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magnesium SG
embrochage fasciculé
May 28, 2018 15:38
6 yrs ago
8 viewers *
French term

à votre attention

French to English Bus/Financial General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters declaration on the accuracy of accounting information
Towards the end of a document discussing the accounts of a firm, an "attestation" to certify the accuracy of the information is said to be "établie à votre attention".

Can I count this as another example of an 'augmented' French pronoun (like "à destination de" or "émanant de") and reduce it to "drawn up for your attention"?

Merci & Thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 [issued] for your attention
4 -1 for you
3 -1 drawn to/meant for your attention
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): philgoddard

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Discussion

Daryo May 31, 2018:
FINALLY a usable context! although I noticed it only after the question was closed.

Cette attestation est établie à votre attention dans le contexte précisé au premier paragraphe et ne doit pas être utilisée, diffusée ou citée à d’autres fins.

=>

"à votre attention" doesn't mean "for you to read it" or some similar meaning from the general language, it means "ONLY YOU can use this certificate, and ONLY for the purpose of what is described in the first paragraph - this certificate is not valid for anything else".

IOW it does have a legal meaning - it's not NOT a certificate valid for any use / meant for anyone "To whom it may concern" - it's validity is restricted to only one specific use.

The translation proposed by Rob Grayson would be fine.
Thomas Miles (asker) May 30, 2018:
That is noted, Rob. Thanks for your input. The project has not been delivered yet, so I still have time to review the segment in question.
Rob Grayson May 30, 2018:
@Thomas In that case, I would probably say something like "This certification is given in the context set out in the first section and must not used, distributed or cited for any other purpose". In my opinion, "à votre attention" need not be explicitly translated here.
Thomas Miles (asker) May 30, 2018:
As promised, here is lengthier extract: "Ces travaux ont consisté par sondages ou au moyen d’autres méthodes de sélection, à ... vérifier la conformité de ces informations avec les stipulations de la convention de prestations de services de XXXXX. Sur la base de nos travaux, nous n’avons pas d’observation à formuler sur les informations figurant dans le document joint. Cette attestation est établie à votre attention dans le contexte précisé au premier paragraphe et ne doit pas être utilisée, diffusée ou citée à d’autres fins."
Thomas Miles (asker) May 29, 2018:
"drawn up for your attention" Dear LD,

I will count that as another point in favour of "[issued] for your attention"!

Bonne soirée.
Thomas Miles (asker) May 29, 2018:
Dear Phil and Rob,

I am somewhat disappointed to read the criticisms directed at me in the discussion. I do not currently have access to the file, but have made a note to try and add an extract from the text tomorrow. That said, I do not recall there being any additional information that would help members to suggest a translation. Moreover, I try to keep the context in the original question as succinct as possible to avoid overwhelming members with information that they have to read through.

It is indeed true that I sometimes close questions without awarding points. This is when I did not feel that any of the answers were the best fit for the text and its context, and would therefore distort any future searches for the term. However, I do try to thank members for their input because I appreciate everybody's willingness to help. As you can see, prior to me replying today there are four instances on this post where I thank members.

Thomas
philgoddard May 29, 2018:
We should have realised that this asker closes lots of questions without awarding points or saying thank you.
Laurence Dana May 29, 2018:
Hi Thomas, "Drawn up for your attention" is absolutely fine
Rob Grayson May 29, 2018:
The poster has been asked repeatedly… …to provide more complete context (as in a whole sentence or two), and 24+ hours later has still not done so. I conclude that he's not really interested in a reliable answer.
Daryo May 29, 2018:
the "apparent" meaning is blindingly obvious and basically nonsensical (une lapalissade qui n'a aucun sens)

These accountants will obviously present their work to those who commissioned it marking it "établie à votre attention" - (whose else could it be???), but this doesn't add ANY significant information.

It might be part a set formula with some legal meaning, or just one of those formal endings that are no more than set figures of style in formal writing in French.

Without the full sentence, it's just pointless guessing - and possibly dangerous guessing as "accounts = money involved" (you don't let poetic license off the leash when money is involved, not a good idea)

Related to this, but not necessarily the case of this ST: there is an innocuously sounding formulation that you will find in some accounts that basically means that accountants are washing their hands and in effect saying "we done our work with the figures given to us, but couldn't check them - for all we know they could be accurate or these numbers could be just the figment of company directors imagination" - the kind of "small details" that can change dramatically the meaning of the whole text.
philgoddard May 28, 2018:
Once again, please could we have the French context.
Thomas Miles (asker) May 28, 2018:
Yes, it is indeed an auditors' report.
Rob Grayson May 28, 2018:
So many guesses… …and without more context, that's all they are: guesses.
philgoddard May 28, 2018:
I agree that we need the French context. It sounds like an auditors' report - is it?
mrrafe May 28, 2018:
I wouldn't expect to see anything like this in US Eng. A common expression is "For your information" (FYI), but that's usually used to signify either nothing or that no response is expected.
Rob Grayson May 28, 2018:
It would probably help… …if you would post the full sentence and say a bit more about the document (what it is, who/what it's for, etc.).

Proposed translations

+2
21 mins
Selected

[issued] for your attention

It is formal!

être établi à l'attention de - Traduction anglaise – Linguee
https://www.linguee.fr/francais-anglais/.../être établi à l'...
summary test report shall be issued for the attention of the manufacturer of the .... J'ai l'honneur de porter à votre attention le document de réflexion établi en vue ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2018-05-28 16:00:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

établir/émettre un avoir > issue a credit note - ProZ.com
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french_to_english/.../1054552-avo...
7 Jun 2005 - French term or phrase: avoirs à établir. I feel this should be a really easy phrase, but nothing is coming up - part of a balance sheet on 'other ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2018-05-28 16:01:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or

prepared for your attention
Note from asker:
Thank you for your input.
Peer comment(s):
neutral writeaway : établir doesn't mean issued
1 hr
agree AllegroTrans : prepared/drawn up/established for your attention
5 hrs
agree Michael Brookman M.S.
6 hrs
disagree Daryo : no point guessing the meaning of a fragment free floating in thin air without any context
16 hrs
agree philgoddard : I don't know how Daryo knows this is wrong.
20 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Based on the context and register, this was clearly the response with the most peer support."
-1
8 mins

for you

As in, "has been prepared for you"
Note from asker:
Thank you Laurel. This is the option I have used for the time being.
Peer comment(s):
neutral AllegroTrans : this is too informal
5 hrs
disagree Daryo : no point guessing the meaning of a fragment free floating in thin air without any context
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
11 mins

drawn to/meant for your attention

Peer comment(s):
disagree Daryo : no point guessing the meaning of a fragment free floating in thin air without any context
16 hrs
Certainly not just a guess since the asker himslef indicated that he was mostly headed in this very direction, as far as the translation of the phrase is concerned. Bogus disagree.
Something went wrong...
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