'signification investment'?

[Torsten]

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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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

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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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Torsten]

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
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

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.

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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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[significant Jan]

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.

[Yankee]

Ahoy, Significant Jan

Yes, signification is a word. (Was there a mutiny in your Collins again? ) 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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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[barbaric Jan]

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

[Yankee]

Hi Barbarjan

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.

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English