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'signification investment'?



 
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'signification investment'? #1 (permalink) Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:58 am   'signification investment'?
 

Hi again, could you please tell me what a signification investment is? I understand the combination significant investment. Is a signification investment a new buzz word or just a typo? Here is the context I've come across it:

"The market launch began with the first signification investment: a 12-megawatt peak (MWp) system for the production of polycrystalline silicon wafer-based solar cells."

Thanks as ever,
Torsten
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'signification investment'? #2 (permalink) Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:14 pm   'signification investment'?
 

Hi Torsten

It sounded like a mistranslation to me, but I googled it anyway and found the website your quote comes from.

It's a German company and I assume the English version is simply a translation of the original German text. In the German version the words "...mit der ersten bedeutenden Investition" are used.

My opinion: Bad translation, significant would be better.

Amy
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Q-cells.com website review #3 (permalink) Wed Jun 07, 2006 19:43 pm   Q-cells.com website review
 

Hi Amy,

Many thanks clarifying the investment question. Yes, you are right, I was referring to the English version of the Q-Cells website. What do you think of their presentation? I mean, what impression do they make on you when you read the English version of their web contents? Can you tell that it is the English version of a German text? Is there any difference American corporations present themselves online?

Regards,
Torsten
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'signification investment'? #4 (permalink) Wed Jun 07, 2006 23:11 pm   'signification investment'?
 

Hi Torsten

I haven't read everything on the website, but generally speaking, the translation isn't bad. It's pretty direct and that led to some awkward spots.

Just a quick example:
In one place the German text is 'so genannte Win-Win-Situationen' and this is directly translated as 'so-called win-win situations'. My point here is, I wouldn't say "so-called" in English because that's what it IS called in English. It's only "so-called" in German. Laughing

The site has a very clean, uncluttered and organized look. I think an American site might have a bit more "razzle-dazzle" on it.

Amy
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
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'signification investment'? #5 (permalink) Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:23 am   'signification investment'?
 

Hi,
does the noun signification exist ?
Shouldn't be here something like significance instead of signification apart of that that correct meaning was in the sentence significant.
May I build a question sentence like

"Does it exist?"

Regards
Jan
Unsignificant changes in a translation are often significant reasons for a misinterpretation.
significant Jan
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'signification investment'? #6 (permalink) Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:34 am   'signification investment'?
 

Ahoy, Significant Jan Very Happy

Yes, signification is a word. (Was there a mutiny in your Collins again? Laughing) It's a noun and means 'the act of indicating or signifying'.

Yes, you can ask if a word exists.

Your sentence was very good ... just one small correction needed:
Insignificant changes in a translation are often significant reasons for a misinterpretation.

Amy
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
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Mutiny #7 (permalink) Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:51 am   Mutiny
 

Well, you know...
when you loose a grip once then it is a mess for ever.
They prefer to write significance instead of signification
barbarian "English"used to mess up in barbaric way
I am to become used to their barbarity.
Regards
Jan
barbaric Jan
Guest





'signification investment'? #8 (permalink) Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:03 am   'signification investment'?
 

Hi Barbarjan Laughing

The word significance also exists and is probably much more often used than signification. The meaning is also different. Significance is similar in meaning to importance.

But I guess Collins has told you that already. Laughing

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

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