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Something other than

French translation: ils ne peuvent se contenter de

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:need to do something other than
French translation:ils ne peuvent se contenter de
Entered by: Kevin Fernandez

15:15 Feb 17, 2016
English to French translations [Non-PRO]
Bus/Financial - International Org/Dev/Coop
English term or phrase: Something other than
Bonjour, hello!
I have to translate this sentence which at first looks quite simple:
"If developing countries wish to attract foreign investment, they probably need to do something other than sign and ratify BITs"
The text is talking about how the bilateral investment treaties do not or do but a little only, influence the flux of foreign direct investment (FDI).
The problem I have here, is that I am not sure what the author wants to say with the "something other than". Is he saying that ratify BITs is a first step but other measures have to be taken in order to increase FDI? Or is he saying that countries have to do other things rather than ratify a BIT? I have doubts because he used " something other" instead of "something else" but I don't know if for native both expressions can be used exactly in the same way or do they have this small difference? He could have also used the expression "something more than" which he didn't.
In French it would change the meaning:
"Ils doivent probablement faire quelque chose de plus que de signer des TBI" or
"Ils doivent probablement prendre d'autres mesures que de signer des TBI", I would even add an "plutôt que de" but as I am not sure of what the autor says, I'd prefer to stay more literal...
Any ideas?
Kevin Fernandez
Switzerland
Local time: 15:55
ils ne peuvent se contenter de
Explanation:
...
Selected response from:

FX Fraipont (X)
Belgium
Local time: 15:55
Grading comment
merci, ça règle bien le problème!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3ils ne peuvent se contenter de
FX Fraipont (X)
4aller au-delà
Premium✍️
3autre chose que
Valérie KARAM


  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
something other than
ils ne peuvent se contenter de


Explanation:
...

FX Fraipont (X)
Belgium
Local time: 15:55
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 251
Grading comment
merci, ça règle bien le problème!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Isabelle Cluzel: oui; j'aurais même mis "ils ne doivent pas se contenter"
13 mins
  -> merci!
agree  SuzyKeller
1 hr
  -> merci!
agree  Victoria Britten
17 hrs
  -> merci!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
something other than
autre chose que


Explanation:
Ils devraient probablement faire autre chose que signer...

Pour rester au plus près du texte source

Valérie KARAM
France
Local time: 15:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
something other than
aller au-delà


Explanation:
Kevin, in French, you will have to turn the sentence around to make it sound natural and idiomatic in this language. Being literal is not adequate. So I suggest you write: "... ils devront probablement aller au-delà de signer et ratifier les TBI". Another option would be 'en plus/en outre'. Then you could write, ils devront..... en plus de la signature et la ratification des TBI. OR Outre la signature et la ratification des TBI, ils devront probablement exécuter d'autres tâches/formalités..
:O

Premium✍️
United States
Local time: 06:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 16
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