Claire Nolan Apr 10, 2010:

But that would not have much meaning. 'This system could be declined' means what?

To me, it means that it would not be accepted (by someone). That is not the meaning intended in Stephanie's sentence.

axies Apr 10, 2010:

@mediamatrix and Clanola Thanks to you both for the reply. Moreover I refer to the question asked here by stephanie; that is to say that I would still translate in English...Ce système pourrait être décliné et ciblé selon... as: <=>This system/method could be declined and targeted as/ in accordance... etc.

mediamatrix (X) Apr 10, 2010:

@Manuel 'décliner' is also used in grammar (with the noun déclinaison) to refer to the way nouns are modified (singular/plurar, etc.) - This is quite similar to the intended meaning in Asker's source text: variants on a theme.

[TCHEQUE] Déclinaison des noms propres ? - Forum slave ... - [ Traducir esta página ]
15 entradas - 6 autores - Última entrada: 20 Oct 2008
Le russe décline également les noms propres, rien de plus normal. Le génitif russe serait d'ailleurs identique pour l'exemple donné. ...
projetbabel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t... - Francia - En caché - Similares

Claire Nolan Apr 10, 2010:

Other meaning of décliner Manuel Seixo,

'Décliner' also has the following meaning, which is the one being used here:
http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/décliner
(Pouvoir) être énoncé selon un paradigme dans ses diverses variantes formelles.

It comes from the meaning of 'decliner' as in declining a noun in Latin. Its use has widened in French to mean 'produce an item in a range of variations'.

Examples from the web:

Le template n°1 peut être décliné en plusieurs couleurs.
L'encadrement peut être décliné en six finitions : cerisier, chêne blanchi, chêne teint wengé, chêne teint gris, chêne teint teck et laque mat.

axies Apr 10, 2010:

décliné from v. décliner I fail to see how décliné can have any other meaning than in the negative sence - to decline, negate, sorry. p/ Correct me if I am wrong, thanks.
décliner /dekline/ (conjugate⇒)

1. transitive verb
1. to decline;
to turn [sth] down;
2. ~ son identité to give one's name;
3. to decline.

2. intransitive verb [light, talent] to fade;
[health] to deteriorate;
[enthusiasm] to wane;
[sun] to go down.

3. se décliner reflexive verb (+ v être) to decline.

John Detre Apr 9, 2010:

Oh well It worked for me a few months ago, but it's probably one of those computer things that works once and never again...

writeaway Apr 9, 2010:

couldn't install it John Hi John- just tried to install the toolbar but keep getting error message-not a valid install package.

John Detre Apr 9, 2010:

I find I have much better success finding terms in the glossary, and also past questions that didn't make it into the glossary, using the kudoz toolbar - http://www.proz.com/toolbar/ . I don't use it that often, usually keep it hidden, but when I do want to search the glossary I find it very useful.

writeaway Apr 9, 2010:

it's not always worth taking the time or trouble but for some terms, like this one, it is. Glad you found it. I find this url is easiest to access: http://www.proz.com/?sp=ksearch

Stephanie Ezrol (asker) Apr 9, 2010:

Thank you for advice. I have had trouble using the glossary in the past, but I did just check it for décliné and found the entries. My learning curve on some aspects of ProZ has been slower than I would like, but at least it is a curve upwards in knowledge.

writeaway Apr 9, 2010:

glossary it's really worth taking the time to check the glossary for 'décliné'. It's a popular Kudoz term that has been asked many times in the past for many different contexts and it's a pity not to run through it to get ideas/inspiration.