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Traductions financières et juridiques, financial and legal translations

traductions financières et juridiques, financial and legal translations

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Anglais britannique… ou américain ?

Un petit texte en anglais… Un bon exercice pour vous

Globalisation and faster communications have smoothed away many of the differences between British English and US English in the business and financial worlds. Business vocabulary is converging on both sides of the Atlantic as companies and financial analysts publish documents aimed at readers from both countries. A growing number of UK companies now publish Income Statements rather than Profit & Loss Accounts and the differences between annual reports published in the UK and US are gradually becoming fewer.

Differences in style and usage are more noticeable in market analysis and business reports. American usage can seem very odd to British readers - in the UK one posts a letter but not earnings; one can grow cabbages or hair but not a company; a hike is a country walk not an increase, to slate means to criticise severely and not to predict or to nominate; you meet people rather than meet with people, something is likely or probable when it is on the cards not in the cards, a promise is kept not delivered on, etc.

Everyday vocabulary can be very different. Here below, is a small glossary for your convenience:

English

American

articulated lorry

tractor trailer truck/semi

autumn

fall

bank holiday

legal holiday

bank note

bill

bill

check (restaurant)

bill/account

account

book (v.)

make a reservation

car park

parking lot

caretaker/porter

janitor

centre (city/business)

downtown

chairman (business)

president

chemist's shop

pharmacy/drug store

cinema

movie house/theater

current account

checking account

directory enquiries

directory assistance

district

precinct, neighbourhood

diversion

detour

driver (train)

engineer

dual carriageway

divided highway

estate agent

realtor

filling station

gas station

first floor

second floor

fortnight

two weeks

full-stop (punctuation)

period

goods truck (railway)

freight truck

guard (train)

conductor

hire purchase

installment plan

holiday

vacation

interval

intermission

label

tag

leader: leading article in newspaper

editorial

let

lease/rent

lift

elevator

limited (company)

incorporated

lorry

truck

mileometer

odometer

motorway

freeway/throughway/super highway

nought

zero

number plate

license plate

paraffin

kerosene

parcel

package

petrol

gas

post

mail

postal code

zip code

postman

mailman

postponement

raincheck

public school

private school

put down/entered (goods bought)

charged

put through (telephone)

connect

queue (n.)

line

queue (v.)

stand in line/line up

reception (hotel)

front desk

return ticket

round trip ticket

reverse charges

call collect

ring up

call/phone

solicitor

lawyer/attorney

stand (for public office)

run

state school

public school

surgery (doctor's/dentist's)

office

time-table

schedule

trunk call

long distance

tube/underground

subway

unit trust

mutual fund

van

delivery truck

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