acte de temoignage

15:42 Jul 28, 2017 

First, thank you for helping me learn to make these distinctions. I have limited context and limited time, and I don't have access to the person offering the observations. The contact person between me and that person simply wants the translation completed as soon as possible with as few complications as possible. I'm sure you understand the situation. The statements describe, among other things, a person trying to escape their country with their life. The reason I'm not posting all the details, like of the country and other details about on the document, is that they are unusual and would be identifying information, and I want to maintain privacy. Let me say though, that the information you've posted here does apply to this document, and it definitely helps me provide a high-quality translation. So, thank you, BDFinch, AllegroTrans and Nikki Scott-Despaigne.

15:10 Jul 28, 2017 

It is possible to submit a witness statement on plain paper of course. See the second paragraph in my previous post. However, I suppose you would have more clearly identifiable criminal context. I am intruiged when you say that you "suppose" this is about political asylum. What else leads you to say that?
Is there anything else at all on the document?

14:53 Jul 28, 2017 

I have of course noted that you say this is a title of a one-page document.
Is there the slightest possibility that the context may in act be an historical one and this be a personal account of what someone saw, or witnessed, his/her own personal experience? If this were a police or legal document, it would be on headed paper. You make no mention of any such markings.

Situations in which a statement may be taken down and/or submitted:
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1489 It seems like one of the obiovus situations, but the stange thing is the lack of hits on Google for the term as posted within a police or legal context. It begs the question as to whether your original context is France or elsewhere?

AllegroTrans reiterates my point that "deed" is not a one-size-fits-all solution for "acte".

See p133 in this document, apparently hors sujet, but nevertheless an good illustration of my point that "acte" can mean something quite different from a "deed" but also the fact (the "act") of giving one's account of event http://docnum.univ-lorraine.fr/public/NANCY2/doc542/2011NAN2... It is also used in this way with reference to historical accounts.

12:45 Jul 28, 2017 

look at what "acte" actually means. It doesn't automatically mean "deed". It's a very generic and vesrsatile term meaning almost any kind of formal document.

12:23 Jul 28, 2017 

I suggest you look up "testimonial" in a good, monolingual English dictionary. It usually means something quite different from "temoinage".

11:27 Jul 28, 2017 

My first question was the same as Phil's: civil or criminal law.
I would have thought "witness statement" but that would depend on factors such as when was the "témoignage" actually taken? In what circumstances? By whom? For what purpose?
If it was taken by a police officer, then yes "witness statement" would be a reasonable choice.
However, "deed" is not always an accurate translation of "acte". A deed has to be witnessed and certified, etc. This may not be the case here. Tt may not be relevant.
When you suggest the term "testimonial", it makes me think more on an "account", a sort of report from someone who was there.

Finally, you say that you "imagine" this is part of an application for political asylum. What context leads you to think that might be the case? Does that alter the conditions in which the statement/account etc was taken? Its intended target reader? the purpose for which it was taken?

Note also that "acte" can have a descriptive function here, by which I mean that the individual may be making a point of having his account noted down.

I think we need just a little more context.

08:31 Jul 28, 2017 

It seems slightly perverse to respond to an Asker closing questions without acknowledging help or awarding points, by posting help and answers in the Discussion section!

07:32 Jul 28, 2017 

writeaway, you've reclassified this question as "Non-PRO." Do you have a suggestion?

06:13 Jul 28, 2017 

I'm not going to post "witness statement" as a translation, because the asker frequently closes questions without acknowledging our help or awarding points. If anyone else wants to take their chances with this answer, they're welcome!

03:53 Jul 28, 2017 

It's descriptions of family members and friends being beaten and shot after a protest. I imagine this document is part of an application for political asylum.

02:22 Jul 28, 2017 

What kind of events? Is it a criminal witness statement?