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invention formelle

English translation: structural innovation / innovation of form

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:invention formelle
English translation:structural innovation / innovation of form
Entered by: Helen Shiner

10:25 Apr 4, 2012
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Anthropology / academic
French term or phrase: invention formelle
Hi there,

I could do with some help understanding the meaning of formelle in this context. I'm not sure that it is as simple as just 'formal'? I have included the context below:

Cette abondance de richesse permet l’organisation de grands cycles d’échanges et de cycles cérémoniels pour lesquels sont produit un nombre considérable d’objets, objets dont "l’invention formelle" est déroutante, étrange, fascinante.

A similar example comes up later in the text:
Cette variété de groupe, chacun possédant ses propres traditions, explique partiellement "la diversité formelle" des objets produits.

Thanks your help!

Sarita
Sarita Mardon
Local time: 07:29
structural innovation / innovation of form
Explanation:
I think I would go in this direction.
Selected response from:

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:29
Grading comment
Thanks Helen!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4formal invention
Evans (X)
4 +1structural innovation / innovation of form
Helen Shiner
4actual invention
B D Finch
3formal introduction / origination
DLyons
Summary of reference entries provided
freekfluweel

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
formal invention


Explanation:
This is the use of "formel" in both French and English to mean in relation to form. As in the formal beauty of a piece of writing, or the formal inventiveness of a piece of architecture.

One of the many meanings of 'formel' that matches in both languages.

Evans (X)
Local time: 06:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yvonne Gallagher
8 mins
  -> cheers, gallagy2
agree  Letredenoblesse
46 mins
  -> cheers, Agnes
agree  Paul Hirsh: formal inventiveness
5 hrs
  -> Yes, I agree formal inventiveness may be the best option. Thanks, Paul.
agree  Phong Le
1 day 5 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
formal introduction / origination


Explanation:
I think your question is really about the word "formelle"for which formal seems fine. But I wouldn't translate "invention" as invention.

DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 06:29
Native speaker of: English
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
actual invention


Explanation:
I think that "formel", in both its occurrences here, is used as a bit of padding for emphasis, in "formel"'s sense of "definite" or "positive". However, you wouldn't use either of those translations here in English. A similar effect is created in English by using the word "actual".

An even more emphatic use (not recommended for non-ironic, non-verbal use) would be "your actual proper XX", pronounced "yer akshul proppa XX".

B D Finch
France
Local time: 07:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
structural innovation / innovation of form


Explanation:
I think I would go in this direction.

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:29
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 10
Grading comment
Thanks Helen!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: This avoids the ambiguity of "formal".
37 mins
  -> Thanks, phil
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Reference comments


11 mins
Reference

Reference information:
Harry Martinson reçoit en 1974 le prix Nobel de littérature pour une œuvre dont l'invention formelle se soumet à une exigence de justice sociale jamais démentie. Il partage ce prix avec Eyvind Johnson, autre écrivain dit « prolétarien ». Il meurt dans sa maison de Gnesta le 11 février 1978.

http://www.bibliomonde.com/auteur/harry-martinson-1250.html

freekfluweel
Netherlands
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
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