Nasty sentence ...

速やかにすべての原子力発電所の運転を計画的に停止し、今後、事故を起こした個所と類似する個所などについて直接、安全性を確認することを要請するとの内容のご要請を承ったところであります

Obviously the following isn't a good translation

"We will rapidly bring the nuclear power generators to a controlled shutdown, from now the areas similar to that where the incident occurred will be directly [??], we have just heard of the request whose contents were seeking confirmation of the safety."

I think the 直接 part means they're going to get up out of the meeting room and actually go eyeball the equipment.

Remember the thread where somebody asked what our favorite Japanese word is? I gave a bonus and mentioned 再発防止 as my least favorite. Crap like this is why.

mikecash said:

I think the 直接 part means they're going to get up out of the meeting room and actually go eyeball the equipment.

Click to expand...

Aha. The 直接、goes with the 安全性... it's not as firmly attached to the ...個所などについて bit.

Here is a better translation...

The president of the Kansai Electric Power was interviewed on the 13th in response to the accident of the Mihama nuclear power plant which caused 11 casualties. All the nuclear power plants under operation were stopped one by one, and it checked. The Kansai Electric Power President stated "operation of all nuclear power plants were stopped intentionally and promptly. Safety will be directly checked about the part from which the accident was started, all similar parts, etc., from now on". President Fuji of the Kansai Electric Power stopped all eight nuclear power plants that are working now one by one, and he described the plan which checks section of piping that caused the accident. The focus has become eight excluding what is stopped in a scheduled inspection. Among 11 sets of the plants in three places, Mihama, Takahama, and Oi. Among these, three sets, the Oi No. 4 basis, the Takahama No. 4 basis, and the Mihama No. 2 basis, suppose that stop work will be started also by the end of the 13th. Governor Nishikawa of Fukui Prefecture was demanding check of all nuclear power plants.

This is not a perfect translation, but it is the best that I can do!

Konnichiwa PaulTB-san!
I give the explanation of "直接".

"直接" connect with "確認する". " 直接確認することを要請する"

"He request confirmation of safety directly where are similar areas of destruction spot"
「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所などについて直接、安全性を確認することを要請する」

Why dose he request confirmation of safety "directly"? What means "directly"?
At first, the inspection of nuclear power generators is left to subsidiary company of the Kansai Electric Power. And the Kansai Electric Power never confirmed inspection of generators "directly". And Mr. Nishikawa, Governor of Fukui Prefecture, request the Kansai Electric Power to confirm safety "directly". It means "Never leave the inspection to subsidiary company".

NANGI

NANGI said:

Konnichiwa PaulTB-san!
I give the explanation of "直接".

"直接" connect with "確認する". " 直接確認することを要請する"

"He request confirmation of safety directly where are similar areas of destruction spot"
「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所などについて直接、安全性を確認することを要請する」

Click to expand...

Well I might have got there - but I had to leave directly after posting. That's my story anyway

NANGI said:

Why dose he request confirmation of safety "directly"? What means "directly"?
At first, the inspection of nuclear power generators is left to subsidiary company of the Kansai Electric Power. And the Kansai Electric Power never confirmed inspection of generators "directly". And Mr. Nishikawa, Governor of Fukui Prefecture, request the Kansai Electric Power to confirm safety "directly". It means "Never leave the inspection to subsidiary company".

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. There is one point I'm still not clear on. The use of について in that sentence looks a little odd to me. Is that just me?

Konnichiwa PaulTB-san!

There is one point I'm still not clear on. The use of について in that sentence looks a little odd to me. Is that just me?

Click to expand...

Do you feel odd about the use of "について"? Ummm, I don't feel odd.

"I inspect safety as to the similar areas of destruction spot"
1. 「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所などについ て、安全性を確認する」
2.「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所などの、安全性を確認する」
3.「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所の、安全性を確認する」

I think all Japanese sentence are same meaning... Is 1.sentence odd? :?

NANGI

NANGI said:

Do you feel odd about the use of "について"? Ummm, I don't feel odd.

Click to expand...

Well if you don't probably it is just me.

NANGI said:

"I inspect safety as to the similar areas of destruction spot"
1. 「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所などについ て、安全性を確認する」
2.「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所などの、安全性を確認する」
3.「事故を起こした個所と類似する個所の、安全性を確認する」

I think all Japanese sentence are same meaning... Is 1.sentence odd? :?

Click to expand...

Er, it still looks odd to me.

I picked 10 sentences at random from WWWJDIC example sentences. None of them look odd to me.

きょう私たちは道徳の点から、この問題について話し合うつもりだ。
Today we are going to discuss this problem in terms of morality.
この間違いについて私が責められるべきです。
I am to blame for this mistake.
お母さんはコーヒーカップの歴史について調べ始めた。
My mother looked up the history of coffee cups.
お支払日が先月末の請求書５６７８９について、まだお支払いを受けておりません。
With reference to the invoice No.56789 which was due last month, we have not yet received your remittance.
あなたの名前についていくつか質問してもいいですか。
May I ask you some question about your name?
かれは日本について良く知りません。
He doesn't know a lot of about Japan.
きょう私たちは道徳の点から、この問題について話し合うつもりです。
Today we are going to discuss this problem in terms of morality.
この計画については黙っていてください。
Keep mum about this plan.
この運動は、フェミニストたちが女性問題について論じるための話の広場ないし演壇のようなものである。
This movement is like a forum or platform from which feminists speak out on women's issues.
あなたの国について私に何か教えて下さい。
Tell me something about your country.

Konnichiwa PaulTB-san!

1.きょう私たちは道徳の点から、この問題などについて話し合うつもりだ。
2.お母さんはコーヒーカップの歴史などについて調べ始めた。
3.あなたの名前などについていくつか質問してもいいですか。
4.この計画などについて黙っていてください。
5.この運動は、フェミニストたちが女性問題などについて論じるための話の広場ないし演壇のようなものである。

Do you feel odd those sentences?

NANGI