Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
a été le théâtre
English translation:
as the one which occurred (Rephrase)
Added to glossary by
Andy Tolle
Aug 2, 2009 17:28
14 yrs ago
French term
Belgium
Works in: French to English
a été le théâtre
French to English
Science
Esoteric practices
The writer talks about a certain discovery he has done and the coincidences that were needed to make this discovery. He explains how many mayor discoveries, like the one of radioactivity (discovered by Becquerel: he noticed a piece of uranium ore, accidentally placed on a photographic paper that was forgotten in a drawer) needed many coincidences to see the light.
A piece of the text:
Or, j'estime - et il faudra le recul du temps pour pouvoir porter un jugement sur cette affirmation - j'estime avoir bénéficié d'un hasard au moins aussi important que celui dont le tiroir de Becquerel a été le théâtre.
A piece of the text:
Or, j'estime - et il faudra le recul du temps pour pouvoir porter un jugement sur cette affirmation - j'estime avoir bénéficié d'un hasard au moins aussi important que celui dont le tiroir de Becquerel a été le théâtre.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
3 hrs
Selected
as the one which occurred (Rephrase)
IMO, it sounds a bit strange for a drawer to be the scene or the stage for something, so:
...a lucky event at least as important as the one which occurred in Becherel's drawer
Or
...a lucky occurrence at least as important as the one which transpired in Becherel's drawer...
...which took place...
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Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2009-08-03 19:48:06 GMT) Post-grading
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Oops! Becquerel of course, not the French grammar guy...
...a lucky event at least as important as the one which occurred in Becherel's drawer
Or
...a lucky occurrence at least as important as the one which transpired in Becherel's drawer...
...which took place...
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Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2009-08-03 19:48:06 GMT) Post-grading
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Oops! Becquerel of course, not the French grammar guy...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Helen Shiner
33 mins
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Thanks, Helen!
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| agree |
reliable
1 hr
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Thanks, reliable!
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| agree |
Anne-Marie Grant (X)
2 hrs
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Thanks, Anne-Marie!
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| agree |
George C.
15 hrs
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Thanks, Solarstone!
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| agree |
Nektaria Notaridou
9 days
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3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This translation has helped me the most.
I intent an as simple translation as possible in order to retain the lucidity of the whole, given the nature of the book and the author who wrote it.
Whereas some translations here were more far more sophisticated or maybe even more correct, I felt I had to sacrifice some clarity using them.
Rest assure that all contributions were highly appreciated and warmly considered.
I'd like to thank all of you for the help you offered."
+2
7 mins
Estelle Demontrond-Box
Australia
Australia
Native in French
Australia
Qualified Translator & Published Writer
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France)
Works in: English to French, French to English, French
was the scene
a suggestion
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
37 mins
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Thanks Nikki!
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| agree |
rkillings
: rkillings: Same metaphor in English (cf. theatre of war), but you'd think the scene would be set in the lab and the drawer would be a prop.:-)
51 mins
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Thank you!
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+1
3 hrs
as what happened in Bequerel's drawer
Like Sue, I think anything too literal here reeks of translation, and any attempt to copy the rather pretentious FR style is doomed to failure.
As a footnote, I'd like to add that I think 'the setting for' would be a good way to render 'théâtre' used in this way — though I'd still steer clear of that particular phrasing in this specific instance.
As a footnote, I'd like to add that I think 'the setting for' would be a good way to render 'théâtre' used in this way — though I'd still steer clear of that particular phrasing in this specific instance.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Rachel Fell
: agree, also thought of "the setting for", tho' not right here - Becquerel, though;-)
12 hrs
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Thanks, Rachel! Oops, yes ... at least the broken wrist gives me a (temporary!) excuse for typos!
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2 hrs
which lead to Becquerel opening the drawer, setting the stage for all to happen (the discovery)
Hello,
My translation of sentence:
I believe to have profited from a matter of chance, at least as significant as the one which lead to Becquerel opening the drawer, setting the stage for all to happen.
a été = ended up (translated here by "lead to"
celui dont = hasard duquel (chance from which)
théâtre = the scene or where things happened (here, though,
I'm inclined to translate it as "setting the stage for all to
happen", as that's more the idea, imho.)
I hope this helps.
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Note added at 8 hrs (2009-08-03 02:23:10 GMT)
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Literally, "the one (chance) from which Becquerel's drawer ended up being where it (all) happened (the scene)". To me, that translates into more natural English as "the one which lead to Becquerel opening the drawer, setting the stage for all to happen (the discovery)"
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Note added at 8 hrs (2009-08-03 02:25:37 GMT)
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"Knowledgeable, engaging faculty and local experts set the stage for discovery with background lectures and discussions. Educational field trips, excursions ..."
www.elderhostel.org/about/questions_default.asp
Contrast that lead to cognitive conflicts can set the stage for discovery. Variables in instruction: nature of knowledge, nature of the knower, ...
www.personal.psu.edu/users/w/x/wxh139/construct.htm
My translation of sentence:
I believe to have profited from a matter of chance, at least as significant as the one which lead to Becquerel opening the drawer, setting the stage for all to happen.
a été = ended up (translated here by "lead to"
celui dont = hasard duquel (chance from which)
théâtre = the scene or where things happened (here, though,
I'm inclined to translate it as "setting the stage for all to
happen", as that's more the idea, imho.)
I hope this helps.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2009-08-03 02:23:10 GMT)
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Literally, "the one (chance) from which Becquerel's drawer ended up being where it (all) happened (the scene)". To me, that translates into more natural English as "the one which lead to Becquerel opening the drawer, setting the stage for all to happen (the discovery)"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2009-08-03 02:25:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Knowledgeable, engaging faculty and local experts set the stage for discovery with background lectures and discussions. Educational field trips, excursions ..."
www.elderhostel.org/about/questions_default.asp
Contrast that lead to cognitive conflicts can set the stage for discovery. Variables in instruction: nature of knowledge, nature of the knower, ...
www.personal.psu.edu/users/w/x/wxh139/construct.htm
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Anne-Marie Grant (X)
: I think your's would work if it was 'setting the scene for'
19 hrs
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Thanks, Anne-Marie! I appreciate the comment. I don't see much of a difference, but that would work, too. Also, "a été" means "turned out to be" here, even though I don't translate it that way. Ormiston's transl. is ok, but the others, not to keen...
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+2
21 hrs
a fortuitous discovery just as important as the one nestling / biding its time in Becquerel's drawer
I agree that the turn of phrase, with the drawer centre stage like is a bit OTT and hard to render. I hoped to find something along the lines of 'waiting in the wings' but ....
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Note added at 22 hrs (2009-08-03 15:45:58 GMT)
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better thus: 'at least as significant as...'
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Note added at 22 hrs (2009-08-03 15:45:58 GMT)
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better thus: 'at least as significant as...'
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
MatthewLaSon
: I decided I am going to agree with you, ormiston. None of the answers above suits me except my own. Yes, he opened the drawer by chance and that set the stage for all that was to come (the discovery). I like "significant" for "important" here.
9 mins
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thank you Matthew and I DO like your 'significant'
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| agree |
Anne-Marie Grant (X)
: I like 'biding its time' - nice sense of theatricality
45 mins
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thanks - can't stretch it too far when the subject is 'discovery'
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Discussion