Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
ils ne la connaissent pas
English translation:
they have no real knowledge of it
French term
United Kingdom
ils ne la connaissent pas
I would really appreciate some help with expressing the cenral thought in this sentence - I'm struggling to do so elegantly, and as it's the concluding thought in a long, long document, it needs to be just right.
Can't give more copy-pasted context due to confidentiality, but the context is how to get Europe's citizens to see the benefits that a more integrated Europe, with a stronger identity, could offer them in their daily lives. And how to turn public opinion in favour of Europe. The "situation" which is fostering euroscepticism is a lack of European policy focusing on such everyday issues as training and employment.
The bit I'm really struggling with is "ils ne la connaissent pas". There are so many nuances to "connaître" and so many possible ways to translate, from the literal "do not know" to the more pragmatic "are not familiar with" and even "do not understand it" (but this is too far from the original French). I would really appreciate some suggestions - the more the merrier.
Also, I just want to thank everybody that's been helping me so far with this lengthy document, particularly in view of the fact that I've been providing very limited context.
| 4 +7 | they have no real knowledge of it |
Jane F
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| 3 +1 | out of ignorance |
polyglot45
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Oct 1, 2013 16:47: Nikki Scott-Despaigne changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Oct 15, 2013 04:42: Jane F Created KOG entry
PRO (1): Jane F
Non-PRO (3): GILLES MEUNIER, philgoddard, Nikki Scott-Despaigne
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Proposed translations
they have no real knowledge of it
| agree |
Victoria Britten
: I like your first version best. Spot on.
8 mins
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thanks Victoria
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| agree |
B D Finch
58 mins
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thanks B D Finch
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| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
1 hr
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thanks gallagy2
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| agree |
philgoddard
1 hr
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thanks Phil
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| agree |
GILLES MEUNIER
: true
1 hr
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thanks Gilou, isn't faintest idea usually used in the negative (they don't have the faintest idea)?
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| agree |
Colin Morley (X)
: Yes - or perhaps no real understanding of it
1 hr
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thanks Colin
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| agree |
Daryo
4 hrs
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Native in: English 
, French
Works in: English to French, French to English, German to French, and 4 more.
out of ignorance
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Note added at 2 hrs (2013-10-01 10:37:00 GMT)
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eurosceptics who, in their ignorance (of the subject), are opposed to Europe
| neutral |
Tony M
: That would need to be used really carefully, since we certainly mustn't imply that our dear fellow-citizens are 'ignorant'! The key point here is the 'la' = ignorant about Europe — but I'm not sure how easy it would be to work that in with this?
6 mins
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ignorance about the subject - I like the Freudian slip with "sued"
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| agree |
writeaway
1 hr
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Discussion
Without the previous sentence, it is difficult to do anything more than reel out a number of standard possibilities. I appreciate there is a confidentiality issue, but can you really not provide the previous sentence, or the end of it? The meaning can only be gleaned from context and with next to none, then well, the suggestions are going to be limited to standard readings.
I mean, it could be : have no knowledge of it (do not know of its existence; or they are not experts), are not familiar with it (know it exists, but have no detailed knowledge/expertise of its contexts). The subtlety may be extremely important and without context, well, ...