This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

traversée de fulgurances

English translation: dazzling

00:00 Apr 5, 2006
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Poetry
French term or phrase: traversée de fulgurances
This phrase is commonly used in reviews of artistic and literary works and in comments on artists and their body of work. The text I have describes the work of a contemporary poet as follows:

"Visionnaire, traversée de fulgurances, généreuse, musicale, son œuvre a tenu le pari d’être tout à la fois classique et novatrice, intimiste et universelle."

What would be the closest English rendition? Thanks.
Fuad Yahya
English translation:dazzling
Explanation:
Or iridescent
Selected response from:

Soledad Liquori
Local time: 04:29
Grading comment
I am dazzled by the kaleidoscopic variety of brilliant answers and truly appreciate all the contributions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3dazzling
Soledad Liquori
4 +2imbued/suffused with brilliance
Carol Gullidge
4brilliant
Tegan Raleigh
4poignant moments from cover to cover
MatthewLaSon
4illuminating
Bailatjones
4scintillating, charged with light
Cervin


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
dazzling


Explanation:
Or iridescent

Soledad Liquori
Local time: 04:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I am dazzled by the kaleidoscopic variety of brilliant answers and truly appreciate all the contributions.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Denise DeVries: I'd go with dazzling -- a bright star on the horizon
9 mins
agree  Susana Magnani: yep for dazzling...
25 mins
agree  Sandra C.: dazzling
56 mins
agree  Diane de Cicco: yes, but perhaps "dazzling at times" to render the "traversée de..."
7 hrs
disagree  MatthewLaSon: I don't think that a literary work can be "dazzling". Also, you never translated "tranversée" (to span the length of the work).
1 day 22 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
brilliant


Explanation:
in my Larousse, it says that a "fulgurance" is something that is fulgurant (litt.: caractère de ce qui est fulgurant), and something "fulgurant" is brilliant. Maybe there's a more literary way to say it...

Tegan Raleigh
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
poignant moments from cover to cover


Explanation:
This is difficult!!!


Une traversée is a "crossing over" , "spanning", "passing over". In this context, we are talking about a "passing over" the book. So, that would need to be translated in natural English as "cover to cover" (the entire span of the work)

*fulgurances* are moments oozing or seeping with emotion (good or bad)

I'd say "poignant moments" are moments with extreme emotion.
"fulgurant" literally means "electrifying".

I hope this helps


My translation would be:



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2006-04-05 05:55:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

fulgurance is the noun, meaning a "very emotionally-charged episode"
I prefer "moments" in this context.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 05:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
illuminating


Explanation:
in this context, because it's referring to the poet's work, I'd be inclined to use 'illuminating'

"visionary, illuminating...his work is"

dazzling is okay too but sometimes I think it can be read as showy or flashy in English...which doesn't seem to reflect the rest of the phrase "classique et novatrice, intimiste et universelle"


Bailatjones
Switzerland
Local time: 11:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 10
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
scintillating, charged with light


Explanation:
Just some more alternatives borrowed from www.poetrysociety.org.uk
There are several poetry reviews in here.

Cervin
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
imbued/suffused with brilliance


Explanation:

or "pervaded"

"... the blocking and lighting of this film are suffused with brilliance and give performances..." http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/1999/0513/vid1.html

this expression also takes into account the "traversée de"


Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  irenef
1 hr
  -> thanks, Irene!
agree  mportal
3 hrs
  -> thanks, mportal!
neutral  MatthewLaSon: a possibility with which I can't disagree nor be in agreement
1 day 11 hrs
  -> I don't think fulgurance is poignant - rather electric, like lightening, brilliant, etc, and traversée also means transpierced/punctured, which is what I should have used instead of imbued
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search