and fits the context. Asker should ask the client. Guessing is really pointless p
Like Charles, I'm not sure enough to post an answer. But I suspect it may mean "focus(s)ed". She keeps her attention directed towards the 'point' at hand, impervious to distractions.
To me it intuitively suggests steady, methodical or well organised. Punctuation, after all, is a instrument for clarifying syntax, introducing pauses in a stream of text so that it makes sense. If you described someone as "unpunctuated" you might mean that everything comes out in a disorganised rush.
But this is a guess, and I don't like posting guesses as answers.
Someone may know this use of "ponctué(e)"; I don't. I wonder whether it's a mistake for "ponctuelle", meaning either punctual or meticulous, which would fit, I think. But one shouldn't assume something's a typo unless it doesn't make sense as it is.
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Answers
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
meticulous
Explanation: I think, after all, that this is worth suggesting. If this is an error for "ponctuelle", this is the meaning, I think: the first definition in the Trésor:
If, on the other hand, it really is an idiosyncratic use of "ponctué(e)", my intuitive sense of what that would mean leads me to the same meaning, or to something in the same area of meaning. Punctuation, it seems to me, implies steadiness and attention to detail.
Charles Davis Spain Local time: 16:10 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 56