action

English translation: treat each one differently

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:action
English translation:treat each one differently
Entered by: angela3thomas

17:12 Aug 1, 2017
French to English translations [PRO]
Science - Science (general) / ancient art
French term or phrase: action
Hi again!
DOC: 1907 Museum catalog of ancient Egyptian mirrors.
CONTEXTS:
leur action grossissante = their magnifying action
l'action décomposante du sol = the corrosive action of the soil
Le jaune n'est pas de la dorure, mais l'action du bitume. = The yellow is caused by the bitumen and not the gilding.
l'action décomposante du sol = the decomposing action of the soil
provenir de l'action du feu = to be the result of fire
l'action de l'eau = the action of water
soumises à son action réfléchissante = subjected to its reflective action
ISSUE: "Action" in all these context from the catalog seem to be saying the same thing, is there a comparable word in English? as usually action/process/effect from the standard dictionaries don't work and sound awkward and unnatural.
Thanks in advance for thoughts!
angela3thomas
United States
treat each one differently
Explanation:
I don't know if these are all close together on one page, or spread throughout the book. If it's the former, you obviously can't keep repeating "action", but the word does work in many of these contexts.

If you have to avoid using it, I suggest:

Their magnifying properties
The corrosive properties of the soil
The result of fire damage
The result of water damage
Caused by the bitumen

I'm not sure of the last one because of the lack of context, but "reflective properties" might work.

Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thank you Philgoddard! and everyone else for the additional feedback
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1treat each one differently
philgoddard


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
treat each one differently


Explanation:
I don't know if these are all close together on one page, or spread throughout the book. If it's the former, you obviously can't keep repeating "action", but the word does work in many of these contexts.

If you have to avoid using it, I suggest:

Their magnifying properties
The corrosive properties of the soil
The result of fire damage
The result of water damage
Caused by the bitumen

I'm not sure of the last one because of the lack of context, but "reflective properties" might work.



philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you Philgoddard! and everyone else for the additional feedback

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: I agree with 'propeties' for certain ones, but I think 'action' IS specifically required for water and soil.
5 mins

neutral  B D Finch: I agree with the principle, but "l'action décomposante" doesn't mean "corrosive properties".
2 hrs
  -> Yes, the asker has translated it twice, once rightly and once wrongly. It should be "decomposing".
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.

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