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Glossary entry

Dutch term or phrase:

‘groupthink’ conflicten worden kost wat kost uit de weg gegaan

English translation:

... are/must/should/shall (be) avoided /sidestepped at any cost.

Added to glossary by jarry (X)
Jul 12, 2006 08:21
17 yrs ago
Dutch term

‘groupthink’ conflicten worden kost wat kost uit de weg gegaan

Dutch to English Bus/Financial Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
This is taken from an outline on how to reorganise overall approach to certain aspects within a company. Various transition phases are discussed, with this sentence taken from the Solution Phase:

Gevaar: 'groupthink’ conflicten worden kost wat kost uit de weg gegaan

I can't think of a similar way to convey the same message in English. Any good ideas?

TIA
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 ... are avoided /sidestepped at all cost.
5 +2 groupthink conflicts are avoided at any cost
3 +1 Every effort has to be made to avoid groupthink conflicts.

Discussion

Johan Venter (asker) Jul 13, 2006:
I'll give them a ring and see if they're interested :)
jarry (X) Jul 13, 2006:
Johan, judging by your glossary entry you should be employed by the SA diplomatic service in Prague instead of doing translations :-)
DutchConnection Jul 12, 2006:
Only you will know the appropriate English tense in the context.
Johan Venter (asker) Jul 12, 2006:
As stated below in some of the questions the text I'm translating I almost have no other option but to use "should" or even "shall". Using present tense here would stick out like a sore thumb, but I certainly do appreciate all the input.
Johan Venter (asker) Jul 12, 2006:
Just in case it is not clear, 'groupthink' is used in a negative manner here.

Proposed translations

+2
9 mins
Selected

... are avoided /sidestepped at all cost.

...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2006-07-12 08:36:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or: at all costs/ at any cost / whatever it takes
Peer comment(s):
agree Dave Calderhead : should be avoided at any cost
25 mins
Thanks Dave. The Dutch says "worden", not "moeten" or "zouden moeten worden". So 'should be' is not really meant here. In my view, the Dutch wording suggests the existence of a consistent policy.
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : and with your comment re 'should'.
7 hrs
Thanks Tina
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I ended up using 'groupthink must be avoided at any cost'. Thank you all for the input provided."
+2
27 mins

groupthink conflicts are avoided at any cost

I don't think you need to keep groupthink in quotes. The word has powerful negative overtones through its first use in connection with Orwell's 1984, in its meaning and (to my mind) its hideous form. I'm posting this separate answer to highlight 'any cost'.
Reference:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/06/letters/page2.html

Peer comment(s):
agree jarry (X) : It is one of my suggestion, too, so how can I not agree :-). What is more, you are using the correct tense in this instance!
2 hrs
Very generous of you - I did want 'any' to stand out or I wouldn't have been so petty!
neutral Adam Smith : At the risk of sounding pedantic, surely these conflicts "are to be" avoided?/What I think I mean is if you don't add something like "to be / should be", it begs the question: by what? That may be clear in the text-we don't know. Sorry to be obtuse!! :-)
5 hrs
Adam, you've lost me (feeling thick) :-/ ...Can you clarify?
agree Mario Hendriks
9 hrs
neutral writeaway : agree with Adam. and ultimately with Johan as well.
1 day 3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

Every effort has to be made to avoid groupthink conflicts.

not as literal but don't think meaning changes. depends what you are looking for.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2006-07-12 10:22:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

every effort 'shall be made" may be better here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2006-07-12 11:50:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

shall be, is to be, will be. imho present tense sounds unnatural in English. if it's a statement of a policy to follow and not just a description of what they are now doing. we do this, we do that.
Peer comment(s):
neutral jarry (X) : Should be 'is' made. The solution phase seems to have been drafted to serve as future policy to be applied on a consistent basis. The fact remains that "worden" as used here does NOT translate as 'should' or 'is to be', etc.
30 mins
so now I have neutral because?
agree Adam Smith : To be or not to be: Surely these problems "are" to be avoided (as you say)? :-)
4 hrs
2 fine neutrals for being correct. go figure. trop is te veel.
neutral DutchConnection : It is a danger, therefore present tense perfectly possible: "Gevaar: 'groupthink' conflicten..." i.e. to avoid conflict there's no groupthink at all.
11 hrs
don't understand your reasoning. how does that tie in. doesn't 'gevaar' mean warning in the context?
Something went wrong...
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