Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
valeur du différentiel
English translation:
differential
Added to glossary by
Jennifer Strachan
Jul 28, 2007 16:28
16 yrs ago
French term
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Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
valeur du différentiel
French to English
Tech/Engineering
Petroleum Eng/Sci
heading in a tender/bid document
This is a natural gas tender document, in which bidders must give the "valeur du différentiel par gigajoule", as well as the "montant total du différentiel sur la base de la quantité estimée". Could I simply use "average cost per gigajoule" without losing/changing the meaning, or is "differential" commonly used in this context (have not seen it in other tenders, which is why I ask). Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | depends! |
Bourth (X)
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Proposed translations
4 hrs
Selected
depends!
You simply haven't given us enough to go on. It could, as you say, refer to the COST of the differential, if the context lends itself to that interpretation.
However, as you realize, the French are Cartesian (or like to think of themselves as such). Therefore they cannot see a hole, only the contours of the material round a hole! In a same way, a differential, for them, is the thing itself, the abstract, the notion of difference. In English we would just talk about the differential and have done with it; they have to talk about the value/amount/magnitude of the differential.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-07-28 20:43:50 GMT)
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What does the differential refer to? Production cost? Pollution levels? Staff mortality rates .... ?
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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-07-28 21:38:39 GMT)
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If the meaning is obvious in context - and given that even in French "valeur du différentiel" and, to a lesser extent "montant du différentiel" is ambiguous - just plain "differential" in English will capture perfectly the intended and unintended spirit!
However, as you realize, the French are Cartesian (or like to think of themselves as such). Therefore they cannot see a hole, only the contours of the material round a hole! In a same way, a differential, for them, is the thing itself, the abstract, the notion of difference. In English we would just talk about the differential and have done with it; they have to talk about the value/amount/magnitude of the differential.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2007-07-28 20:43:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
What does the differential refer to? Production cost? Pollution levels? Staff mortality rates .... ?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2007-07-28 21:38:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
If the meaning is obvious in context - and given that even in French "valeur du différentiel" and, to a lesser extent "montant du différentiel" is ambiguous - just plain "differential" in English will capture perfectly the intended and unintended spirit!
Note from asker:
| Given that this is a natural gas tender, the differential is for the cost per Gj of gas and, in the second instance, the TOTAL differential cost after the quantity of gas to be supplied has been considered (this is in a table, so there are no longer sentences!). However, I've been checking the Aeco C & N.I.T site, and they simply refer to the differential, or (given their context) the market differential. (see http://www.enerdata.com/cgprsamp.pdf, page 2). |
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I couldn't agree more. Differential it is then."
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