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    #1

    US English clarification

    My girlfriend is currently translating some stuff, among which is a series of letters from an educational establishment in the USA, addressed to parents of prospective/actual students. She's rather confused by the fact that instead of saying 'your son/daughter' or 'your child', the establishment say they will do their best to help 'your student' succeed. She's just asked me about it and I'm rather confused, too.

    Do OTF's American-speakers consider this kind of thing normal?
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    #2
    US English clarification

    Sam wrote: My girlfriend is currently translating some stuff, among which is a series of letters from an educational establishment in the USA, addressed to parents of prospective/actual students. She's rather confused by the fact that instead of saying 'your son/daughter' or 'your child', the establishment say they will do their best to help 'your student' succeed. She's just asked me about it and I'm rather confused, too.

    Do OTF's American-speakers consider this kind of thing normal?
    They say co-ed instead of burd, so I wouldn't put anything past them

    Comment

      #3
      US English clarification

      It's not unusual, but it is relatively new, and by no means universal (we've been getting dozens of these lately).

      BTW, "co-ed" is well on its way to being considered archaic.

      Comment

        #4
        US English clarification

        Thanks, ua. She's rather stumped on how to translate it without stripping it of any sense in Spanish, but at least she now knows it is an actual thing.

        I'd love to know the thought process behind it.

        Comment

          #5
          US English clarification

          Don't know how old the students in question are, but saying "your child" might be seen as old fashioned.

          Saying "your student" instead of "your son/daughter" also avoids any mistakes involving gender.

          Comment

            #6
            US English clarification

            What Inca said.

            "child" is frowned upon for anything above primary school and "son/daughter" is considered to be clunky by some.

            If it doesn't make sense in Argentine Spanish, I'd just use something that does (which may well be son/daughter). The usage is in reaction to particular US sensibilities that tend not to exist elsewhere.

            Comment

              #7
              US English clarification

              "Child" would seem odd to me too, mind.

              Comment

                #8
                US English clarification

                I've just suggested 'progeny' or 'fruit of your loins' and been met by an unamused stare. Sometimes I think she doesn't appreciate my help.

                Comment

                  #9
                  US English clarification

                  I was expecting an er v re, z v s, ou v o discussion. That Webster bloke, tsk.

                  'Student' seems more formal / business-speak. The school probably outsourced the document and this is what they got back. It's clear and it doesn't offend.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    US English clarification

                    Offspring? Progeny?

                    Your seed?

                    Comment

                      #11
                      US English clarification

                      Your charge. Ward.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        US English clarification

                        Millstone?

                        Comment

                          #13
                          US English clarification

                          Roderick Spodes black shorts wrote:
                          Originally posted by Sam
                          My girlfriend is currently translating some stuff, among which is a series of letters from an educational establishment in the USA, addressed to parents of prospective/actual students. She's rather confused by the fact that instead of saying 'your son/daughter' or 'your child', the establishment say they will do their best to help 'your student' succeed. She's just asked me about it and I'm rather confused, too.

                          Do OTF's American-speakers consider this kind of thing normal?
                          They say co-ed instead of burd, so I wouldn't put anything past them
                          What's a burd when it's at home?

                          Comment

                            #14
                            US English clarification

                            Diable Rouge, Don't you know? About the burd?

                            Everybody knows that the burd is the word

                            Comment

                              #15
                              US English clarification

                              I think he's trying to say berd.

                              Comment

                                #16
                                US English clarification

                                Comment

                                  #17
                                  US English clarification

                                  Seems awkward but I can understand the hesitance to use son/daughter AND child.

                                  The former due to obvious sensitivity to those who identify as the opposite/both/neither gender(s), the latter because they may be in the care of someone other than their parent(s).

                                  "Student" is rather clumsy though, implying that whoever is receiving the letter is tutoring the prospective inductee.

                                  Comment

                                    #18
                                    US English clarification

                                    Family member?

                                    A bit awkward perhaps.

                                    Comment

                                      #19
                                      US English clarification

                                      Little cunt?

                                      Comment

                                        #20
                                        US English clarification

                                        Too informal.

                                        Comment

                                          #21
                                          US English clarification

                                          Isn't the jarring bit in "your student" 'your'? They're not the parents' student. In relation to the parents they are the daughter/son/ward/whatever, but they are the university's/teacher's/etc. student.

                                          It would look a lot less weird to me (if a little business-like) if it just said "the student".

                                          Comment

                                            #22
                                            US English clarification

                                            Your spawn

                                            Comment

                                              #23
                                              US English clarification

                                              Stumpy Pepys wrote: Your spawn
                                              Has same problem as "child" that I mentioned before.

                                              Comment

                                                #24
                                                US English clarification

                                                "Your student" isn't jarring to US ears because the concept of "students" as a class of people outside the classroom is a fairly well established concept.



                                                The phrase doesn't imply the student/teacher relationship in the same way it seems to in the UK, especially in a letter addressed to parents/guardians.

                                                Comment

                                                  #25
                                                  US English clarification

                                                  Doesn't stop it being an inelegant turn of phrase though.

                                                  Comment

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