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numerical

English translation: acting in numerical order of precedence

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:numerical
Selected answer:acting in numerical order of precedence
Entered by: Charles Davis

12:36 Jan 17, 2018
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general)
English term or phrase: numerical
The Supervisory Committee shall be composed of three main members and three numerical alternates, who must be members of the association. Their responsibilities and functions shall be specified in the statutes.
Muhammad Atallah
Egypt
Local time: 22:04
acting in numerical order of precedence
Explanation:
This expression, which I have never seen before in English, turns out to be literally translated from Colombian Spanish. The only English text in which I can find it is a translation of Colombia's copyright law, Law 44 of 5 February 1993. The sentence you have quoted comes from this translation. Here it is in English:
http://www.unesco.org/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/diversity/...

Your sentence is in Article 19. And here is the Spanish version, in which the sentence appears as follows:

"ARTICULO 19. El Comité de Vigilancia estará integrado por tres (3) miembros principales y tres (3) suplentes numéricos, quienes deberán ser miembros de la asociación. Sus atribuciones y funciones se precisaran en los estatutos."
http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/es/text.jsp?file_id=126030

So "numerical alternates" is a literal translation of "suplentes numéricos". In Colombia there are two kinds of alternates: "personal" and "numérico". This mainly arises in company law in relation to boards of directors. The difference is that each "personal" alternate is an alternate for a particular member of the committee. With three members and three alternates, if a member is missing the specific personal alternate corresponding to that member will act in his/her place. But with "numerical" alternates, the three alternates form a single "pool", with an order of precedence: there is a first alternate, a second and a third. If one member is missing, whichever member it is, the first "numerical alternate" will replace him/her. So the second and third numerical alternates will only act if two or three members are missing.

Here, for those who can read Spanish, is an explanation of these Colombian terms. See paragraphs 4-6.
http://www.accounter.co/normatividad/oficios/oficio-220-0438...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2018-01-18 07:16:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Numerical alternates" is not used in English and was not a good choice to translate "suplentes numéricos". So what should they be called in English? I have just realised that I myself answered a question on this Spanish term here in 2015. I found that "general alternate" and "non-specific alternate" are used in genuine EN sources:
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/management/581...
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 22:04
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6acting in numerical order of precedence
Charles Davis


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
acting in numerical order of precedence


Explanation:
This expression, which I have never seen before in English, turns out to be literally translated from Colombian Spanish. The only English text in which I can find it is a translation of Colombia's copyright law, Law 44 of 5 February 1993. The sentence you have quoted comes from this translation. Here it is in English:
http://www.unesco.org/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/diversity/...

Your sentence is in Article 19. And here is the Spanish version, in which the sentence appears as follows:

"ARTICULO 19. El Comité de Vigilancia estará integrado por tres (3) miembros principales y tres (3) suplentes numéricos, quienes deberán ser miembros de la asociación. Sus atribuciones y funciones se precisaran en los estatutos."
http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/es/text.jsp?file_id=126030

So "numerical alternates" is a literal translation of "suplentes numéricos". In Colombia there are two kinds of alternates: "personal" and "numérico". This mainly arises in company law in relation to boards of directors. The difference is that each "personal" alternate is an alternate for a particular member of the committee. With three members and three alternates, if a member is missing the specific personal alternate corresponding to that member will act in his/her place. But with "numerical" alternates, the three alternates form a single "pool", with an order of precedence: there is a first alternate, a second and a third. If one member is missing, whichever member it is, the first "numerical alternate" will replace him/her. So the second and third numerical alternates will only act if two or three members are missing.

Here, for those who can read Spanish, is an explanation of these Colombian terms. See paragraphs 4-6.
http://www.accounter.co/normatividad/oficios/oficio-220-0438...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2018-01-18 07:16:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Numerical alternates" is not used in English and was not a good choice to translate "suplentes numéricos". So what should they be called in English? I have just realised that I myself answered a question on this Spanish term here in 2015. I found that "general alternate" and "non-specific alternate" are used in genuine EN sources:
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/management/581...

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 22:04
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 136
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you so much! That is really helpful.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Tony!
agree  MPGS: :-)
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, MPGS :-)
agree  philgoddard: Your parents should have called you Sherlock.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Phil :-) I was still in the dark until I noticed the word "Colombia" at the top of the English text.
agree  Björn Vrooman: Someone in Colombia must have thought this to be the perfect opportunity for a game of teléfono descompuesto. Glad you saw through that. // Thanks, I hope it has for you too! Wasn't sure either whether I could wish you a "belated" Happy New Year =)
9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Björn :-) My memory is failing; I have just found a SP-EN question on this that I answered! Now cited above. Ich hoffe, 2018 hat für dich gut begonnen (es its vielleicht un bisschen spät, Neujahrsgrüße anzubringen).
agree  acetran
5 days
  -> Thanks, acetran :-)
agree  NishantM
6 days
  -> Thank you :-)
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