Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

red flag phrases

French translation:

des expressions qui risquent de heurter

Added to glossary by Sonia Gouin
Oct 25, 2012 15:54
11 yrs ago
12 viewers *
English term

red flag phrases

English to French Marketing Business/Commerce (general) customer service
Am trying to find an appropriate French equivalent for "red flag" in the following sentence:

Avoid “red flag” phrases. These are phrases that raise a “red flag” to those listening. Reword these phrases to give them a more positive connotation.

I have come up with a few ideas but am not satisfied yet. Any ideas would be appreciated. Please do not suggest "drapeau rouge", I am looking for an idiomatic translation. Thank you.

Discussion

Sheila Wilson Oct 26, 2012:
Red flag is appropriate, IMO Staff will need to avoid any expression which implies any sort of criticism of the client, their previous choice of specs, the product they're selling, the eye tester... When a client picks out a pink frame to go with their auburn hair, or heavy black ones for their very petite features, they have to be diplomatic.
Didier Fourcot Oct 26, 2012:
Agree with Daryo From the context given I believe that "red flag" is excessive, a "red flag" could be a customer obviously drunk asking for a whisky after parking his car, we are talking here of keeping the customer in a positive attitude
Daryo Oct 25, 2012:
@asker are these really "red flags"? from your explanation, "red flag" is used in the ST in a slightly exaggerated way. "avoid irritating figures of speech" sounds like a good enough rephrasing here. I would use "red flag" for something ways stronger, something that is a warning sign of serious danger or a really explosive issue.
Sonia Gouin (asker) Oct 25, 2012:
This is a workshop given to opticians and their staff to help them deal with difficult client situations. Example given in the workshop: Instead of saying, “You should have…,” you can say, “Next time you might want to try…” I find that "choquantes" is indeed too strong a term in this context.
STEPHANIE Taif Oct 25, 2012:
I agree with you, that's why I think we need more info on the context in order to see what red flag could mean in this sense. For me, a "red flag" could also be an action someone does that tells me this person is not to be trusted. So maybe not "choquant" but certainly something that calls my attention and will make me think twice.
Timothy Rake Oct 25, 2012:
choquante I hate to disagree with Stephanie & Gilou, but I found the term mostly inappropriate here. While a "red flag" issue MIGHT shock, that is not IMO what a "red flag" phrase is. "Red flags" are rather words/phrases that usual creates divisiveness in a mixed group of people. For instance, a red flag at a family reunion, may be something as simple as the word "gay" or "death penalty" or "politics" - not because they are shocking, but because, if you bring it up, blood will run! In my family its "politics" – I never raise the issue around my son-in-law - too dangerous. He's right-wing Republican, I'm on the other side of the fence. Not a shocking issue, just too divisive...

Proposed translations

+3
20 mins
Selected

des expressions qui risquent de heurter

votre auditoire
Peer comment(s):

agree Victor Santos
2 hrs
merci!
agree Jocelyne Cuenin : ou des tournures de phrases ...
23 hrs
merci!
agree Marie-Cécile Béal
1 day 22 hrs
merci!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to everyone"
+1
6 mins

choquantes

Sans trop d'éléments sur le reste du texte, je propose "choquante". Je ne sais pas si c'est trop fort comme connotation par rapport à votre texte.
Peer comment(s):

agree Ricardy Ricot
3 mins
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23 mins

des phrases (nettement) fractionnelles

or maybe
"carrément fractionnelles" or clairement, de plein gré, etc.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Françoise Vogel : ça existe vraiment en français ?
2 hrs
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+2
53 mins

sonnettes d'alarme

évitez les mots qui fâchent
ou, probablement mieux dans ce contexte :
évitez toute expression qui pourrait inquiéter votre interlocuteur, qui pourrait tirer les sonnettes d'alarme dans son subconscient.


quelques suggestions rapides, en passant !
Peer comment(s):

agree EvaVer (X)
48 mins
Merci Eva !
agree Sheila Wilson : I'm not a native speaker, but in 15 years in France this is what I heard repeatedly from my EFL tourism students
16 hrs
Thanks Sheila!
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+2
1 hr

les mots qui fâchent

Une autre possibilité..


"« mots qui fâchent » : mots précis, qui rendent compte avec exactitude d’une situation et qu’il ne faut pas employer. Autrement dit un chat ne doit pas s’appeler un chat. Comment l’appeler alors ? Des cabinets entiers de communicants y travaillent. Contre espèces sonnantes… (mots que ne fâchent pas).

Les procédés sont divers. Le plus commun est l’euphémisme : austérité devient rigueur, agression devient incivilité, liquidation devient reconversion, chargé de sécurité devient agent de médiation, flexibilité devient flexisécurité, etc. Parfois le procédé passe par l’usage d’un terme technique ou latin… : querelle de personnes devient querelles d’egos, ou d’égos, c’est selon.

On use également de la paraphrase, qui permet de diluer le message, de noyer le poisson : faillite devient difficulté de financement, rigueur devient exigence européenne, problème devient héritage de la majorité précédente, hausse du tarif devient ajustement nécessaire des coûts, imbroglio pugilistique devient conférence de consensus, etc.

La litote est sollicitée. À l’inverse de l’euphémisme qui atténue, adoucit pour faire passer la pilule, la litote est une expression qui laisse entendre plus qu’elle ne dit. Ainsi les difficultés sont devant nous ou plusieurs pistes sont à l’étude laisse entendre ça va faire très mal ; aucune taxe n’est encore envisagée laisse entendre il y en aura plusieurs qui vont vous tomber dessus."
http://energiedesmots.blogs.charentelibre.fr/archive/2012/09...
Peer comment(s):

agree Alain Boulé
2 hrs
Merci, Alain !
agree Jocelyne Cuenin : ou des tournures de phrases qui pourraient heurter / froisser votre interlocuteur
22 hrs
Merci, Petitavoine !
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+1
1 hr

expression négatives

et ensuite "celles qui font réagir votre interlocuteur"

Dans un contexte différent voir l'explication dans l'article du Midi Libre sur les reformulations positives des messages à faire passer sur les réseaux sociaux (par l'interviewé, pas par moi!)
Peer comment(s):

agree GILLES MEUNIER
8 hrs
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1 hr

phrases génératrices de désaccord

D'après ce que je comprends de votre exemple.
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2 hrs

phrases abordant des sujets sensibles

Ma propre suggestion... sur la base des éléments en ma possession.
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3 hrs

signal d'alarme

signal d'alarme sonne assez standard
éviter les phrases qui pourraient être reçues comme un signal d'alarme

ou alors, éviter les phrases qui pourraient alarmer/mettre votre interlocuteur sur ses gardes
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1 hr

les déclarations alarmantes

...

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Note added at 14 hrs (2012-10-26 06:20:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

vu tout ce qui a été écrit je pense à alarmante/alarmer. Puisqu'il s'agit d'éviter d'alarmer les clients.
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20 hrs

expressions irritantes

"Avoid “red flag” phrases. These are phrases that raise a “red flag” to those listening. Reword these phrases to give them a more positive connotation. "
=>
"Evitez les expressions irritantes. Ce sont ces expressions qui font "voir rouge" à ceux qui les entendent. ..."

Normally "red flag" would be translated differently, but the ST being mainly about keeping customers happy by being tactful, this variant should be appropriate ..."
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