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sommige

English translation: certain

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Flemish term or phrase:sommige
English translation:certain
Entered by: Ken Cox

13:49 Feb 7, 2007
Flemish to English translations [PRO]
Linguistics / usage
Flemish term or phrase: sommige
According to Van Dale, 'sommige' means 'een onbepaald, meestal klein aantal', and the English translations given by VD are 'some' and 'certain'.

I am translating an equipment safety inspection report prepared by a Belgian firm. In a reference document provided by the client, 'sommige' is translated as 'any' (in the sense of 'eventueel aanwezig') in a specific context. Is this common Belgian usage?

sample context:

Deze risico-inschatting werd toegepast op sommige vastgestelde risico's.
(Translated as 'the risk assessment is routinely applied to any risks discovered').
Ken Cox
Local time: 02:06
certain
Explanation:
no, same usage as in the Netherlands
Selected response from:

Björn Houben
Belgium
Local time: 02:06
Grading comment
Thanks all -- it looks like the translator read too much into the text (the rest of the translation also has a few oddities). In response to my question about this, the client said (in so many words) 'please translate as you see fit (and change the template if possible)'. Must be nice to have such confidence in the quality of the work you receive...
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3certain
Björn Houben
4some
Carole Donnay (X)
3certain/particular
Katrien De Clercq
3a number of
writeaway


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
certain


Explanation:
no, same usage as in the Netherlands

Björn Houben
Belgium
Local time: 02:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FlemishFlemish, Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks all -- it looks like the translator read too much into the text (the rest of the translation also has a few oddities). In response to my question about this, the client said (in so many words) 'please translate as you see fit (and change the template if possible)'. Must be nice to have such confidence in the quality of the work you receive...

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Paul Peeraerts
10 mins
agree  Dennis Seine
2 hrs
agree  blomguib (X): ik zie niet in waarom dat anders zou zijn
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
certain/particular


Explanation:
I would certainly not use "any". This would mean "all the risks"...



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2007-02-07 13:56:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry Björn, terzelfder tijd...

Katrien De Clercq
Local time: 02:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in FlemishFlemish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
some


Explanation:
in this case, "sommige" is equivalent to the english "some"
the translation would rather be: this risk-assessment has been applied to some of the detected risks.

Carole Donnay (X)
Local time: 02:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a number of


Explanation:
'any' is wrong imho. sommige does not mean 'eventueel'.

writeaway
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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