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"marroniers"

English translation: regular/recurring features

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:"marroniers"
English translation:regular/recurring features
Entered by: B D Finch

11:55 Dec 19, 2008
French to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Internet, e-Commerce
French term or phrase: "marroniers"
Votre Site Internet
Saisie directe par vos équipes dans votre CMS (back office de gestion de votre site)
Animation éditoriale, alimentation récurrente de vos rubriques éditoriales, « marronniers », etc.

Any ideas?
Miranda Joubioux (X)
Local time: 21:18
regular/recurring features
Explanation:
Ahmed's dictionary definition should have an "old" in front of it. However, I don't think that this term is current in anything other than a derogatory sense in English editorial offices. e.g. Oh, no not that old chestnut again!



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Note added at 21 mins (2008-12-19 12:16:13 GMT)
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You can check the meaning in Robert (or other) French monolingual dico. Strangely, the French seems to derive from the recurring blossom of the chestnut tree if Robert is to be believed. I'm not sure what the origin of the English term is - probably conkers.
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 21:18
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7regular/recurring features
B D Finch
4 +1chestnut (Royaume-Uni) ou evergreen (États-Unis)
Ahmed Alami
4regular columns
Caroline Mackay-Sim (X)
3FAQ
Charlie Bavington


  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
regular/recurring features


Explanation:
Ahmed's dictionary definition should have an "old" in front of it. However, I don't think that this term is current in anything other than a derogatory sense in English editorial offices. e.g. Oh, no not that old chestnut again!



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2008-12-19 12:16:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You can check the meaning in Robert (or other) French monolingual dico. Strangely, the French seems to derive from the recurring blossom of the chestnut tree if Robert is to be believed. I'm not sure what the origin of the English term is - probably conkers.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 21:18
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 30

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Ahmed Alami: The dictionary doesn't state that it is old :)
2 mins
  -> "No, it doesn't" what? The comment assumed that the reader was familiar with the expression "an old chestnut". Get yourself a large, monolingual dictionary and this will, no doubt, be explained.
agree  John Peterson: "chestnut" doesn't seem a very attractive proposition in terms of site content; so I'd go with something like this.
13 mins
  -> Thanks John
agree  FBrisson: or ever-recurring issue
14 mins
  -> Thanks Fabienne
agree  cmwilliams (X)
18 mins
  -> Thanks cmw
agree  Jonathan MacKerron: my vote for 'regular features'
34 mins
  -> Thanks Jonathan
agree  Emma Paulay
1 hr
  -> Thanks Emma
agree  Clair Pickworth: recurring new items/stories, recurring issues, or re. http://www.grods.com/post/831/
1 hr
  -> Thanks Clair. Note the final word of your reference is practically interchangeable in this context with "old chestnut", though I prefer c**p!
agree  Kerensa Cracknell: "old chestnut" really doesn't seem appropriate in this context. I would go with "regular features".
12 hrs
  -> Thanks Kerenska
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
chestnut (Royaume-Uni) ou evergreen (États-Unis)


Explanation:

straigh from the dictionary:

marronnier [ maYCnje ] nom masculin
a
Botanique chestnut (tree)
marronnier (d'Inde) : horse chestnut tree

b
argot Presse chestnut argot




http://books.google.co.ma/books?id=mNn5TH_PRqIC&pg=PA21&lpg=...


http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marronnier_(journalisme)


Un marronnier en journalisme est un article d'information de faible importance meublant une période creuse, consacré à un événement récurrent et prévisible. Tout comme le marronnier (l'arbre) qui invariablement, tous les ans, produit ses fruits, le marronnier journalistique reproduit les même sujets avec plus ou moins d'originalité. Les sujets « débattus » dans un marronnier sont souvent simplistes, parfois mièvres. Son équivalent anglophone est l'expression chestnut (Royaume-Uni) ou evergreen (États-Unis).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2008-12-19 12:24:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the definition was taken from: Collins-Robert French Dictionary

Ahmed Alami
Morocco
Local time: 20:18
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Maria Laaroussi
4 mins
  -> Thank you Maria :)
neutral  B D Finch: As below, I just don't think the expression is used in UK except as an "old chestnut", which is something people are generally sick and tired of.
5 mins
  -> Thanks for your contribution!
neutral  Caroline Mackay-Sim (X): I tend to agree with B D Finch: "chestnut" makes me think of " Oh, not this old chestnut again!"
1 hr
neutral  Clair Pickworth: as not really in agreement with "chestnut" as generally negative connotation, but I do see the point about "evergreen" - evergreen issues that come up regularly in the press ? or something that is evergreen = does not age
1 hr
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
regular columns


Explanation:
another possibiliy.



Caroline Mackay-Sim (X)
Local time: 05:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
FAQ


Explanation:
Rather depends what sort of site this is.
Clearly "old chestnuts" is the dictionary equivalent.
The fact it is in quotes makes me wonder if they are aware they are being a little disparaging and they don't mean it TOO literally.

Anyway, basically, if the content is essentially static (you see the same stuff every time you click on the link) and it is just addressing issues that crop up time and time again (which frankly, if marronier is being used "properly" then it should!), then FAQ is pretty standard, even if no actual "questions" as such are involved.

If the content is more changeable (different stuff from one week/month to the next, while nonetheless familiar stuff) then perhaps "regular issues/features" would be a better bet.

If you're not sure, I would plump for "frequent issues" as it seems to cover both possibilities...

Charlie Bavington
Local time: 20:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 23
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