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French to English translations [PRO] Folklore
French term or phrase:Ainsi font, font, font les petites marionnettes
I need to translate this song (culturally speaking) for an English-speaking audience. It's a song parents sing to their children which goes like this:
Ainsi font, font, font Les petites marionnettes Ainsi font font font Trois petits tours Et puis s'en vont
I'm NOT looking to translate the song literally, but rather to find an equivalent in English. I thought of something like "Old MacDonald had a farm", but if anyone has a better suggestion, I'd appreciate it! :)
Another game with little kids, though a bit dated now! This is the way the gentleman rides .... the lady rides ..... the farmer rides .... the old man rides .. and down into the ditch!
@Nikki, in the documentary, the song is sung to a 2-3 y.o. baby, what's most important here is not the finger play in itself, but rather the interaction between the granddad and his granddaughter.
It is not at all central to the main story, it's just a passing moment but I wanted to find the right equivalent. Thank you both.
just to add my two cents' worth after all this brainstorming. Nikki has summed it up concisely. I personally would go with "this little piggy" (which chez moi is done on the child's toes, not fingers, but no big deal!) or "round and round the garden". Just to confirm that "les petites marionnettes", and those two games/rhymes in English are done with very small children.
To find an equivalent rather than a translation, some guidance as to what would be the msot important element, would be helpful. I agree with Katsy, Steven, etc.
From the nursery rhyme "Ainsi font, font, font...", three features stick out in my mind: - aimed at babies and very young children - finger play - the now-you-see-them-now-you-don't aspect
This song is sung to babies, pretty much from when they start smiling in exchange reactions up to toddler age when they start having fun doing it themselves.
The suggestions of "Eentsy, weentsy spider", "Round and round the garden" and "This little Piggy went to arket" have all three features of the FR. They are also nice and short.
Your idea of Old MacDonald would cover the older age, but less so the younger age. Also, there's no fingerplay or gestures, and it is much too long compared to the FR one.
@phil: sorry if I wasn't clear, I need an equivalent, not a translation of the song itself.
@Lara: the context is a documentary, a granddad sings it to his granddaughter. It only lasts for 3 seconds or so, and is not a all central to the main plot, but I wanted an accurate equivalent.
@katsy: thanks a million for all the suggestions!
@Steven: thanks a lot. I think I'll use the "little piggy" nursery rhyme since it involves an interaction betwen the (grand)parent and the child.
If you need an equivalent, then you need a song with fingerplay.... Additional info on this little song: the song involves the parent (and hopefully the child, but it is sung to very small children) holding up his/her hands, waggling fingers, and turning hands back and forth (as if screwing/unscrewing a light bulb). On the last line, the hands 'disappear'. A possible equivalent (and I underline possible) which comes to mind is either "round and round the garden" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_and_round_the_garden (there is a paragraph on the actions); or "incy-wincy spider"http://chuchutv.com/lyrics/incy-wincy-spider-nursery-rhyme-l... which involves imitating the movement of the spider, the rain and the sun with the fingers; or maybe 'here's the church' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H3E33o4URc - though this version is not the one I learnt as a child. Does this help?
You say "I need to translate this song," but then you say you need to find an equivalent in English. What exactly do you need, and what is the context? Here is an explanation of "ainsi font", and a rudimentary translation: http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=151&c=22
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Answers
1 day 13 hrs confidence:
This is what they do and do, The little little puppets
Explanation: This is what they do and do The little little puppets This is what they do and do Three little turns And go away.
Then they will come back The little little puppets Then they will come back When the others go away.
Une autre version avec plus d'attention sur les syllabes qui doivent remplir la phrase musicale: This is what they do and do The little and beautiful puppets This is what they do and do Three little turns And go away.
Here they are coming back The little and beautiful puppets They will only come back When the others go away.
Shog Imas Canada Local time: 11:15 Native speaker of: English, French
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