ph-b (X) May 31, 2020:

Suzie, Sorry I missed that. I agree with your approach based on scepticism (I think the author is less polite than you) and the importance of the quotation marks.

SafeTex May 31, 2020:

@ all Hello

I don't agree with these latest remarks saying that in this particular situation, "rattrapage" does not mean "botch job". It clearly does for the speaker

Why?

Well firstly, the speaker is the plaintiff or his counsel and so they don't want to suggest that this "ratrappage" was anything other than a botch job.

Secondly, related to this and about Phil's or Daryo's remarks which was, for instance

i.e. of what they were supposed to be doing - solve a problem that presented itself while the work was ongoing. There is nothing "botched/sceptical/ ..." in THAT. It's nothing more than a perfectly good way of dealing with existing imperfections of the building. [end of quote]

We are NOT talking about a building itself but a shower unit!!! If you screw up the installation to this extent, you don't put in tons of bathroom mastic but you take out the panels and start again.

This is what the plaintiff wants to say so for him "ratrappage" in brackets is tantamount to botch job.

If the defendant used the word "ratrappage", I would agree that he might well not mean "botch job" but "remedial work". But the asker is translating for the plaintiff and not the defendant.

Regards

Suzie Withers May 31, 2020:

@ph-b Yes, this is what I meant in my explanation, but you have explained it more clearly

ph-b (X) May 31, 2020:

A bit of sarcasm in court? There is nothing negative about rattrapage. On the contrary: “A. − Action de rattraper ou de se rattraper. Le rattrapage d'une erreur, d'une maladresse (Lar. Lang. fr.)." (https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/rattrapage) As for rattraper: "B. − [À propos d'une maladresse, d'une imprudence, d'une erreur, d'une faute, d'un inconvénient]1…2. Parvenir à corriger, à modifier, reprendre avec succès". (https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/rattraper). The author uses brackets in the source text not to signal that the word is some sort of slang that may not be appropriate in court, but rather to say, somewhat sarcastically, that what the other party calls a rattrapage is actually nothing of the sort (cf. “…s'avère inefficace…”). I suggest that whatever appropriate, positive term is used to translate rattrapage, those brackets should be kept in order to reflect the slightly sardonic tone of the sentence./PS: quotation marks, not brackets.

Daryo May 30, 2020:

the key point is to not confuse what they were supposed to be doing, and what they've done.

the term "rattrapage" as used in this ST is part of

rattrapage [du défaut de parallélisme de plus de 5mm]

i.e. of what they were supposed to be doing - solve a problem that presented itself while the work was ongoing. There is nothing "botched/sceptical/ ..." in THAT. It's nothing more than a perfectly good way of dealing with existing imperfections of the building.

The fact that they have rushed the job and not done it properly doesn't change the meaning of "rattrapage" as used in this ST - whatever dictionaries & glossaries & ... have to say for "rattrapage" as used elsewhere is here simply irrelevant.


If and when some other plumbers undo this "quick fix" and do a proper job, THAT will be a "remedial work".

Suzie Withers May 30, 2020:

@SafeTex Yes, remedial work is a good term I think. I put remediation, but I think yours is better!

SafeTex May 30, 2020:

@ all Hello

I think it's remedial work as explained in

https://mardiniconstructions.com.au/remedial-works/

and suggested in the discussion by others.

"Stop-gap measure" is too temporary and makeshift IMHO and there was no attempt at alignment (parallelism) whatsoever

Chris Pr May 30, 2020:

"correction of parallelism" ,,,commonly known as "alignment" in real English....

Daryo May 29, 2020:

"rattrapage" if done properly is perfectly good work. It's a perfectly acceptable way of fixing a problem.

The "rattrapage" they are talking about in this text is a attempt to fix a problem created by a lack of perfect parallelism between two elements, most likely by filling the unequal gap by some material.

Had they used some stronger material instead of silicone (but that would have required more time...) this "rattrapage du défaut de parallélisme de plus de 5mm" would've been a perfectly good and lasting solution.

Had they done it properly it would've been what is should be: part of the work done NOT any kind of "stop-gap" measure nor mending, nor repairing nor restoration.

IOW the way it was supposed to be done this "rattrapage du défaut de parallélisme de plus de 5mm" was an unavoidable part of the work.

Suzie Withers May 29, 2020:

Remediation? Rectification? Attempt to make good.. If put in inverted commas, as rattrappage is in the French, it would convey the fact that it was not a suitable remedy to the problem. "Make good" is a phrase often used in building works so I'm wondering if this could be used...

Mpoma (asker) May 29, 2020:

Shades of meaning and register I'm not suggesting there's anything technical here. I'd just like to find a suitable FR term.

- A "botched job" is a failed job. Not sure, but I don't think rattrapage really comes with that connotation: also note the quotes: this is what you might do if "rattrapage" is actually something fairly respectable, but serving as a euphemism, projected on to the lips of the defendant company by the counsel.

- "bodge" is a nice word. But off the top of my head (and after doing some searching), no nice argot comes to mind. Even then, are we sure that rattrapage (without quotes) has such clear negative connotations?

- "patchwork remediation"... yes, that's the idea, I think. I suggested "patching", "improvising"... in my question. Given the presence of the quotes, it does perhaps suggest that a rattrapage, without quotes, may be perfectly fine. So perhaps "remediation" on its own, in sceptical quotes, would fit the bill.

chris collister May 29, 2020:

Even barristers would understand what a "bodge" is. They are human after all....

David Law May 29, 2020:

rattrapage From the context, this may set the tone:
or ce "rattrapage" s'avère inefficace = however, this "patchwork remediation" proves to be ineffective

polyglot45 May 29, 2020:

rattrapage is not that technical you know.
It's really a botched job they are talking about.
The builders tried to wriggle their way out

Mpoma (asker) May 29, 2020:

Haha. Yes, very good. Unfortunately too good. I think, no know, that I could get into a heap of trouble if I injected a gratuitous pun into one of these texts, tempting though it is.

polyglot45 May 29, 2020:

stop-gap solution literally and figuratively