Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
(measures taken to) their furthermost conclusions
English answer:
their utmost extreme
Added to glossary by
Jack Doughty
May 28, 2008 19:37
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
United States
servicios para autores académicos
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
(measures taken to) their furthermost conclusions
English
Social Sciences
Government / Politics
The neoliberals took the measures of the [Washington] Consensus to their furthermost conclusions.
I had translated this (fr. Spanish) as "The neoliberals took the measures of the Consensus to the extreme."
My client's revision seems reasonable, but it isn't "normal" English. I get just 10 hits for "furthermost conclusions" and none in the singular. Also zip for "farthermost conclusion." I'd appreciate some ideas about how to express this.
I had translated this (fr. Spanish) as "The neoliberals took the measures of the Consensus to the extreme."
My client's revision seems reasonable, but it isn't "normal" English. I get just 10 hits for "furthermost conclusions" and none in the singular. Also zip for "farthermost conclusion." I'd appreciate some ideas about how to express this.
Responses
Change log
May 31, 2008 16:46: Jack Doughty Created KOG entry
Responses
+4
5 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
56
Selected
their utmost extreme
Closer to your version than the client's but I agree "conclusion(s)" doesn't fit well here.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Margaret Schroeder
: Nice option, too. How about "uttermost" instead of "utmost"?
1 min
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Thank you. That's also possible, but I prefer "utmost".
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| agree |
Robert Kleemaier
17 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Nitin Goyal
6 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Phong Le
9 hrs
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Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to everyone! (Esp. Patricia C.S.'s good explanation!) Points to Jack for his help and getting here first... "
+1
6 mins
Margaret Schroeder
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Mexico
The right words in the right place.
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
...to their most extreme conclusions
I agree there's something "off" about the revised version.
I still like your version. How about combining them?
http://www.google.com/search?q="to their most extreme conclu...
I still like your version. How about combining them?
http://www.google.com/search?q="to their most extreme conclu...
20 mins
comment
I suppose what you need, besides possible alternatives, is an argument for why your client's wording doesn't work (aside from the fact that sounds distinctly unnatural, which may not cut much ice).
I'd suggest that the concept of 'furthermost conclusion' is flawed. A conclusion is essentially the end or ultmate result of a process, and 'furthermost conclusions' implies that the processes concerned (can) have a series of 'ultimate' results, extending as far as the 'furthermost' ones, which is nonsense.
Maybe your client is confusing the idea of 'furthermost implications' with 'most extreme conclusions'.
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Note added at 23 mins (2008-05-28 20:01:36 GMT)
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'* that it sounds...*
I'd suggest that the concept of 'furthermost conclusion' is flawed. A conclusion is essentially the end or ultmate result of a process, and 'furthermost conclusions' implies that the processes concerned (can) have a series of 'ultimate' results, extending as far as the 'furthermost' ones, which is nonsense.
Maybe your client is confusing the idea of 'furthermost implications' with 'most extreme conclusions'.
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Note added at 23 mins (2008-05-28 20:01:36 GMT)
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'* that it sounds...*
28 mins
Patricia Baldwin
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
The power of your words
Native in: English 
, Spanish
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, Spanish, and 2 more.
extreme is good, furthermost is farfetched
Your editor's Furthermost gives a "most distant conclusions" idea
whereas your...Took measures to the extreme gives an "ultimate, greatest possible degree" idea on the same note as idea and David's "as far as they could go"
Furthermost
Adjective
1. farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, utmost, uttermost, far (vs. near)
singular:
usage: (comparatives of `far') most remote in space or time or order; "had traveled to the farthest frontier"; "don't go beyond the farthermost (or furthermost) tree"; "explored the furthest reaches of space"; "the utmost tip of the peninsula"
your editor is literally saying
"the most distant conclusions"...as distant of or from what???
whereas your...Took measures to the extreme gives an "ultimate, greatest possible degree" idea on the same note as idea and David's "as far as they could go"
Furthermost
Adjective
1. farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, utmost, uttermost, far (vs. near)
singular:
usage: (comparatives of `far') most remote in space or time or order; "had traveled to the farthest frontier"; "don't go beyond the farthermost (or furthermost) tree"; "explored the furthest reaches of space"; "the utmost tip of the peninsula"
your editor is literally saying
"the most distant conclusions"...as distant of or from what???
Note from asker:
| Patricia: Thanks for the support! Actually, it is the author of the book, not an editor, and he knows quite a bit, but he is also very modest and won't insist if I tell him it doesn't sound right. All the same having all the explanations to back me up is great! Thanks again! (From the other Patricia with the other dog) |
4 hrs
Marcelo González
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
PhD in Translation Studies
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
4
to their furthest possible conclusion
This would mean that, if plotted on a political continuum, their conclusion would be located at one of the extreme ends of the political continuum.
Another option might be something like "to their most far-reaching conclusion" (implying an extension of their thoughts/ideas to the most distant of conclusions).
Another option might be something like "to their most far-reaching conclusion" (implying an extension of their thoughts/ideas to the most distant of conclusions).
9 hrs
airmailrpl
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Brazil
Technical - Fast - good price - accurate
Native in: English (Variant: US) , Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, English, and 1 more.
The neoliberals took the Consensus measures to extremes
The neoliberals took the Consensus measures to extremes."
20 hrs
(measures taken to) their fullest extent
This really depends on what writer is trying to say. If these are recommended measures to be taken as the result of a consensus, then can they not be ignored, taken lightly, taken moderately, or applied to their fullest extent?
Discussion