Le verbe juste

English translation: (using) just the right language

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:le verbe juste
English translation:(using) just the right language
Entered by: Tony M

06:57 May 28, 2013
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.
Victoria Britten
France
Local time: 07:04
using just the right language
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...
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 07:04
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!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2The right tone
Colin Morley (X)
4 +1using just the right language
Tony M
4 +1on-target communication
Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
5exactly the right verb
Alison Billington
4get/send the right "message" across
Yvonne Gallagher
3 +1picking the word that's right
B D Finch
3Make every verb count
Carol Gullidge


Discussion entries: 29





  

Answers


29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 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

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wendy Streitparth: But a good one.
2 mins
  -> Thanks Wendy

agree  Marian Vieyra
52 mins
  -> Thanks Marian
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Make every verb count


Explanation:
OR

Actions speak louder than words

Actions are the loudest words

---

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: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
using just the right language


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: Native in EnglishEnglish
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.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Timothy Rake: or "just the right word" as we might say in US English
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Timothy! Oh, and in GB too; I just felt that 'word' was too restrictive (implying as it does a single word) — to me 'verbe' strongly suggests 'word' in the figurative, collective sense ('the Word of God' etc.)
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
get/send the right "message" across


Explanation:
late to this so just another idea.

This might work. Otherwise just use Tony's.

so, in your sentence:

... we are convinced that getting the right "message" across is the best way to..


Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 06:04
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 13
Notes to answerer
Asker: Interesting angle, thanks!

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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
picking the word that's right


Explanation:
Another suggestion.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-05-28 10:33:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: Picking one's words carefully

B D Finch
France
Local time: 07:04
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wolf Draeger: Or the well-chosen word.
1 hr
  -> Thanks Wolf. That's another potential answer.
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
on-target communication


Explanation:
or: on-target communication strategies, if appropriate

Communication adapted to the audience.

Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
Israel
Local time: 09:04
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RomanianRomanian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: well, at least this has the merit of sounding like something someone would actually use in a marketing text in real life.
1 day 12 hrs
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1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
exactly the right verb


Explanation:
A play on words with with intertextuality with 'le mot juste' - exactly the right word.

Alison Billington
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:04
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: As I have already suggested, restricting 'verbe' to 'verb' in this instance strikes me as unwise — unless of course in the specific context it really does mean some particular verb. But I can't help feeling we are talking more generally here.
38 mins
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