Apr 24, 2007 12:18
17 yrs ago
Dutch term
Jeroen Daem
use of modal verbs
Non-PRO
Dutch to English
Other
Education / Pedagogy
exam regulations
Dear Colleagues,
I am currently translating our University College's exam regulations from Dutch into English. Quite often Dutch uses "moet/moeten" to impose a rule on the students. My question is: should I translate that using "must" or "shall". E.g.: "Students must respect the exam schedule" or "Students shall respect the exam schedule".
In my opion, "shall" is the better choice since that is the verb that I find back in contract language too (and the exam regulations resemble a contract between College and student). However, since I am a non-native speaker, I am in doubt ...
Thanks for your kind advice.
Jeroen
I am currently translating our University College's exam regulations from Dutch into English. Quite often Dutch uses "moet/moeten" to impose a rule on the students. My question is: should I translate that using "must" or "shall". E.g.: "Students must respect the exam schedule" or "Students shall respect the exam schedule".
In my opion, "shall" is the better choice since that is the verb that I find back in contract language too (and the exam regulations resemble a contract between College and student). However, since I am a non-native speaker, I am in doubt ...
Thanks for your kind advice.
Jeroen
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | are required to |
Andre de Vries
|
Proposed translations
+1
4 mins
Andre de Vries
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
satisfaction guaranteed
Native in: English
Works in: Dutch to English, Flemish to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
are required to
"shall" is too legalistic and therefore not relevant
must is too blunt
so I would say "are required to"
informally we would say "have to"
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Note added at 9 hrs (2007-04-24 21:20:17 GMT)
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further: "must" implies a direct order from the speaker. It would be relevant in a message or note to the students before the examination.
"have to" implies an order from a third party - i.e. the government or authorities. Unfortunately non-native speakers miss this distinction and so end up sounding rude... Well, I prefer "need to" anyway.
"Shall" implies an obligation imposed by another party in contrast to "will". Hope that's all clear then.
must is too blunt
so I would say "are required to"
informally we would say "have to"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2007-04-24 21:20:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
further: "must" implies a direct order from the speaker. It would be relevant in a message or note to the students before the examination.
"have to" implies an order from a third party - i.e. the government or authorities. Unfortunately non-native speakers miss this distinction and so end up sounding rude... Well, I prefer "need to" anyway.
"Shall" implies an obligation imposed by another party in contrast to "will". Hope that's all clear then.
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