Sep 26, 2010 21:50
13 yrs ago
Japanese term
経済の自立性が高いとは言い難く
Japanese to English
Other
Economics
Hi, professional translators! I'm struggling with the phrase above. I'm clueless about how to translate that into English.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!
Thanks.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!
Thanks.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
6 hrs
Kieran Bradley
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Accurate, prompt and professional
Native in: English 
Works in: Japanese to English, English to Japanese
Related KudoZ points
:
3
Selected
The economy is far from being fully independent
I don't think it's usually appropriate to translate "とは言い難い" literally, and the words "high" and "independence" do not usually correlate in English.
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I liked your translation the best. Thanks for your contribution :-)"
39 mins
the economy cannot be said to display a high level of independence
OK, a little literal but that's what it says. will need brushing up stylistically.
2 hrs
Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.)
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand
EN-TH-JP: large volume tech/buzz/legal
Native in: Thai
Works in: English to Thai, Japanese to Thai, Thai to English, and 8 more.
great economic independency is unlikely
See example in : http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15138420.html
Note from asker:
| Thanks for your contribution, too! |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Raitei
: The good news is that there are two hits on Google for "great economic independency." The bad news is that both of the hits are yours.
5 days
|
+1
5 hrs
Kendriya .
Japan
Japan
Specializes in field
Japan
20 years in translation
Native in: Bulgarian 
Works in: Japanese to English, Japanese to Bulgarian, Bulgarian to English, and 1 more.
It is hard to say...
Just another suggestions:
1. It is hard to say that the economy is very/high independent/autonomous.
or
2. The economy is hardly independent/autonomous.
1. It is hard to say that the economy is very/high independent/autonomous.
or
2. The economy is hardly independent/autonomous.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Minoru Kuwahara
: the first phrase I thought of by looking at this question is "hard to say". Coincides. -
7 days
|
6 hrs
It's difficult to say whether economic independence is high...
1) 自立経済 = economic independence
2) 性 = nature, disposition; quality; attribute
3) いい難い = difficult to say, unmentionable, inexpressible
---(Source for above definitions: Nelson's Japanese Character Dictionary)
--- Rather than use phrasing such as "independence in the economy", I am using "economic independence" for 経済の自立性. (literally: independent nature of the economy --> economic independence)
It's difficult to say whether (the characteristic of) economic independence is high.
2) 性 = nature, disposition; quality; attribute
3) いい難い = difficult to say, unmentionable, inexpressible
---(Source for above definitions: Nelson's Japanese Character Dictionary)
--- Rather than use phrasing such as "independence in the economy", I am using "economic independence" for 経済の自立性. (literally: independent nature of the economy --> economic independence)
It's difficult to say whether (the characteristic of) economic independence is high.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Raitei
: Japanese say 「いい難い」 when they have been placed in an awkward situation. This is the type of thing you cannot learn from a book. There is a difference between the way it goes and the way we think it goes.
5 days
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|
Uh-huh....Geez, Raitei. I grew up in Japan, so I pretty much know what the "Japanese say." But, I blew it here. Dang! :-)
|
56 days
Although I would like to say that the economy displays a high level of self-sustainability...
I think "self-sustainability" could be a bit more descriptive in suggesting that the current economy could be independant on external factors for its continued success (eg. currency exchange rate, availability of certain raw materials from foreign countries for products manufactured domestically etc.)
I also think "言い難い" can translate to "hard/difficult to say". The speaker of the original phrase could have easily picked a different word/phrase to express how dependant the (local?) economy is on external factors (eg. 高い自立性を示さない).
Also, sorry if I am wrong on this but I also get the impression (from its usage on TV programs, news etc.) that this phrase is used with a nuance of wanting to say something is A but it is really B. In the case of the original phrase, the speaker is trying to convey bad news with a soft and objective choice of words saying implicitly that it cannot be helped....?
I also think "言い難い" can translate to "hard/difficult to say". The speaker of the original phrase could have easily picked a different word/phrase to express how dependant the (local?) economy is on external factors (eg. 高い自立性を示さない).
Also, sorry if I am wrong on this but I also get the impression (from its usage on TV programs, news etc.) that this phrase is used with a nuance of wanting to say something is A but it is really B. In the case of the original phrase, the speaker is trying to convey bad news with a soft and objective choice of words saying implicitly that it cannot be helped....?
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