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Marginalités [et Strategies de Devéloppement)

English translation: marginalities

11:06 May 4, 2021
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - International Org/Dev/Coop / Subject title in MA transcript (Cameroon)
French term or phrase: Marginalités [et Strategies de Devéloppement)
I am wondering if I should translate this as Marginality [and Strategies for Development] or possibly Marginalisation?

The word occurs in a further subject: Les phénomènes de Marginalité [de la théorie à la réalité]

Many thanks
Sarah Verger
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:13
English translation:marginalities
Explanation:
You're right that it effectively means the same as marginalization, but I think you should respect the author's choice of words. They've used the plural to mean "different types of marginality".


We define marginality as “an involuntary position and condition of an individual or group at the margins of social, political, economic, ecological, and biophysical systems, that prevent them from access to resources, assets, services, restraining freedom of choice, preventing the development of capabilities...
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-7061-4_1
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thanks Phil
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3marginalities
philgoddard
4marginalisation (and strategies for development)
Gordon Matthews


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
marginalities


Explanation:
You're right that it effectively means the same as marginalization, but I think you should respect the author's choice of words. They've used the plural to mean "different types of marginality".


We define marginality as “an involuntary position and condition of an individual or group at the margins of social, political, economic, ecological, and biophysical systems, that prevent them from access to resources, assets, services, restraining freedom of choice, preventing the development of capabilities...
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-7061-4_1

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks Phil
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks Phil. Makes perfect sense to keep the plural since the word occurs further down the list in the singular.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne
4 hrs
agree  Conor McAuley: Interesting use of the word
5 hrs
  -> Yes, it's jargon, especially in the plural as it's normally an uncountable noun. Thanks.
agree  Carol Gullidge: In fact, I don't believe they are exactly the same thing, and - like you - would go along with the author's preference
6 hrs
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22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
marginalisation (and strategies for development)


Explanation:
I'm not in favour of a literal, word-for-word "translation" here. "Marginality" is so rarely used in English that I would much prefer "marginalisation", which is common parlance.
(It's a pity that Yvonne didn't post her contribution to the discussion as an answer. I would happily have given her my agreement.)

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Note added at 1 day 4 hrs (2021-05-05 15:33:11 GMT)
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In response to Asker's note: I don't think I've ever come across "marginality" (or "marginalities") in the context of international development - or in any other context, for that matter. You are right, however, that "marginalisation" makes no distinction between "marginality" and "marginalities". And "marginalisation" does indeed refer to the process rather than the state of being marginalised. I would assert that we translators are permitted to coin a phrase (or a word), if this seems to be the best way to convey the meaning of the source text. And "marginality/marginalities" is readily understandable. So, depending on the overall context (the aim of the text and the targeted readership, e.g. academic or interested "lay people"), one might choose "marginalisation" or "marginality/marginalities".

Gordon Matthews
Germany
Local time: 16:13
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your reply Gordon. I see you are an expert in the field so you may well have a point about 'marginality' not being in common parlance in English (even in the context international development?). It does seem helpful, though, to keep the distinction between 'Marginalités' and 'Marginalité', which 'Marginalisation' can't do. Could one also argue that 'marginalisation' refers as much to the process as to the state of being marginalised, whereas 'marginality' only refers to the state?

Asker: Thanks for your Addendum, Gordon. It is always good to know who the target reader is, isn't it?

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