Jul 16, 2006 04:53
17 yrs ago
French term
United States
Literature & Scholarship
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: French to English, English, German to English
gisant
French to English
Other
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
In a poem, the speaker describes herself: "gisante je repose." She's died-- and is talking from beyond the grave, so to speak. I haven't been able to get "recumbent" to work here.
I think that there is supposed to be an allusion to a "gisant" statue, which I've seen as "recumbent statue," though there aren't as many Google hits on this phrase to ensure me that it's the right term. Any suggestions out there?
I think that there is supposed to be an allusion to a "gisant" statue, which I've seen as "recumbent statue," though there aren't as many Google hits on this phrase to ensure me that it's the right term. Any suggestions out there?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
4 hrs
Selected
here I lie, resting
Depending on how it might fit with the rest of your poem, I'd feel inclined to turn it round like this --- with a gentle nod to the tombstone inscription "Here lies..." to keep your idea of the 'gisant' as a recumbent statue
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susana Galilea
: :)
6 hrs
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Thanks, Susana! :-)
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| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
8 hrs
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Thanks, Ingeborg!
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| agree |
Miranda Joubioux (X)
: or here I lie at rest
21 hrs
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Thanks, Miranda! Oh yes, that's SO much better!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
7 mins
Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
Native in French
&
English
Works in field
New Caledonia
Professional, reliable and confidential
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) 
, English (Variants: British, US)
Works in: English to French, French to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
lifeless
a synomyn of "gisant" is "sans vie" which translates as "lifeless"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
pomiglia
51 mins
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| agree |
Kim Hooper
2 hrs
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| disagree |
Miranda Joubioux (X)
: one of the definitions of "gisant" is "étendu sans mouvement", which does not mean lifeless. The other is a funerary sculputure representing someone in this position. This is not the same as lifeless.
1 day 2 hrs
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Tegan stated that "she died"... So I guess it does not mean that she is dead ?
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+1
2 hrs
Michele Fauble
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Native English
Native in: English
Works in: Norwegian to English, Danish to English, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
(in rest) I lie
an option
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-07-16 07:03:51 GMT)
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or "I lie in rest"
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-07-16 07:06:52 GMT)
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Sur le sable altéré gisant et comme j'aime ... I love to lie on thirsty sand, ...
www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/740097
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-07-16 07:03:51 GMT)
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or "I lie in rest"
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-07-16 07:06:52 GMT)
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Sur le sable altéré gisant et comme j'aime ... I love to lie on thirsty sand, ...
www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/740097
4 hrs
laying there, I rest
It's a particular expression in French
5 hrs
Paul Hirsh
France
France
Native in English
Specializes in field
France
The Human Translator
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Russian to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
I am laid to rest
prostrate is face down i guess...
1 day 7 hrs
Christopher Crockett
Native in English
Specializes in field
M.A., Ph.D. Historian/Art Historian
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
46
[here i lie,] lifeless as a tomb effigy...
If you wish to keep the funerary imagy of _gisant_.
Discussion