それぞれ：respectively

translate: 複数の基板は、第１部材と第２部材との間、第2部材と第３部材との間、および、第３部材と第４部材との間に、それぞれ設けられている。

ChatGPT:

ChatGPT

The plurality of substrates are respectively provided between the first member and the second member, between the second member and the third member, and between the third member and the fourth member.

あなた:

Does it accurately and convey the meaning that one substrate is provided between the first member and the second member, one between the second member and the third member, and one between the third member and the fourth member?

ChatGPT:

ChatGPT

Yes, the translation "The plurality of substrates are respectively provided between the first member and the second member, between the second member and the third member, and between the third member and the fourth member" accurately conveys the intended meaning. The use of "respectively" ensures clarity that each substrate corresponds to a specific pair of members.

Why it works:

1. "Respectively": This word explicitly links each substrate to its corresponding pair of members, making it clear that:

   • One substrate is between the first and second members,
   • Another is between the second and third members,
   • A third is between the third and fourth members.

2. Parallel Structure: The repetition of "between... and..." for each pair reinforces the one-to-one correspondence.

If you'd like further emphasis or an alternative structure to make this even clearer, you could rephrase slightly:

• "One substrate is provided between the first member and the second member, another between the second member and the third member, and yet another between the third member and the fourth member."

This alternative explicitly states "one" for each case but is less concise than the original. The choice depends on the style you prefer.

あなた:

I understand that "respectively" means "in the order given", and it is used in a sentence such as "Ken and John were respectively 12 and 16 years old". The sentence is clear as to the purpose or function of "respectively", i.e., it links the two subject items, Ken and John, to the subsequent nouns "in the order given", i.e., 12 and 16. However, the phrase "the plurality of substrates" does not indicate any sense of order, so that, strictly speaking, the purpose of "respectively" when used in the above translation should not be clear from the dictionary meaning of the word alone, and should be inferred using common sense. I raise this issue because I have actually seen a case where a sentence similar to the above translation has been corrected by a native speaker of English as being grammatically improper. Would some people, even native speakers of English, object to the use of "respectively" in the translation?

ChatGPT:

ChatGPT

You raise an important and nuanced point about the use of "respectively" in this context. While "respectively" is widely used and often understood in technical writing, it may indeed be viewed as improper by some native English speakers when the subject (e.g., "the plurality of substrates") lacks an inherent sense of order. Here's a detailed explanation:

The Issue:

1. Lack of Explicit Pairing or Order:

   • In sentences like "Ken and John were respectively 12 and 16 years old," the pairing between the items (Ken ↔ 12, John ↔ 16) is clear because the order is explicitly established by the structure of the sentence.
   • In "The plurality of substrates are respectively provided...", the plurality of substrates is a single entity, and there is no inherent sense of order to pair each substrate with its specific location without additional context or common sense.

2. Reliance on Context and Common Sense:

   • Technical readers often infer the pairing based on the structure of the sentence and the logical relationships described. For instance, it is reasonable to infer that each substrate corresponds to a specific pair of members.
   • However, strictly speaking, this inference is not dictated by the grammar of the sentence itself, which may lead some to object to the use of "respectively" in this case.

3. Potential Objections:

   • A grammatically rigorous reader might argue that "respectively" is improper because the subject (plurality of substrates) does not explicitly establish a one-to-one correspondence with the subsequent pairs of members.

Why "Respectively" is Common in Technical Writing:

In technical and patent writing, "respectively" is often used as shorthand to convey relationships in a compact and structured way, even when it might not strictly align with formal grammatical rules. It is understood to mean that each item in the first group corresponds to an item in the second group in the given order.

Alternative Approaches:

If you wish to avoid potential objections, you could revise the sentence for greater clarity and grammatical rigor:

1. Explicit Enumeration:

   • "One substrate is provided between the first member and the second member, another between the second member and the third member, and another between the third member and the fourth member."
     This removes ambiguity and avoids using "respectively."

2. Clarifying the Relationship:

   • "Each substrate is provided between a corresponding pair of members: the first member and the second member, the second member and the third member, and the third member and the fourth member."
     This explicitly defines the one-to-one correspondence.

Conclusion:

While many technical writers and readers accept the use of "respectively" in such contexts, some may object to it for lack of explicit pairing or order in the subject. To ensure universal clarity and grammatical correctness, the alternatives above might be preferable, especially in formal or critical documents.