Kenny同志 Posted June 3, 2011 at 04:11 PM Report Share Posted June 3, 2011 at 04:11 PM How would you say 国情 in English as in the context of 这次普查是一次重大的国情国力调查? The actual condition of a country; current state of a country; national conditions? Seems all these don't sound good in this context. Any ideas? My best attempt: The (nationwide)survey was an important investigation into the nation's 国情 and strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiz Posted June 3, 2011 at 08:20 PM Report Share Posted June 3, 2011 at 08:20 PM I think 国情 can mean both current state of a county and national conditions. And your translation of 国力 might be a little inappropriate. It emphasis on military force and economic strength. So, I think the translation can be: The general survey was an important investigation into the current state and conditions of the nation, military force and economic strength. But I'm not very sure of it. Hope it helps~ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted June 4, 2011 at 07:47 AM Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 at 07:47 AM Thanks for your input, Kiz. I appreciate your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted June 4, 2011 at 12:37 PM Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 at 12:37 PM If you think about 国情, it's really an abbreviation of 国家的情况. In English, we don't really have an abbreviated form for it, hence the seemingly awkward translation of state of the country/national condition etc. What this generally means is that you shouldn't necessarily translate it directly as a word, but rather work its meaning into a larger sentence. Also in this context, I think 普查 is probably talking about the national census? If so, then it's better to use that word rather general/national survey. My effort below: This most recent census was an important investigation into the economic, military and social state of the nation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted June 4, 2011 at 12:51 PM Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 at 12:51 PM Hehe, thank you Imron, your translation is natural and flows quite well but in fact, it’s not a census or 人口普查. Below is the context 2月9日，环境保护部、国家统计局、农业部联合发布了《第一次全国污染源普查公报》。这次全国污染源普查是一次重大的国情国力调查，为污染源的管理及建立新的“十二五”环境统计平台奠定了基础，为贯彻落实科学发展观、转变经济增长方式、调整和优化经济结构以及制定“十二五”环保规划提供了丰富的基础信息。 My attempt A report of China's first nationwide survey on pollution sources was issued jointly by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture on February 9, 2010. "Reality" doesn't seem good enough either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted June 4, 2011 at 12:53 PM Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 at 12:53 PM Not sure if this is relevant or a good reference. The standard translation of the US President's State of the Union Address is "國情咨文", so I guess it could simply be translated to the state/condition of the country. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted June 4, 2011 at 02:16 PM Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 at 02:16 PM A report of China's first nationwide survey on pollution sources was issued jointly by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture on February 9, 2010. How about: On February 9, 2010, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Bureau of Statistics published the results of the first nationwide survey on pollution sources. Will leave the next few sentences to someone else, as it's late for me here.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted June 5, 2011 at 03:03 AM Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 at 03:03 AM Thank you Imron, but why did you put the date at the beginning of the sentence? I see it often placed at the end in news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted June 5, 2011 at 04:45 AM Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 at 04:45 AM I can't really say why 100%, but at least for me, I feel that if it was placed at the end of the sentence it places the emphasis of the sentence on the date it was released, rather than the fact that it was released. So, if I had been asked the question "When did the ministries publish the results?", then I might answer, "They published the results of the first nationwide survey on pollution sources on February 9, 2010. It would also be ok if there was a follow on statement following the date, e.g. The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Bureau of Statistics published the results of the first nationwide survey on pollution sources on February 9, 2010, after many months of analysis and investigation. But just having the date end the sentence by itself seems a little abrupt. So, because the date it was published isn't really the focus of this sentence, and because I'm not going to be adding another little half-sentence at the end, then by putting it at the start the reader can still know this piece of information, but it doesn't get in the way of the real point, which is that these Ministries have published this report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted June 5, 2011 at 10:44 AM Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 at 10:44 AM Your explanation makes very good sense. In fact, I remember Joan Pinkham mentioned this in his book Guide to Chinglish. In my view, however, it’s the “first nationwide survey on pollution sources” that is to be emphasized, as is in your translation. Thanks for helping me learn. And thanks to Skylee. Sorry I forgot to reply to your post yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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