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pronoun \'it\' when referring to a legal person

English translation: It /his/her or their

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:pronoun 'it' when referring to a legal person
English translation:It /his/her or their
Entered by: Adam Smith

16:18 Mar 17, 2004
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dutch term or phrase: pronoun \'it\' when referring to a legal person
Dutch texts often use the pronoun hij/hem/zijn to refer back to a legal person (bvba, nv, ...) introduced earlier. I have usually translated these pronouns as 'it/its'. However, twice this week Dutch-speaking clients have called me to say how funny this sounds in the translated text. Example: "The supplier is required to have its own first aid kit present at the construction site and may not use that of the contractor." My first response was and perhaps still is to note how funny he/him/his sounds to the English ear in these same situations. But there is a thread of doubt (living in Belgium too long?) in my mind that simply using it/its is also not the best translation. I would appreciate hearing how others deal with this. Thanks, ... Dan
Dan Frett
Belgium
Local time: 03:42
Stand by "It"
Explanation:
I would be inclined / am inclined to use "it", certainly when referring to a company, eg.

"In its application form the Union stated that it had 15 members of out of a proposed bargaining unit of 34 workers. In its response the Company said that the proposed bargaining unit contained 37 workers and that, although it had no evidence of union membership levels, it would estimate the figure to be lower than stated."

ref. http://www.cac.gov.uk/recent_decisions/Decision_texts/86-01 ...

Perhaps in your example you could always use "his/her" for a supplier (assuming it's an individual).
Selected response from:

Adam Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:42
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2The supplier is required to have HIS own ...
jarry (X)
4 +2Stand by "It"
Adam Smith
4 +2avoid it where possible
Chris Hopley


  

Answers


25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
The supplier is required to have HIS own ...


Explanation:
A legal entity when referred to as such is obviously it/its in English. However, I think there is something to be said for using a gender pronoun when the reference is to 'supplier' or 'customer', etc., since this conjures up the image of a 'flesh and blood' person, rather than a legal person. This, at any rate, is the rule I tend to follow in my translations.

Just my (SA) cent's worth.

jarry (X)
South Africa
Local time: 03:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 46

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Adam Smith
1 min
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): totally.
2 hrs
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Stand by "It"


Explanation:
I would be inclined / am inclined to use "it", certainly when referring to a company, eg.

"In its application form the Union stated that it had 15 members of out of a proposed bargaining unit of 34 workers. In its response the Company said that the proposed bargaining unit contained 37 workers and that, although it had no evidence of union membership levels, it would estimate the figure to be lower than stated."

ref. http://www.cac.gov.uk/recent_decisions/Decision_texts/86-01 ...

Perhaps in your example you could always use "his/her" for a supplier (assuming it's an individual).

Adam Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chris Hopley: .
1 hr
agree  writeaway: me2
167 days
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
pronoun 'it' when referring to a legal person
avoid it where possible


Explanation:
I'd be inclined to go with 'it' where it's really necessary, but try seeing if you can do without it first. For example, your sample sentence might ring more naturally as: "The supplier is required to provide a first aid kit at the construction site and may not use that of the contractor."

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 03:42
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 34

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mary McCusker: Yes, or finesse by phrasing it as 'suppliers are required to have their...'
5 hrs
  -> even better
agree  writeaway: also really good advice. this is what makes translating so much fun....
167 days
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