Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
cualquiera de R1, R2 y R3.
English translation:
any of R1, R2, and R3 ((i.e. ambiguous whether singular or plural))
Added to glossary by
TechLawDC
Nov 27, 2015 06:00
8 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
cualquiera de R1, R2 y R3.
Spanish to English
Science
Law: Patents, Trademarks, Copyright
Patent use where there are 3 objects to which the word cualquiera applies.
"el carbono al cual está unido los substitutentes en cualquiera de R1, R2 y R3."
In my experience it has been clear a few times that cualquiera meant "one or more of x". However, the difference between "one of x" and "one or more of x" in those instances was not really important.
However, in this instance it is important -- very important, because it is in a patent claim.
Therefore I need to decide whether cualquiera de R1, R2 y R3 means "one or more of R1, R2, and R3".
Please help.
In my experience it has been clear a few times that cualquiera meant "one or more of x". However, the difference between "one of x" and "one or more of x" in those instances was not really important.
However, in this instance it is important -- very important, because it is in a patent claim.
Therefore I need to decide whether cualquiera de R1, R2 y R3 means "one or more of R1, R2, and R3".
Please help.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | any of R1, R2, and R3 |
Vittorio Ferretti
|
Change log
Dec 4, 2015 14:41: TechLawDC Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
1 hr
Vittorio Ferretti
Works in field
Author of renowned dictionary
Native in: German 
, Italian 
Works in: English to German, Italian to German, Spanish to German, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
2
Selected
any of R1, R2, and R3
I don't see any problem in it
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "It is too bad that more native speakers would not contribute to this entry."
Discussion
From the chemical point of view, as far as I can see, it is not possible to be certain whether the phrase quoted must refer to just one of these chiral centres or whether it might refer to more than one, though a specialist in organic chemistry might be able to eliminate one or the other of these interpretations purely on the basis of this phrase. And the wider chemical context might enable a specialist to be certain which it is. I am not such a specialist, which is why I'm not posting an answer.
Failing that, I think all you can do is translate it as "any", making it ambiguous in exactly the same way and to the same degree as the ST.