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Librairie engagée

English translation: activist bookstore

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Librairie engagée
English translation:activist bookstore
Entered by: ormiston

21:04 Feb 4, 2016
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / description of bookshop
French term or phrase: Librairie engagée
The bookstore is described thus (one line entry):

Librairie engagée, politique, société, histoire

I'm having trouble finding the right term here, despite the glossaries)

(I don't see why I cannot name it as it is in the news - Lady Long Solo
it sells non mainstream books)
ormiston
Local time: 13:19
activist bookstore
Explanation:
I presume this is what is meant. Seems to be used widely.

https://greecealive.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/free-thinking-z...

http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/video-armisen-and-brownstein-...

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Note added at 20 mins (2016-02-04 21:24:42 GMT)
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That would work, too. If they use it themselves then I guess it's part of the jargon, too.
Selected response from:

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:19
Grading comment
The owner herself is politically active so this fits best
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6activist bookstore
Helen Shiner
4 +2Socially engaged bookshop/store
Lisa Jane
4 +1radical
Margaret Morrison
4 +1(committed) independent bookshop/store specialising in...
Yvonne Gallagher
3Bookstore (or bookshop) for activists
Patrick Lemaire


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Bookstore (or bookshop) for activists


Explanation:
Suggestion

Patrick Lemaire
Local time: 12:19
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  AllegroTrans: whilst that is the idea, I think an adjective is needed here
13 hrs
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
activist bookstore


Explanation:
I presume this is what is meant. Seems to be used widely.

https://greecealive.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/free-thinking-z...

http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/video-armisen-and-brownstein-...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2016-02-04 21:24:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That would work, too. If they use it themselves then I guess it's part of the jargon, too.

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:19
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44
Grading comment
The owner herself is politically active so this fits best
Notes to answerer
Asker: your link came up with 'free-thinking' which I had been toying with. Your idea though sounds better than 'for activists'


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: "Alternative" is an alternative.
41 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil
agree  Verginia Ophof
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Verginia
agree  erwan-l
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, erwan-l
agree  Helene Tammik
9 hrs
  -> Thank you, Helene
agree  Frank Foley: I'm agreeing with "alternative" as much as "activist".
1 day 17 hrs
  -> Thanks, Frank
agree  Victoria Britten: Or "bookshop", of course, depending on target
3 days 10 hrs
  -> Thanks, Victoria. Yes, of course.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Socially engaged bookshop/store


Explanation:
My choice...

Fighting the System with a Book (and a Cup of Coffee): Socially engaged bookshop-cafés in a multi-ethnic, post-Yugoslav city; or: Towards a framework of discreet civil society

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 13:19
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  AllegroTrans: This works whilst avoiding the "heavy" words
11 hrs
  -> thanks-yes that's precisely why I chose it!
agree  Philippa Smith
13 hrs
  -> Thanks Philippa!
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
radical


Explanation:
While "socially committed" or "engaged" might describe a person seems like a bookshop would self describe more as radical. It's certainly what I would expect to find bookshops like Bookmarks (SWP) being described as.

Example sentence(s):
  • Housmans is London's premier radical bookshop

    Reference: http://www.housmans.com/
Margaret Morrison
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:19
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yolanda Broad
2 hrs
neutral  Jennifer White: in the present climate I'd avoid this word. I'd avoid activist too - too many connotations in the present day.
10 hrs
neutral  AllegroTrans: right idea, but "radical" as an adjective is going in a certain direction nowadays to the extent that it might eventually even lose its original meaning
14 hrs
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
(committed) independent bookshop/store specialising in...


Explanation:
this distinguishes it from mainstream booksellers and Amazon. Many independents could possibly be classed as "alternative" but does it say that this shop is "radical" or for "activists"?

Also "un auteur engagée" is seen as politically aware and/or committed but not necessarily activist or radical

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Note added at 13 hrs (2016-02-05 10:26:03 GMT)
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I think "independent" implies commitment to the local community, having a knowledgeable staff who truly know about the books they sell, hosting events instore, welcoming browsers etc . For me it would go well beyond what a chain/major bookstore will do. I just think "activist" and "radical" is overtranslation. Here are some examples:

http://www.politics-prose.com/our-history
"...We are selective about the books that we order, offering what is important to our customers and what is important to us. We sell books about the nation and the world, about people’s lives and their ideas, and we love fiction. Our staff tries to read as much as we can so that we can recommend new books. It is the enthusiasm and commitment of the staff that make the store unique...

Our author talks and our publications are integral to everything that we do. We want to facilitate the relationship between books and authors and readers. Authors enjoy coming to P&P because the staff treats them with respect and the customers are exceptionally well informed. It’s a great chance for authors, who work in solitude on their books, to meet readers. Our customers enjoy the author talks and the constant activity of the store. It’s a lively atmosphere..."

http://www.broadwaybooks.net/

http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/culture/2012/10/cabinets...
"Where Paris protects its bookshops with subsidies and by fixing trading prices, London seems intent on catering for Starbucks and other corporate chains. I for one hope the indies’ emphasis on community and expertise saves them from ruin..."
http://www.jarndyce.co.uk/bloomsbury_booksellers.php

and here's a more "radical" independent
http://fiveleavesbookshop.co.uk/


Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 12:19
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 88
Notes to answerer
Asker: Agree with your comments but independent seems to me limited to vs. Chains


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jennifer White: independent bookshop sounds just right. Agree - NOT activist
6 hrs
  -> Many thanks:-)
neutral  AllegroTrans: "independent" doesntt equate to the content of the shop, only to the fact that it isn't part of a chain
12 hrs
  -> never said it did add "committed" + "specialised in..." for ethos/content
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