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force sévère

English translation: Austere power /(or Severe power)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:force sévère
English translation:Austere power /(or Severe power)
Entered by: Lara Barnett

14:09 May 23, 2012
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.) / glass sculpture
French term or phrase: force sévère
I think he's referring to a feature in one of his sculptures, but it could be more personal reflection on his environment. Hard to tell with these guys:
"Sous la protection d’une puissante vigne centenaire, l’étroite terrasse renouvelle ma perception du paysage… Collines silencieuses, toujours plus lointaines, chargées aujourd’hui d’une ***force sévère*** que je ne percevais pas quelques mois auparavant…"
Or is it the seasonal change in the hills' appearance?
kashew
France
Local time: 09:54
Austere power /(or Severe power)
Explanation:
In my idea have tried to remain close to the original and not to veer too far away from the more generic type words that are used. I don't think it is a good idea to be too creative, but I think for some reason "austere" works better than severe - though using it would still be a plausible option.

I think it is quite a bold statement, and both examples I have included actually come from newspaper headlines. i.e. this collocation could have quite an impact.



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Note added at 54 mins (2012-05-23 15:03:50 GMT)
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"stern power"

As an afterthought, maybe "stern power" would work better than "sever power"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:29:49 GMT)
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I think strength might contain the wrong idea. I had the feeling that "force" here was being used in the sense of "power". IMO it is the connotative difference in meaning between "strength" and "power" that makes the collocation with "austere" work. With the use of "chargées" and a vision being described, I see more word connection here with "power" - hope you know what I mean by this.

I also think it rings better using "power".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:35:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I see this in terms of the idea "powerful vision" seeing as it is describing a piece of art - I would say this is a more common expression than "powerful strength"
"Albert Herbert: Artist of POWERFUL vsion"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/albert-herbert-...
Selected response from:

Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:54
Grading comment
Thanks to all.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +3forbidding power, brooding presence
chris collister
4Austere power /(or Severe power)
Lara Barnett
3Merciless/ pitiless/ cruel/ ruthless fury
Andrew Bramhall


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Merciless/ pitiless/ cruel/ ruthless fury


Explanation:
"Sous la protection d’une puissante vigne centenaire, l’étroite terrasse renouvelle ma perception du paysage… Collines silencieuses, toujours plus lointaines, chargées aujourd’hui d’une ***force sévère*** que je ne percevais pas quelques mois auparavant
Under the protection of a hundred year old vine, the narrow terrace reaffirms my perception of the countryside; muffled hills, always appearing further away ( than they actually are), and possessed of a merciless fury that I hadn't noticed some months previously...

Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
forbidding power, brooding presence


Explanation:
As you say, hard to tell, but it seems he is impressed by the brooding power of the landscape. The great Don McCullin's (g)lowering Somerset landscapes are imbued with such "brooding presence"...
I'd say this is just one of a multitude of interpretations. Bonne chance.

chris collister
France
Local time: 09:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 47

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DLyons: Yes, something of that sort!
24 mins
agree  S Kelly
1 hr
agree  EirTranslations
1 hr
neutral  Andrew Bramhall: wouldn't that more likely be poder inquietante, una presencia amenazadora,siniestra, or similar,though?
3 hrs
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53 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Austere power /(or Severe power)


Explanation:
In my idea have tried to remain close to the original and not to veer too far away from the more generic type words that are used. I don't think it is a good idea to be too creative, but I think for some reason "austere" works better than severe - though using it would still be a plausible option.

I think it is quite a bold statement, and both examples I have included actually come from newspaper headlines. i.e. this collocation could have quite an impact.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 54 mins (2012-05-23 15:03:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"stern power"

As an afterthought, maybe "stern power" would work better than "sever power"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:29:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think strength might contain the wrong idea. I had the feeling that "force" here was being used in the sense of "power". IMO it is the connotative difference in meaning between "strength" and "power" that makes the collocation with "austere" work. With the use of "chargées" and a vision being described, I see more word connection here with "power" - hope you know what I mean by this.

I also think it rings better using "power".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:35:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I see this in terms of the idea "powerful vision" seeing as it is describing a piece of art - I would say this is a more common expression than "powerful strength"
"Albert Herbert: Artist of POWERFUL vsion"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/albert-herbert-...

Example sentence(s):
  • "Bresson's `Pickpocket' retains its austere power"
  • "Austere power in Symphony"

    Reference: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-11-04/entertainment/...
    Reference: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19570819&id=g...
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks to all.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi; I'm still hestitating (fortunately time allows): I want to use "austere", yes, but how do you reckon "strength" instead of "power" as the noun?

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