Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
drawing negotiations
English answer:
Continuing (extending, drawing-out) the process of negotiating
Nov 21, 2010 22:50
13 yrs ago
English term
drawing negotiations
English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
Dear all,
I am currently translating a few business letters (written by non-native speakers of English) and I've come across the following sentence...
Currently we are drawing neogtiations with company x concerning the purchase of cars.
What does "drawing negotiations" mean in this sentence? And is this a standard collocation (to draw negotiations)?
Thank you all very much for your help!
I am currently translating a few business letters (written by non-native speakers of English) and I've come across the following sentence...
Currently we are drawing neogtiations with company x concerning the purchase of cars.
What does "drawing negotiations" mean in this sentence? And is this a standard collocation (to draw negotiations)?
Thank you all very much for your help!
Responses
+4
22 mins
Selected
Continuing (extending, drawing-out) the process of negotiating
1. It means Continuing, drawing-out (as in drawn-out, meaning extended beyond what may be expected).
Example: "The SALT 2 Treaty was the outcome of drawn-out [meaning prolonged, difficult, torturous] negotiations"
Your example would mean, "Currently, we are engaged in prolonged negotiations with X concerning the purchase of cars."
2. No, this is not standard usage. It appears to be misunderstood or else to be outright wrong.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2010-11-22 08:12:29 GMT)
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Another use of "to draw" in the context of negotiations is "drawing negotiations to a close". In this light, the cited passage could mean "we are currently about to complete (to finish) negotiations with X concerning the purchase of cars".
Example: "The SALT 2 Treaty was the outcome of drawn-out [meaning prolonged, difficult, torturous] negotiations"
Your example would mean, "Currently, we are engaged in prolonged negotiations with X concerning the purchase of cars."
2. No, this is not standard usage. It appears to be misunderstood or else to be outright wrong.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2010-11-22 08:12:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Another use of "to draw" in the context of negotiations is "drawing negotiations to a close". In this light, the cited passage could mean "we are currently about to complete (to finish) negotiations with X concerning the purchase of cars".
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Jack Doughty
: Probably should be "conducting negotiations".
13 mins
|
Thank you! Indeed -- one _conducts_ negotiations
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agree |
Veronika McLaren
56 mins
|
Thank you!
|
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agree |
Thayenga
: With Jack
7 hrs
|
Thank you!
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agree |
Sheila Wilson
: conducting is probably the intention but as you say, it isn't certain
15 hrs
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Thank you!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much!"
Discussion
1. in the process of continuing/being extended, or
2. about to finish/be completed.
A significant difference!
Perhaps the rest of the context may shed light...
As to the likelyhood of "we are drawing up papers with X" being the intended meaning, I think hardly. Negotiations would have finished before contracts, etc., are drawn up.
Perhaps the translator was thinking of "To draw up: To compose or write in a set form; write out: draw up a contract; draw up a list."