Sep 21, 2007 18:33
16 yrs ago
7 viewers *
French term
"pousser dans ses retranchements"
French to English
Art/Literary
Linguistics
art/science of translation
I have another 'abstract' to translate, from a thesis on .... translating. The student writes that considerable difficulties are found at the comprehension stage: the source text may contain intentional/unintentional ambiguities of language etc, but also there are the difficulties of translating cultural references, proper nouns, sociolects etc. As a result, he says:"Ces obstacles poussent le traducteur dans ses retranchements". My dictionary only gives "back to the wall", which seems to me to be excessive as well as not the right register. I had thought of "These obstacles are the ultimate challenge to the translator". I'd be very grateful for your comments and suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
17 hrs
Paul Cohen
Greenland
Greenland
Native in English
Greenland
Will work for blubber
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Danish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
force the translator to use all his talent and resourcefulness (to meet the challenge)
These obstacles force the translator to use all his talent and resourcefulness (to meet the challenge).
Let's face it, translation is a mixture of one part inspiration and two parts perspiration. Why not include the concept of "talent"?
Let's face it, translation is a mixture of one part inspiration and two parts perspiration. Why not include the concept of "talent"?
Note from asker:
| oops, forgot my manners! Thanks Paul |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This is the one I think! Will give the student the choice of including 'talent', (the thesis being of somewhat scientific precision) but I like your whole sentence best, and agree with your sentiment about talent!"
+1
8 mins
these tasks really put a translator to the test
these things really show a translator's mettle
I would avoid "ultimate challenge" as hyperbolic
I would avoid "ultimate challenge" as hyperbolic
Note from asker:
| yes, "hyperbolic" was my feeling too |
| Thanks Jim |
47 mins
forced to use last resorts
The CR says "to be driven into a corner" so I'm trying to stick to the original. Maybe you could say his options are limited, that he is disarmed. Perhpas he's saying that faced with these problems, the translator has only instinct to fall back on.
Incidentally, nearly all the refs I've found are for "DERNIERS retranchements". It seems to be the set phrase.
Incidentally, nearly all the refs I've found are for "DERNIERS retranchements". It seems to be the set phrase.
Note from asker:
| Hi Emma - yes, that's what I saw 'derniers' retranchements too.... et pourtant, c'est un Français! |
| Thanks Emma |
+1
6 mins
stretches his skills/resourcefulness to the limit
Off the top of my head, to get the ball rolling.
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Note added at 13 hrs (2007-09-22 07:33:33 GMT)
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Sorry, should be (these obstacles) "stretch" -- I forgot what the subject was when I was typing my answer. As for "to the utmost", only you can say if your writer wants to go that far ("to the breaking point" is also possible). It might be better to scale back the emphasis, and simply put "test the translator's resourcefulness". (The original doesn't say "dans ses derniers retranchements", after all.)
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Note added at 13 hrs (2007-09-22 07:33:33 GMT)
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Sorry, should be (these obstacles) "stretch" -- I forgot what the subject was when I was typing my answer. As for "to the utmost", only you can say if your writer wants to go that far ("to the breaking point" is also possible). It might be better to scale back the emphasis, and simply put "test the translator's resourcefulness". (The original doesn't say "dans ses derniers retranchements", after all.)
Note from asker:
| Insofar as this one of the major ideas is 'the limits' of translation, I have a pb with limits - otherwise I like your suggestion.. how about "to the utmost"? |
| Many thanks for your comments |
16 hrs
place him well and truly on his mettle
also
Note from asker:
| Thanks CMJ |
Discussion