seule étude d’une cause qu’on n’avait encore vue à l’oeuvre

English translation: the study of a causative factor/causation alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	seule étude d’une cause qu’on n’avait encore vue à l’oeuvre
English translation:	the study of a causative factor/causation alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.
Entered by:	Helen Shiner

17:19 Feb 10, 2009

French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy / O. Hamelin

French term or phrase: seule étude d’une cause qu’on n’avait encore vue à l’oeuvre

I provide the whole sentence; if anyone has improvements on my rendition, suggestions are welcome:

Mais nous n’assurerions pas que, en fait même, jamais aucune prévisions n’ai été tirée de la seule étude d’une cause qu’on n’avait encore vue à l’oeuvre; et, pour ce que est du droit, nous affirmons énergiquement que la prévision et la prédétermination que s’identifient en fin de compte dans les profondeur de la pensée, n’on rien de commun avec la constance de la succession.

"But we shall not claim that, in fact, there has never been any prediction arrived at through the mere study of a cause that has not yet been witnessed in action; rather we emphatically insist that prediction and pre-determination, which themselves are no different from each other at the deeper levels of thought, have nothing in common with regularly repeating sequences."

S.J. KudoZ activity Questions: 7 (none open) Answers: 13 France
Local time: 04:59

the study of a causative factor alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.

Explanation:
[No predictions have yet been based on] the study of a causative factor alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.

Just a stab, but without knowing the philosopher in question it is difficult to have any idea of the tone required.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-02-10 20:05:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, sorry, I mean I don't know his work and also, therefore, not his vocabulary. So as I say, just a stab...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2009-02-11 10:17:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your clarification - I am sure 'causative factor' in my suggestion could well be replaced with 'causation' - again I am sure this will depend on the context. My aim really was to render my understanding of the phrase in general terms - the particularities are always best left to the person with the full context. I would definitely understand it as you do - that to date every study of causation has been based on a previous understanding of its functioning.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2009-02-11 10:19:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or rather that to date every study of causation has been based in some part on a previous understanding of its functioning.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2009-02-11 12:30:15 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks, Sharon - best of luck with the difficult text.

Selected response from:

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:59

Grading comment

Thanks again...
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +1

the study of a causative factor alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.

Helen Shiner

the only study of a cause that still had yet to be witnessed

MatthewLaSon

only study of a cause which had never yet been seen in action

Monique McColgan

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

4 hrs confidence:

the only study of a cause that still had yet to be witnessed

Explanation:
Hello,

That's my understanding.

à l'oeuvre = to be seen in action (to be witnessed)

I hope this helps.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 22:59
Native speaker of:

English

3 hrs confidence:

only study of a cause which had never yet been seen in action

Explanation:
this is new study

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2009-02-11 04:48:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A guess may have been drawn as a result of the only study made of a cause which had not yet been witnessed.

Monique McColgan
Local time: 22:59
Native speaker of:

French,

English

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

the study of a causative factor alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:59
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks again...

Notes to answerer

Asker: Hi Helen, its Octave Hamelin (which I noted in the title), the style is very heavy but I am trying hard to make it clear and simple...thanks for your answer which I appreciate for the additional perspective.

Asker: Merci, Helen. I think this is getting pretty close (also with Melissa's input, for which I thank her yet again) I can now put it back in its terribly convoluted context and try to straighten it out from there

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

seule étude d’une cause qu’on n’avait encore vue à l’oeuvre

English translation: the study of a causative factor/causation alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

seule étude d’une cause qu’on n’avait encore vue à l’oeuvre

English translation: the study of a causative factor/causation alone, without a prior estimation of its functioning.

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language