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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

équipements de confort

English translation:

comforts and amenities

Added to glossary by B D Finch
Jan 8, 2010 14:33
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term

équipements de confort

French to English Other Geography Burkina Faso population
Seulement 23.6% des adultes sont alphabetisés; les équipements de confort sont très médiocres et plus de 73% de la population vit avec moins de 2 dollars par jour.
As far as I'm aware, the term 'équipements de confort' is usually used in connection with car accessories (air conditioning, leather seats etc). Does it just mean 'standard of living' here?
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 comforts and amenities
3 +3 modern conveniences
4 +2 amenities/domestic appliances
4 +2 the standard of living is low
3 +1 public amenities / facilities
3 creature comforts
References
one of the types of housing found in BF
Change log

Jan 10, 2010 17:31: B D Finch Created KOG entry

Discussion

B D Finch Jan 9, 2010:
Re Steve's posting I think that it is important to be able to distinguish between the sort of criticism that is trying to tease out the best way of translating a word or phrase to help the Asker and the community of answerers/KOG consulters, and points-obsessed sniping. Unfortunately, Steve seems to have taken my comment as the latter when it was intended as the former. I am sorry if the wording of my comment led to this misunderstanding. However, I suggest that it would be more appropriate to continue this discussion in a Forum, rather than here.
Steve Melling Jan 8, 2010:
There is an increasing tendency on here to criticise (to varying degrees) the answer put forward by someone who also makes a suggestion. I've seen some very unpleasant things on here. As far as I recall I put "amenities" first so I don't see why we then focus on my second option.
Chris Hall Jan 8, 2010:
Well said Marta... I urge Hilary to post it as an answer.
Marta Scott Jan 8, 2010:
I'm with Hilary and the asker Given the context, I think "standard of living" covers it.
Chris Hall Jan 8, 2010:
Hilary... You should suggest this as an answer. I would agree with you.
Hilary Wilson Jan 8, 2010:
I think the asker's original suggestion of standard of living is best, as 2 dollars a day is unlikely to pay for much "equipment" in the home, let alone running water.
See http://www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=181

Proposed translations

+4
40 mins
Selected

comforts and amenities

I think that this can cover such items as bedding, warm or weatherproof clothing, furniture, cooking facilities ...

"He remembered from his first visit the dire poverty of the tide country, and he thought it ... there was little to be had by way of comforts and amenities. ..."
books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=061871166X...

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Note added at 46 mins (2010-01-08 15:19:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"27 Aug 2008 ... Some members defined it as being synonymous with poverty. ... The plausible answer is: all of them are dependent on agriculture ... population due to their lack of education and the required skills. ... can't afford them any **urban comforts and amenities i.e. shelter, sanitation and potable water.** ..."
rajendramisra.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
Note from asker:
'comforts and amenities are in short supply' would seem to fit the bill, with alot of help from your suggestion! Many thanks to BD Finch.
Peer comment(s):
agree Chris Hall : Perfect suggestion.
2 mins
Thanks Chris
agree SJLD : I was thinking along the lines of "basic comforts are limited/lacking"
3 mins
Thanks SJLD
agree Anne-Marie Grant (X) : I was thinking 'basic amenities' so am happy to agree with this
2 hrs
Thanks Anne-Marie
agree Hilary Wilson : with basic amenities, best solution
19 hrs
Thanks Hilary. I think that neither comforts nor amenities alone fully covers "équipments de confort".
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+3
5 mins

modern conveniences

"with all modern conveniences" means "tout confort" for a flat, for instance.
Example sentence:

a flat with all modern conveniences

Reference:

http://www.lexilogos.com

Peer comment(s):
agree margaret caulfield : I think this fits best.
6 mins
agree Wim Van Verre : Good solution in this context.
11 mins
agree emiledgar : Yes, I would go with modcons
21 mins
neutral B D Finch : This is about poverty in Burkina Faso. I think that "modcons" are likely to be non-existent rather than "très médiocres".
39 mins
disagree Chris Hall : I don't believe that Burkina Faso is a place equipped with mod cons.
50 mins
agree Tom Bishop : Good solution
2137 days
Something went wrong...
+1
6 mins

public amenities / facilities

I don't think that saying "comfort(able) amenities / facilities" makes any sense, so this is what makes sense within your context.

My suggestion.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2010-01-08 14:44:19 GMT)
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***AMENDMENT***

I would change my answer to:

"modern amenities / facilities"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 59 mins (2010-01-08 15:33:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

forget "modern", this is Burkina Faso. I will stick with my original answer or the suggestion proposed by Verginia.
Peer comment(s):
agree Verginia Ophof : or even basic amenities
34 mins
Many thanks Verginia. Kind regards, Chris.
Something went wrong...
+2
4 mins

amenities/domestic appliances

Standard stuff.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-01-08 15:48:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Isn't that the point. They haven't got them. If the sentence said they've got curtains (for example's sake) the % would be higher. Would it not?
Note from asker:
Sorry but I think BD Finch has a point - I don't think there can be many domestic appliances in Burkina Faso....(or even much housing, come to that...)
Peer comment(s):
agree Mark Nathan : I would go with amenities, or possibly "housing facilities"
3 mins
neutral B D Finch : Domestic appliances tend to be associated with relatively higher standards of living. I was trying to help understand this translation question, not to put you down. My experience of Gambian shanty towns was that a fridge was, indeed, a luxury.
37 mins
Would you consider a fridge to be a sign of luxury? I don't like it when another answerer tries to cut down a peer. You can have the damn points if you want them that much.
neutral Chris Hall : I agree with "amenities" but not with "domestic appliances", hence my neutral feedback. Sorry if this upsets you as B D Finch did above.
53 mins
agree Jennifer White : Agree with the answer and also your comment to B. D.
57 mins
neutral philgoddard : Steve - a neutral comment is just that, neither positive nor negative. It's not "cutting down a peer".
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
4 hrs

the standard of living is low

the asker's option seems the best to me, given the type and standard of housing found in BF. (see refs provided)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2010-01-08 19:05:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Still not sure that is the best solution, as it doesn't seem to explain the fact that there is little in the house. standard of living seems a little wider in its meaning, but on the other hand.....maybe it's OK!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : This is a good, simple solution.
18 mins
agree Chris Hall : Agree with Phil G.
1 hr
Something went wrong...
5 hrs

creature comforts

this was what sprang to mind, it is not necessarily anything technological
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

1 hr
Reference:

one of the types of housing found in BF
Reference:

http://www.danheller.com/tiebele.html

Peer comments on this reference comment:
neutral B D Finch : Stunning! Did they paint the cow as well?
22 hrs
Something went wrong...
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