Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
cantonnier
English translation:
council worker
Added to glossary by
Anna Kiff
Aug 12, 2005 11:15
18 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
cantonnier
French to English
Social Sciences
Environment & Ecology
This is talking about conserving chestnut groves and how making them into recreational areas could be bad for them:
"Ceci pourrait conduire à vider les châtaigneraies de leur raison productive et à en confier l’entretien aux seuls cantonniers chargés des espaces verts".
I think 'cantonnier' is the name for the municipal employees who cut hedges and clear paths etc, but what are they called in English? Thanks!
"Ceci pourrait conduire à vider les châtaigneraies de leur raison productive et à en confier l’entretien aux seuls cantonniers chargés des espaces verts".
I think 'cantonnier' is the name for the municipal employees who cut hedges and clear paths etc, but what are they called in English? Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+4
1 hr
Selected
council worker
Strictly speaking a "cantonnier" is someone who looks after a road (cf "council worker" in its "lean on shovel handle and watch someone else do the work" meaning), but I think it has also come to mean the people who cut grass, trim hedges, water flower beds, but also sweep gutters, maintain the sewage treatment plant, keep the pumps in the borehole running, paint and otherwise maintain municipal buildings, etc. And lean on a shovel and talk to anyone who will listen. For which the more usual, modern term is "employé municipal", which is what we on the council in my village call them.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, think this is the best option to cover everything."
12 mins
pathmaster
x
+1
23 mins
French term (edited):
cantonniers charg�s des espaces verts
municipal gardeners
I have taken the expression as a whole since "cantonniers" do all sorts of varied tasks.
36 mins
highways department
I suppose it depends on US v UK end user preferences
-2
1 hr
foresters
common term - I don't think 'municipal employees' is the right sort of image for lumberjack sort of folk working in beautiful chestnut forests. IMVHO.
Alternative: nutters ;-)
Alternative: nutters ;-)
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: No, I think that's the whole point: these are NOT professional foresters, but simply council workmen
33 mins
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| disagree |
Josephine79
: I'm with Dusty on this: the implication is definitely of the "left to the tender mercies of...... : so heaven help the chestnut groves!
1 hr
|
+2
1 hr
Gayle Wallimann
Native in English
American in Provence
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French, English, and 1 more.
grounds keeper
Grounds keeper would work for both genders keeping it politically correct for English context.
Grounds maintenance would be another suggestion, instead of referring to a specific person, refer to the grounds maintenance department.
Grounds maintenance would be another suggestion, instead of referring to a specific person, refer to the grounds maintenance department.
17 mins
council groundsman
In the UK, a council groundsman's duties involve general grass cutting, maintenance of cemeteries, public rights of way and council owned buildings
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Note added at 3 hrs 50 mins (2005-08-12 15:05:37 GMT)
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NB: a council groundman would only look after parks, so it\'s not the equivalent of \'cantonnier\', however as in this context they\'re talking about \'aux seuls cantonniers chargés des espaces verts\', it might be what you\'re looking for.
See an exemple of the word used in context (my local newspaper!) at:
http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/022405/n022405_20.htm
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Note added at 3 hrs 50 mins (2005-08-12 15:05:37 GMT)
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NB: a council groundman would only look after parks, so it\'s not the equivalent of \'cantonnier\', however as in this context they\'re talking about \'aux seuls cantonniers chargés des espaces verts\', it might be what you\'re looking for.
See an exemple of the word used in context (my local newspaper!) at:
http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/022405/n022405_20.htm
5 hrs
park keepers
This is how council workers who look after parks are referred to, and, if the implication here is that they are not really qualified to look after trees in a kind of forest, I think this would indicate that they are too 'domesticated' for the job.
One of the other answers above - grounds keepers - seems close to this, but I think you would normally refer to 'groundsmen' (possibly this could also be 'groundswomen' although I have never heard that), or 'park keepers', 'zoo keepers' etc.
One of the other answers above - grounds keepers - seems close to this, but I think you would normally refer to 'groundsmen' (possibly this could also be 'groundswomen' although I have never heard that), or 'park keepers', 'zoo keepers' etc.
1 hr
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
local authority countryside workers
as a general term - local councils have a "Countryside Service" (well, some of them do, at least, including Oxfordshire)
This case study explores the difficulties for the local authority (LA) tree programme
... come under a Countryside Department, and so forth. ...
www.myerscough.ac.uk/TreesInTowns2/CS5.pdf
The Environment, Planning and Countryside Department is committed to achieving
... Local Authorities, the voluntary sector and others to take stock of rural ...
www.cymru.gov.uk/themesraceequality/content/actionplans/epc... - 87k - 11 Aug 2005
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Note added at 12 hrs 20 mins (2005-08-12 23:35:59 GMT)
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local authority workers
This case study explores the difficulties for the local authority (LA) tree programme
... come under a Countryside Department, and so forth. ...
www.myerscough.ac.uk/TreesInTowns2/CS5.pdf
The Environment, Planning and Countryside Department is committed to achieving
... Local Authorities, the voluntary sector and others to take stock of rural ...
www.cymru.gov.uk/themesraceequality/content/actionplans/epc... - 87k - 11 Aug 2005
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Note added at 12 hrs 20 mins (2005-08-12 23:35:59 GMT)
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local authority workers
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