cette modalité ne corresponde pas à l’état d’esprit de la catégorie

English translation: even though this type of response does not reflect the spirit of the question

11:01 Sep 23, 2004

French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / Anti-discrimination policies

French term or phrase: cette modalité ne corresponde pas à l’état d’esprit de la catégorie

Am having problems with the above phrase - am thinking on the lines of "this method does not relate to the status of the category" but am really not confident about this - any suggestions would be welcomed. The paragraph from which this phrase was taken is below. Thanks in advance!

Statistique Canada a autorisé la réponse « Canadien » à la question sur l’origine ethnique, bien que cette modalité ne corresponde pas à l’état d’esprit de la catégorie. Celle-ci vise à enregistrer l’origine, considérée comme l’ascendance du « premier ancêtre » (référence utilisée jusqu’en 1996) venu au Canada, ce qui suppose qu’il y en ait eu bien un. La réponse « canadien » perturbe la signification de la catégorie, mais correspond à une appropriation par les répondants de la référence identitaire. La solution a finalement été d’associer au recensement une enquête complémentaire sur la diversité ethnique pour retrouver le contenu antérieur de la question.

Julie Harper KudoZ activity Questions: 129 (2 open) (2 without valid answers) (4 closed without grading) Answers: 1 Spain
Local time: 00:11

English translation:even though this type of response does not reflect the spirit of the question

Explanation:
modalité (here) refers to the fact that this answer was allowed but I think if you just say 'this' in English it should be OK;
etat is NOT status but part of the phrase "état d'esprit" = state of mind

So such an answer does not correspond to the thinking behind the question/category

HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-09-23 13:09:44 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

what they are actually saying is that letting people give \"Canadian\" as their ethic origin is undermining the whole principle behind the question which aimed to see where people\'s historical roots were

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-09-23 13:10:08 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

so IT DEFEATS THE WHOLE EXERCISE

Selected response from:

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 00:11

Grading comment

Thanks very much for your take on this and for such a speedy response.

Best regards
Julie
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

even though this type of response does not reflect the spirit of the question

CMJ_Trans (X)

3 +1

goes against /is not in keeping with

John Peterson

this procedure does not do justice to the defining principles of this /the category

Mauro Baglieri

this response does not conform with the intent of the category

Johanne Bouthillier

Answers

26 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

goes against /is not in keeping with

Explanation:
Perhaps something like:

"Although the use of this/such a (catch-all)response goes against/is not (really) in keeping with the spirit of/the reason(s) for having this description/classification".

As the text suggests, they get around the problem of using a catch-all term by a supplementary or follow-up survey.

Not a very elegant formulation, but there may be some sope for picking and choosing.

John Peterson
Local time: 23:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 19

38 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

even though this type of response does not reflect the spirit of the question

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 00:11
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 68

Grading comment

Thanks very much for your take on this and for such a speedy response.

Best regards
Julie

1 hr confidence:

cette modalité ne corresponde pas à l’état d’esprit de la catégorie this procedure does not do justice to the defining principles of this /the category

Explanation:
To me, this seems not to be so much about something against the letter of the law, as to the "moral" principles or "values" that inspired it.

Mauro Baglieri
Italy
Local time: 00:11
Native speaker of:

Italian

3 hrs confidence:

cette modalité ne corresponde pas à l’état d’esprit de la catégorie this response does not conform with the intent of the category

Explanation:
-

Johanne Bouthillier
Canada
Local time: 18:11
Native speaker of: French

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.

Return to KudoZ list

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:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

cette modalité ne corresponde pas à l’état d’esprit de la catégorie

English translation: even though this type of response does not reflect the spirit of the question

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

cette modalité ne corresponde pas à l’état d’esprit de la catégorie

English translation: even though this type of response does not reflect the spirit of the question

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language