This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Government / Politics

Direction Générale de l'Armement

English translation: keep official FR name (and add a descriptor)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Direction Générale de l'Armement (France)
English translation:keep official FR name (and add a descriptor)
Entered by: Joshua Wolfe

13:14 Aug 3, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Government / Politics / cited in list of institutions using a PR service
French term or phrase: Direction Générale de l'Armement
I have hunted around and found plenty of discussion
(e.g. htp://www.linkedin.com/answers/government-non-profit/government-p...

I need to be convinced to use Directorate...
ormiston
Local time: 01:10
keep official name
Explanation:
You are right to hesitate about using Directorate. One of the many reasons for not translating the name of an entity is that the common noun components of it (direction, générale) do not have EXACT equivalents in another language/another society.
I would suggest keeping the French term and using whatever descriptive phrase you feel is most accurate in a parenthetical comment.
Selected response from:

Joshua Wolfe
Local time: 19:10
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +7keep official name
Joshua Wolfe
5 +1The French Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Agency DGA
Michel F. Morin
4French General Directorate for Armament
cc in nyc


  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
keep official name


Explanation:
You are right to hesitate about using Directorate. One of the many reasons for not translating the name of an entity is that the common noun components of it (direction, générale) do not have EXACT equivalents in another language/another society.
I would suggest keeping the French term and using whatever descriptive phrase you feel is most accurate in a parenthetical comment.

Joshua Wolfe
Local time: 19:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alistair Ian Spearing Ortiz
13 mins
  -> Thanks, Alistair
agree  Bourth (X): I think anyone wishing to buy weapons knows what DGA stands for!
45 mins
  -> Sad, but true.
agree  Allison Wright (X)
48 mins
  -> Thank-you.
agree  liz askew
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Liz
agree  Clive Phillips: Bourth is right. You could add Michel Morin's answer in brackets, as DE&S is the UK equivalent.
4 hrs
  -> Thank-you, Clive
agree  piazza d
8 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Mark Bossanyi
17 hrs
  -> Thank-you
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
The French Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Agency DGA


Explanation:
Yes, keep it as "DGA" - but with an added explanation. Since 2007, GB DE&S is the nearest equivalent to the French DGA.

See Web.Ref.


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Equipment_and_Support
Michel F. Morin
France
Local time: 01:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 42

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Clive Phillips: Yes. Or the French term followed by the UK agency title in brackets.
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
French General Directorate for Armament


Explanation:
Not my invention; I found it on the French Embassy's "France in Canada" bilingual webpage: http://ambafran.whc.ca/spip.php?article4046

The French text:
Journée de l’Industrie navale française organisée le 10 mai 2011 à Ottawa par l’Ambassade de France au Canada, avec la participation du Ministère de la Défense et des anciens combattants, de la Direction générale de l’Armement, de la Marine nationale, [...]

The English text:
French Naval Industry Day held on May 10, 2011 in Ottawa by the Embassy of France in Canada, with the participation of the French Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, the French General Directorate for Armament, French Navy, [...]

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2011-08-03 16:47:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oops, I meant to "bold" French General Directorate for Armament in the English text that I cited.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2011-08-07 20:14:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If you google, you'll find a couple of dozen references to "French General Directorate for Armament (DGA)" – including this UK Ministry of Defense page – http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLo... – which lists, as one of the "Related Links" on the right banner, "Direction générale pour l'armement – The French General Directorate for Armament."

cc in nyc
Local time: 19:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 19
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search