Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

at the margin

French translation:

consommateurs à la marge

Added to glossary by Marcombes (X)
Mar 23, 2017 20:46
7 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term

at the margin

English to French Social Sciences Environment & Ecology
While it may be possible to make consumers more knowledgeable at the margin, a major increase in environmental knowledge is unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Change log

Aug 1, 2017 09:44: Marcombes (X) Created KOG entry

Discussion

Tony M Mar 23, 2017:
@ Asker Let's note first of all the rather unusual wording:
"...make consumers more knowledgeable at the margin..."

Now assuming this is correct EN written by a native speaker, I would not normally understand that to mean 'marginally — to me, it's particularly the use of the preposition 'at' that might at first sight appear curious.

I think the answer is actually simple: I believe the writer is not talking here about 'the margin of the knowledge', but rather, those consumers who are "at the margin" — i.e. between the two groups of consumers: those who are already deeply aware of and commited to environmental issues; and those who don't give a damn about saving the planet, there is a marginal group of people who are faintly aware of environmental issues, maybe have a nagging guilty conscience about it, but perhaps don't actually take any concrete action. I believe it's these people who are being referred to here — of course, they represent a far smaller group of people than either of the 2 major groups.
After all, there's no point campaigning to those who are already committed — "preaching to the converted"; there's probably not a lot that can be done to win over the others.

Proposed translations

+3
2 hrs
Selected

consommateurs à la marge

Il est peu probable que les enjeux d'environnement soient mieux appréhendés dans un futur prévisible, bien qu'il soit possible de mieux sensibiliser les consommateurs à la marge (d'augmenter leur compétence).
Peer comment(s):

agree gayd (X)
2 hrs
Thanks
agree Antoine Dequidt
1 day 5 hrs
agree Annie Rigler
1 day 11 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
-2
1 hr

sommaire

D'après le contexte, il s'agit de mieux informer les consommateurs.

Le contraste est fait entre une connaissance sommaire et une connaissance future plus approfondie des enjeux environnementaux.

Essai de traduction selon le contexte: "S'il est possible de mieux informer les consommateurs, leur connaissance restera sommaire et ne sera probablement plus approfondie que dans un proche avenir."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2017-03-23 22:14:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Il est bien entendu qu'il s'agit de leur connaissance des questions/enjeux environnementaux
Peer comment(s):

neutral Tony M : Actually, I'm not at all sure that your suggestion isn't a counter-sense too! Please see my discussion post...
24 mins
Effectivement. Apres relecture, je crois qu'il y a contre-sens. Je men excuse. Je fais une autre proposition...
disagree gayd (X) : un peu tiré par les cheveux
3 hrs
disagree FX Fraipont (X) : really?
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
2 hrs

d'être à la limite plus conscients

les gens
Peer comment(s):

disagree gayd (X) : un peu tiré par les cheveux
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

À petite échelle ou en faible proportion

Il est possible de mieux informer les consommateurs mais à petite échelle, une connaissance des enjeux environnementaux n'étant pas envisageable dans un futur proche.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-03-23 22:56:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Une connaissance plus approfondie des enjeux environnementaux n'étant pas envisageable dans un avenir proche.
Something went wrong...
-1
11 mins

de façon marginale

...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2017-03-24 06:06:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

this makes consumers more knowledgeable at the margin, but there won't be major increase in (their) environmental knowledge

Je ne vois pas de contresens : il s en savent un peu plus, mais ils ne maîtriseront probablement pas l'ensemble du problème dans un futur proche.

"marginal :
P. ext. Qui a une faible importance quantitative ou qui n'est pas essentiel dans un système donné."
http://www.cnrtl.fr/lexicographie/marginal


Peer comment(s):

disagree Geraldine Njonkou : Frise le contre-sens dans ce contexte je crois
1 hr
neutral Tony M : I'm not entirely sure if we are interpreting the source text the same way here?
1 hr
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search