Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
free chair
English answer:
One of four free chairs in the entire city
Added to glossary by
Will Matter
Jul 26, 2006 23:11
17 yrs ago
English term
free chair
English
Medical
Medical: Dentistry
I am a bit stumped by this sentence. Could someone help me understand exactly what "free chairs" refers to in this context? Many thanks :)
For most of the people of xxx, affording dental services was nearly impossible. As early as 1939, however, xxx's dental clinic served hundreds of clients annually. With one of only four ***free chairs*** in the city, the clinic relied on volunteer dentists to provide free cleanings and X-rays. This clinic eventually adopted a hygienist education program that trained young people to work as dental hygienists. The xxx Dental Clinic relied primarily on the services of volunteer dentists.
For most of the people of xxx, affording dental services was nearly impossible. As early as 1939, however, xxx's dental clinic served hundreds of clients annually. With one of only four ***free chairs*** in the city, the clinic relied on volunteer dentists to provide free cleanings and X-rays. This clinic eventually adopted a hygienist education program that trained young people to work as dental hygienists. The xxx Dental Clinic relied primarily on the services of volunteer dentists.
Responses
+4
1 hr
Will Matter
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
proofreading/editing/research/security
Native in: English 
Works in: English, Japanese to English, zzz Other zzz to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
One of four free chairs in the entire city
Upon examination it appears to me that your text means that, at that time, there was a grand total of four "free" chairs in the entire city and that one of those "free" (no charge) chairs was located at the clinic mentioned in your text. Even though the text says that the clinic relied on volunteers to provide cleanings and X-rays they probably charged most people some small fee(s) to offset the cost of the services they provided and those who absolutely couldn't pay anything at all were given treatment in the "free" chair. My understanding of the text. HTH.
Note from asker:
| This is my understanding as well, I am hoping others will weigh in. I can always ask the client to clarify, but I wanted to try to figure it out first :) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
María Eugenia Wachtendorff
1 hr
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Clare Barnes
5 hrs
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Thank you, tack.
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
11 hrs
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Thank you very much.
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| agree |
Zhuoqi Mills (X)
2 days 19 hrs
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Xie xie. ;0) Wish my Chinese was one-third as good as your English. I can really only read and write but I can read (and quickly gist into English) pretty well.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, everyone :)"
+1
8 mins
Selcuk Akyuz
Türkiye
Türkiye
Türkiye
English to Turkish translator
Native in: Turkish
Works in: English to Turkish, Turkish to English, Turkish
free of charge
dental services provided free of charge
12 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Maybe only one chair was used to provide a free service to the public.
But if that's what it means, it's not well put.
I think there were only four dentists' chairs in the city, three run by professionals who charged for their services. For the other one, which was free to patients, the clinic relied on volunteer dentists.
I think there were only four dentists' chairs in the city, three run by professionals who charged for their services. For the other one, which was free to patients, the clinic relied on volunteer dentists.
Note from asker:
| This is Chicago in 1939, sorry I did not specify. I sure am hoping there were more than four dentists' chairs in the entire city! |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Will Matter
: I think that this is relatively close but not entirely correct. I think that the entire city had four "free" chairs (total) & one of them was located at the aforementioned clinic which provided free or low cost services for hundreds of people annually.
1 hr
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Yes, that may well be true, now that we know it's Chicago. But a city in the USA can be quite small. I was thinking of some place more like Everglades City, Florida, where I once stayed a night - population about 200.
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+2
5 mins
María Eugenia Wachtendorff
Chile
Chile
Chile
40 Years Business, Legal, Certificates
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish, Spanish to English
sillón para atención gratuita (de pacientes de odontología)
Es lo que entiendo, Susy.
Mi tradu siguiente es sobre este mismo tema :)
¡Suerte!
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Note added at 19 mins (2006-07-26 23:31:11 GMT)
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That's a "free dental care chair," my friend.
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Note added at 21 mins (2006-07-26 23:32:37 GMT)
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Look at this ad:
Dental chair
Free Dental Chair info
straight from bloggers.
www.bloghogg.biz
Mi tradu siguiente es sobre este mismo tema :)
¡Suerte!
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Note added at 19 mins (2006-07-26 23:31:11 GMT)
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That's a "free dental care chair," my friend.
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Note added at 21 mins (2006-07-26 23:32:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Look at this ad:
Dental chair
Free Dental Chair info
straight from bloggers.
www.bloghogg.biz
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Will Matter
: This is English > English but your translation is also perfectly OK.
5 mins
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Thank you, Will. I have Susana "flagged," and I invariably fail to notice when she posts monolingual questions!
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| agree |
sarahl (X)
14 mins
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Discussion