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Gol

English translation: spaz / mong

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:gol
English translation:spaz / mong
Entered by: Chris Hall

20:49 Jul 15, 2010
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
French term or phrase: Gol
I am translating excerpts from Calixthe Beyala's, les honneurs perdus for my masters thesis. The last time I posted a question I received some very helpful answers, I'm hoping someone can help me out here as well. Beyala often inserts words form her native Eton into her novels, which requires some research and always stumps me for a while.

The first word in question is Gol, from the following passage: Mademoiselle Julie était assise en tailleur à même le sol. Elle était Gol, pitoyable.

The second is: L'Os. The passage is as follows: Pourtant, son histoire était simple, un conte que bon nombre d'Africains connaissaient, L'Os.

Does anyone know what either of these mean?

Thanks!
lolatosome
Local time: 03:09
spaz / mong
Explanation:
Elle était gol, pitoyable
=
She was a spaz / mong, pitiful

Courtesy of Harrap's "Pardon My French!"

You should post a separate question for "l'os".
Selected response from:

Chris Hall
Local time: 08:09
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4spaz / mong
Chris Hall
4miserable/pitiful
mimi 254


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
gol
spaz / mong


Explanation:
Elle était gol, pitoyable
=
She was a spaz / mong, pitiful

Courtesy of Harrap's "Pardon My French!"

You should post a separate question for "l'os".

Chris Hall
Local time: 08:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: Not disagreeing, but is this the right register for the context?
19 mins
agree  SMcG (X): mongoloid
1 hr
disagree  mimi 254: Sorry but it has nothing to do with mongol - it is a word from Beyala's dialect
11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
miserable/pitiful


Explanation:
Beyala just like explained what gol means with the following word
Note that it is pronounced with N in front - ngol (pitié, misérable)

Mrs. Julie with her suit was sitting on the ground and looked miserable, pitiful

it has nothing to do with insanity, spaz or hr being a mongol

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2010-07-16 08:14:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I presume L'os here refers to L'os de Mor Lam by Birago Diop which is simply the Bone

www.lekti-ecriture.com › ... › Littérature française › Birago Diop -
openlibrary.org/books/OL526702M/os_de_Mor_Lam -

mimi 254
Local time: 08:09
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
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