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French to English translations [PRO] Marketing - Advertising / Public Relations / communications consultants website
French term or phrase:Le verbe juste
I can't give the exact context for reasons of confidentiality. The text expresses the consultancy firm's conviction that "le verbe juste" is the most important element for success in company communications.
Explanation: I somehow misdoubt that this is talking specifically about the verb as a part of speech, but rather in the Biblical sense: "In the beginning was the Word"
However, without more context, I think in EN it would be more natural to express this as the language as a whole; unless, of course, they are indeed talking about some specific word choice — certain products will forever be associated with a particular word or expression used e.g. in their TV ads: "va-va-voom" springs to mind...
Slotted in beautifully, once I'd accepted (with some relief) that it wasn't a case of my brain withholding THE perfect solution. Thanks! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Thanks for your contributions, but would like to say that I chose Tony's answer not because it was the best of a bad lot but because it fitted perfectly in the context (see my grading comment). I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I was looking for a slogan; luckily for me, Tony had - with his customary flair - understood precisely what I wanted, and I closed the question (some time ago!) because I needed look no further.
as mentioned on another recent posting, English is a very nuanced language, rarely to be taken at face value, and context is everything. As is being a native speaker, having a natural feel for it that I fear can only extremely rarely be acquired by non-native speakers. To the extent that, in general, the nitty-gritty is best left to the natives to sort out. Believe me, Tony is right about this. End of.
Yes, I do believe they are completely and utterly wrong... in the specific context here!
I am perfectly well aware of the meanings of both terms, so I don't need to go and look in any dictionary; but I am also very familiar with how they are used in natural, idomatic EN, which instinct is what tells me they couldn't possibly, ever, work here.
Nikki I suppose the asker is looking for a kind of slogan. So "the right word", like used by the Bible for those who believe in religious texts, is a choice. As for "speeches", they are most usually written before being spoken. But "discours" may perhaps also work although I find it a somehow more academic term and maybe not very adequate for a colloquial communication as a slogan must be.
"the right speech" wouldn't I'm afraid be right here in EN; it's just not natural to use 'speech' in this way; 'speech' is either the faculty of being able to speak ('speech is unique to Man'), or the manner in which one speaks ('his speech was slurred'); or it is a discourse given to an assembled gathering ('the best man gave a long speech') — or a section of an actor's performance in a play etc.
If one means the words that are spoken (in a film or something), then we usually call it dialogue ('the quickfire dialogue between the two gansters...'); or a discourse given in a more informal way might be a 'talk' (The captain gave her team a morale-boosting talk')
I don't think any of these meaning or synonyms would really be terribly natural in the given context.
As for your second suggestion, however we choose to interpret 'word', I'm not convinced that 'exact' quite conveys the right idea; it might be 'exactly the right word', but I think there's a nuance of meaning between that and 'the exact word'.
I have two suggestions for you but I cannot answer once I don't pay ProZ.com. 1 _ The right speech. (Verb in French means more than one term) 2 _ The exact word (Word in the sense of preaching) I myself prefer the first one.
between translation skill and the ability/willingness to pay for membership. This used to happen a lot in the past and ended up blocking some very fine people from posting their help.
Tony's answer is closest to the meaning I'd give it but I would ideally like something a bit snappier. Also, the quotes in the original bother me: obviously they CAN be done away with, but I can't help feeling the urge to find something which is neatly encapsulated in a similar way. I guess if I had to give a translation here and now it would be 'the right language', but although that's not miles off it sounds a bit weak to my ears in comparison to the original. BTW, I very much appreciate all your efforts!
well, I suppose we all know what it means at face value. But with your insight into the text, what is your understanding of the message they're trying to get across? To save us going on a wild goose chase, what ideas of your own have you already rejected?
Agree, it's not difficult but it can mean a number of things, although one has to see the French in context to know where they are actually going with it. What do you think it means?
I really have given what I can. As I have said, this is the website pitch for a company of communications consultants; at this point they are explaining their ethos. I know what the blessed thing MEANS, I just can't hit on what feels like the most apt English way of expressing it.
Le Verbe means The Word. But there isn't enough context as to type of product/service, register, style of the actual French text etc, so it's anyone's guess at least as far as the rest of us are concerned.
I'm sorry, I didn't make it clear that "verbe juste" is in quotes in the source text. A rough translation of the context would be 'we are convinced that "le verbe juste" is best means to ...".
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
29 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
The right tone
Explanation: Simply a suggestion..
Colin Morley (X) France Local time: 07:04 Does not meet criteria Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
35 mins confidence:
Make every verb count
Explanation: OR
Actions speak louder than words
Actions are the loudest words
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Clearly a word play on 'le mot juste', but with the emphasis on the word 'verbe' - ie, what you asking or exhorting people to DO. For this reason, I feel that it's important to emphasise 'action' or 'verb' in the TT
Carol Gullidge United Kingdom Local time: 06:04 Meets criteria Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 16
Explanation: I somehow misdoubt that this is talking specifically about the verb as a part of speech, but rather in the Biblical sense: "In the beginning was the Word"
However, without more context, I think in EN it would be more natural to express this as the language as a whole; unless, of course, they are indeed talking about some specific word choice — certain products will forever be associated with a particular word or expression used e.g. in their TV ads: "va-va-voom" springs to mind...
Tony M France Local time: 07:04 Meets criteria Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 71
Grading comment
Slotted in beautifully, once I'd accepted (with some relief) that it wasn't a case of my brain withholding THE perfect solution. Thanks!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Tony. I entirely agree about the meaning of "verbe", here, and indeed with all your reasoning. I have also given a little more context - with many apologies - in the discussion box.
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