Comments on: An Elementary Lesson in reading Police Forms http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms Peter Ould Online Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:47:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: oscewicee http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25557 oscewicee Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:39:24 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25557 Dr. Mabuse, having read many *American* police reports, I suspect your husband is right - very informal English, often very incorrect English, often with some unintentionally very funny bits. Dr. Mabuse, having read many *American* police reports, I suspect your husband is right – very informal English, often very incorrect English, often with some unintentionally very funny bits.

]]> By: Dr. Mabuse http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25553 Dr. Mabuse Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:44:34 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25553 There's no question about the translation - fortunately, the document is very clear and factual, and there are no "fuzzy" areas where ambiguities could hide. Incidentally, when I told my husband about the use of "malfra", he said it rather reinforced the authenticity of the document. It's what police would genuinely say. I was looking at it more are a legal document, where you want everything formal, but obviously, this was just a routine investigation, and the police weren't trying to impress anyone, they were just getting the job done. There’s no question about the translation – fortunately, the document is very clear and factual, and there are no “fuzzy” areas where ambiguities could hide. Incidentally, when I told my husband about the use of “malfra”, he said it rather reinforced the authenticity of the document. It’s what police would genuinely say. I was looking at it more are a legal document, where you want everything formal, but obviously, this was just a routine investigation, and the police weren’t trying to impress anyone, they were just getting the job done.

]]> By: Peter Ould http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25500 Peter Ould Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:39:32 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25500 I think we need to be fair to Erika. The form was translated exactly. The issue is with Colin Coward's initial use of the translation - his interpretation of the translation was incorrect. I think we need to be fair to Erika. The form was translated exactly. The issue is with Colin Coward’s initial use of the translation – his interpretation of the translation was incorrect.

]]> By: robroy http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25499 robroy Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:34:48 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25499 From Thinking Anglicans: -------------- Peter I was personally responsible for organising the translation. It was carried out in England by a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, London, and proofread by another qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists. There is no possibility of mistranslation. Posted by: Erika Baker -------------- Someone has a oeuf on the face From Thinking Anglicans:
————–
Peter

I was personally responsible for organising the translation. It was carried out in England by a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, London, and proofread by another qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
There is no possibility of mistranslation.
Posted by: Erika Baker
————–
Someone has a oeuf on the face

]]> By: Barry Bird http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25433 Barry Bird Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:17:21 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25433 The wording of the Changing Attitude article has changed (they must have read your response). It now says <i> The police reported to Davis Mac-Iyalla that they had tested for heroin and cocaine. The chromatographic test proved negative for drugs. The report concludes that the test for drugs was negative. It does not come to a conclusion about the possibility of the substance being a poison.</i> From your quote above, chromatography would have tested for poisons, so as the police conclusion did not mention poisons, it is reasonable to assume that they did not find any. The wording of the Changing Attitude article has changed (they must have read your response). It now says
The police reported to Davis Mac-Iyalla that they had tested for heroin and cocaine. The chromatographic test proved negative for drugs.
The report concludes that the test for drugs was negative. It does not come to a conclusion about the possibility of the substance being a poison.
From your quote above, chromatography would have tested for poisons, so as the police conclusion did not mention poisons, it is reasonable to assume that they did not find any.

]]> By: Dr. Mabuse http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25376 Dr. Mabuse Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:53:38 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25376 I suppose that IS a genuine police document? I only ask because I'm surprised to see the word "malfra" used in an official report. It's rather an informal word; I'd have expected the police to use a term like "malfaiteur". It gives the report a slightly breezy tone that seems inappropriate: "10 cc of yellowish-coloured liquid in a syringe, dropped by a crook in the course of an attempted poisoning." I know that colonial French will change over time; maybe this is an accepted term in Nigeria; it just struck me as a little strange. I suppose that IS a genuine police document? I only ask because I’m surprised to see the word “malfra” used in an official report. It’s rather an informal word; I’d have expected the police to use a term like “malfaiteur”. It gives the report a slightly breezy tone that seems inappropriate: “10 cc of yellowish-coloured liquid in a syringe, dropped by a crook in the course of an attempted poisoning.” I know that colonial French will change over time; maybe this is an accepted term in Nigeria; it just struck me as a little strange.

]]> By: Peter Ould http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25367 Peter Ould Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:59:15 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25367 Jackie, I think this is just a combination of speedy (but inaccurate) translation and lack of scientific knowledge. Not intentionally malicious, but rather unfortunate none-the-less. Jackie,

I think this is just a combination of speedy (but inaccurate) translation and lack of scientific knowledge. Not intentionally malicious, but rather unfortunate none-the-less.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.peter-ould.net/2008/04/21/an-elementary-lesson-in-reading-police-forms/comment-page-1#comment-25366 Jackie Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:54:55 +0000 http://www.peter-ould.net/?p=787#comment-25366 Good grief. The desparation of these people is really pathetic. Does Mr. Coward really think that this makes Davis Mac Iylla any more credible? Good grief. The desparation of these people is really pathetic. Does Mr. Coward really think that this makes Davis Mac Iylla any more credible?

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