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"contre-dons"

English translation: gift exchange

11:23 Nov 13, 2014
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / A sociological study of the field of science & technology
French term or phrase: "contre-dons"
"De tels dons et contre-dons en précédaient généralement d’autres, à commencer par divers échanges d’informations."

This is from a chapter on a sociological study of projects. This chapter discusses the role of public technology demonstrations in projects. The sentence immediately before this one discusses the offer of giving a tech demo in place of a traditional business meeting. So the gifts mentioned here are tech demos – what is a good translation for "contre-dons"? Is the idea that gifts are being exchanged, like gifts and gifts in return?...
Delaina
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:52
English translation:gift exchange
Explanation:
The French expression ** don et contre-don** seems to be generally translated as ** gift exchange **.
For example the French sociologist Mauss Il est surtout connu pour un certain nombre de grandes théories, notamment celle du don et du contre-don, (wikipédia in French)
and in English wikipedia states particularly with respect to his analyses of topics such as magic, sacrifice and gift exchange in different cultures around the world.
Now I would never quote Wikipedia as an authoritative source for any subject but googling does come up with other similar examples.
Selected response from:

Jane Phillips
France
Local time: 08:52
Grading comment
Great, thank you. I feel both suggested answers to this question (1. 'gift exchange'; 2. gifts/counter gifts) work depending on the sentence.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1gift exchange
Jane Phillips
3 +1counter-gifts
Melissa McMahon


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
counter-gifts


Explanation:
In the context of the sociology of gift-giving, "counter-gift" seems to be a used and accepted term.

See eg. "He also claimed that in order for such a relationship to persist, there must be a time lag between the gift and counter-gift" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economy)

"Baudrillard’s gift and counter gift – potlatch – is inevitable, core to the enigma of social being" (http://www.ubishops.ca/baudrillardstudies/vol-9_3/v9-3-baldw...


Melissa McMahon
Australia
Local time: 16:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
4 hrs
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
gift exchange


Explanation:
The French expression ** don et contre-don** seems to be generally translated as ** gift exchange **.
For example the French sociologist Mauss Il est surtout connu pour un certain nombre de grandes théories, notamment celle du don et du contre-don, (wikipédia in French)
and in English wikipedia states particularly with respect to his analyses of topics such as magic, sacrifice and gift exchange in different cultures around the world.
Now I would never quote Wikipedia as an authoritative source for any subject but googling does come up with other similar examples.

Jane Phillips
France
Local time: 08:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Great, thank you. I feel both suggested answers to this question (1. 'gift exchange'; 2. gifts/counter gifts) work depending on the sentence.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: I read some Mauss once. He talked about wars between tribes, in which each side would give the other gifts of increasing generosity, which always had to be reciprocated. Eventually one side would be left destitute.
4 hrs
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