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Il en fixe la thématique annuelle

English translation: A young ... research student ... who selects the subject/theme for the year

12:15 Dec 13, 2006
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Geography / Town planning/development
French term or phrase: Il en fixe la thématique annuelle
L’animation de ce séminaire, lancé par le laboratoire Architecture/ Anthropologie, est confiée à un jeune chercheur doctorant intéressé par la représentation de la ville au cinéma, afin de valoriser et enrichir son travail de thèse. ***Il en fixe la thématique annuelle***. Cette première édition est organisée par {nom de femme X}, doctorante à la faculté d’architecture de l’université fédérale de Bahia (thèse“Trilogie de ville utopique : urbanisme, bande dessinée et cinéma”, dirigée par {nom de femme Y}), et propose une approche de la ville sous trois angles (les projections ont toujours lieu le lundi, à raison d’un sur deux).

I had to put something in as the sentence in question (and this is in fact it) but the truth is the whole paragraph confuses me the more I look at it. This is more a language/grammar question than anything.

First of all, it mentions 'un jeune chercheur doctorant', which I have translated as 'a young PhD student researcher' and the French suggests, initially, that we are talking about a male, although at this stage does not mention a name. It then goes on to say
'Il en fixe la thématique annuelle'... and you assume that the 'Il' refers to the 'jeune chercheur doctorant'....but it then goes on to mention a woman and it makes you wonder if they are talking about the same person. (I think it must be the same person, otherwise surely they would have named the first person as well as the second.) Or is the 'Il' referring to the 'laboratoire Architecture/Anthropologie'. Do you see what I mean? I think I have been looking at this for too long, because I really can't figure it out! Unless the 'jeune chercheur doctorant' is meant in the unisex sense, like 'chairman' (which can mean a woman nowadays)...

I would be most grateful for other opinions...
French2English
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:32
English translation:A young ... research student ... who selects the subject/theme for the year
Explanation:
To get around the problem of masculine and feminine pronouns - best avoided in English - I'd run the two sentences together. It could be **selects**, chooses**, **picks**, depending upon how formal you wish to make it.
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 00:32
Grading comment
Yes, this had to be what it meant...it was just a problem of gender....thanks!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 -1it relates to the annual topic/subject of discussion.
narasimha (X)
3A young ... research student ... who selects the subject/theme for the year
B D Finch


Discussion entries: 11





  

Answers


15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
it relates to the annual topic/subject of discussion.


Explanation:
Here 'IL' refers to the seminar.The activities of this seminar(a meeting of a group of post graduates for exchange of information), set forth by the archaeological/anthropological laboratory is confined to a young student PhD research student interested in the representation of the city in cinema, finally to evaluate and substantiate in her thesis. It relates to the the yearly topic/subject of discussion.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

narasimha (X)
India
Local time: 04:02
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Sandra Petch: "Il" doesn't refer to the seminar but to the student. See notes to asker.
4 hrs
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22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
A young ... research student ... who selects the subject/theme for the year


Explanation:
To get around the problem of masculine and feminine pronouns - best avoided in English - I'd run the two sentences together. It could be **selects**, chooses**, **picks**, depending upon how formal you wish to make it.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 00:32
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 23
Grading comment
Yes, this had to be what it meant...it was just a problem of gender....thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Sandra Petch: This would make a very long sentence! I would just say "he or she".
5 days
  -> You are right, it would be a long sentence. This could be solved either as you suggest, or by use of dashes.
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