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carácter referencial

English translation: is merely indicative

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:solo posee carácter referencial
English translation:is merely indicative
Entered by: Charles Davis

04:36 Jul 16, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Economics / Estimates of earthquake damage - Peru
Spanish term or phrase: carácter referencial
This is a footnote to a summary of results from a survey of businesses on their losses as a result of the 2007 earthquake in Peru.

La encuesta fue aplicada entre el 9 y 15 de abril de 2010, pero no se debe considerar como representativa, pues solo posee **carácter referencial**.

The main text starts earlier with the following introduction, but nowhere is there any discussion of the sampling technique used to select the businesses to be surveyed.

El efecto del sismo sobre las empresas privadas fue también importante: 25% de los empresarios sostuvo que los daños y problemas en los servicios de agua potable y saneamiento tuvieron un impacto mayor en sus negocios que el daño en otros servicios.
Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 08:31
(merely) indicative
Explanation:
To my mind this is the natural word to use: "indicative" as opposed to "representative".

I think "referencial" means that it constitutes a reference that can be adduced, a piece of evidence that can be referred to. In English, I don't think we would use "reference" in this way (let alone "referential"). "Indicative" means that it provides an indication.

One could say "is of a merely indicative nature", though I think "is merely indicative" would be sufficient.

A couple of examples of this usage:
"One should keep in mind that these inputs are not of a representative, but merely indicative nature."
http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/document.php?id=EELR2010003&m...

"But none of these ballot results are ever representative so should be seen as merely indicative."
http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/11/the-most-influential-lef...
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 17:31
Grading comment
Thanks, Charles. This is what I used.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2(it is only for) reference (pupose)
Michael Powers (PhD)
4 +2(merely) indicative
Charles Davis
3(merely) representative
DLyons


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(it is only for) reference (pupose)


Explanation:
I believe this is how we woul usually word it - just / only for reference purposes or simply only for reference, not a statistical sampling.

Mike

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2011-07-16 04:57:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Researchers do rely on references; however, it is used informally also, for example, when we say: "This is just for reference" meaning it is just to give an idea or example.

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 11:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 155
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Mike. That's what I had, but then it didn't seem clear enough, because one usually *relies* on a reference, and the idea here seems a little looser, nothing you are supposed to count on.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  FVS (X): Agree with asker. If it's not representative it does NOT provide a reference. This is GdeD.
2 hrs
agree  Altogringo: with Michael. Think the key idea is informal reference, to give an idea, not as a formal reference to be cited.
14 hrs
  -> Thank y ou, Alatogringo - Mike
agree  James A. Walsh: ".., and is for reference purpose only"; absolutely nothing wrong with that! http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=&q="is for reference purpo...
16 hrs
  -> Thank you, James -- Mike
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(merely) indicative


Explanation:
To my mind this is the natural word to use: "indicative" as opposed to "representative".

I think "referencial" means that it constitutes a reference that can be adduced, a piece of evidence that can be referred to. In English, I don't think we would use "reference" in this way (let alone "referential"). "Indicative" means that it provides an indication.

One could say "is of a merely indicative nature", though I think "is merely indicative" would be sufficient.

A couple of examples of this usage:
"One should keep in mind that these inputs are not of a representative, but merely indicative nature."
http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/document.php?id=EELR2010003&m...

"But none of these ballot results are ever representative so should be seen as merely indicative."
http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/11/the-most-influential-lef...

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 17:31
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 60
Grading comment
Thanks, Charles. This is what I used.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  James A. Walsh: Agree that "indicative" is probably a better option here, but also feel "reference" is a perfectly acceptable and common option. ".., and is for indicative purposes only." would do it for me.
2 hrs
  -> OK, thanks James :)
agree  DLyons
2 hrs
  -> Many thanks, DLyons :)
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
(merely) representative


Explanation:
They have apparently used data selected because it was typical/available rather than on a methodological basis.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2011-07-16 21:44:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, I'm probably trying to make "representativa" stronger than it should be. I think Charles' "indicative" is a much better idea.

DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 16:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: But my text says: " no se debe considerar como **representativa** pues solo posee carácter referencial.

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