Génie du Bien

English translation: warrior of the Light

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	Génie du Bien
English translation:	warrior of the Light
Entered by:	Sarita Mardon

06:58 May 10, 2012

French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

French term or phrase: Génie du Bien

Hello,

I could do with some help finding a good translation of 'génie du bien'. This is for a children's novel and refers to one of the masters at the children's school. Here is the context below:

"Plus qu’un professeur, Maître Guéran est un modèle pour tous enfants Chaokas, qui rêvent, un jour, de devenir comme lui: un Grand Maître du Kabraz, au sommet de son art, brillant par son courage, sa discipline et sa sagesse. Ce génie du Bien s’est distingué autrefois lors du conflit entre les Guwèn et la tribu primitive des Stonx."

Thanks!

Sarita Mardon KudoZ activity Questions: 13 (none open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 47
Local time: 05:37

warrior of the Light

Explanation:
This might be too aggressive, but perhaps accurately depicts the sense of being one of the "really good guys", so to speak.

Maybe something like: "Long ago, he shone as a warrior of the Light during the conflict ...".

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2012-05-11 11:12:01 GMT)
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If "Bien" = "Virtue", then how about:

"a master of virtue" or "a model of virtue", maybe in one of the previous sentences where the character is first introduced. Or:

"A virtuous teacher, he distinguished himself..."

As you say, it might be best to rephrase the sense of the character's perfect goodness, instead of translating the word "génie".

For laughs, check out (completely unrelated to the question, lol):
http://forum.fr.grepolis.com/showthread.php?33149-Le-Fabuleu...

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2012-05-11 11:42:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Imbued with the spirit of virtue, he...".

That might actually work nicely for a children's novel.

Selected response from:

Wolf Draeger
South Africa
Local time: 05:37

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone for all the great suggestions!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

(this man) who was goodness itself

katsy

Good Spirit

John Holland

genius of good/goodness

Klyma

His art for the good

Laurette Tassin

Wizard of Good

kashew

warrior of the Light

Wolf Draeger

God-sent

axies

Discussion entries: 10

Sarita Mardon

ASKER

09:56 May 11, 2012

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far.

This is for 8 - 12 year olds. UK audience. Set on another planet, which seems to be very like earth except that they all have certain superpowers that we don't have! I'd say it is a little Harry Potter like in style.

I really like 'warrior of the light' although as you say, warrior is slightly aggressive, as he is more of a master / leader than actual warrior, but it could still work.

Wolf Draeger

South Africa

What target age group, source & target culture?

09:52 May 11, 2012

Does "children" include an adolescent/young teens audience? Is this for a UK/US audience? What culture is the original set in?

What existing English fantasy series would you compare this book to?

Sarita Mardon

ASKER

08:39 May 10, 2012

I'm not sure that provider really works in this context, no, it is more like 'representative' I think...

Cécile Gaultier

08:23 May 10, 2012

Could the word "provider" be used in this context?

Sarita Mardon

ASKER

08:03 May 10, 2012

Hi, they don't really talk about evil at all in the book actually, although the implication is there.

writeaway

and génie can also be translated as spirit

08:00 May 10, 2012

fwiw

writeaway

do they also talk about evil?

07:59 May 10, 2012

if they do, good is virtually inevitable

Sarita Mardon

ASKER

07:54 May 10, 2012

Maybe, something more like 'This master of good forces...'?

Sarita Mardon

ASKER

07:51 May 10, 2012

Hi there,

Yes, that's right, no caps.

To be honest I'm quite struggling on this one and haven't managed to come up with anything I'm very happy with.

I had vaguely thought about 'Leader of the Good', 'Representative of Good' or 'Master of Good', but I'm not particularly happy with any of these, (unless general consensus is that they are acceptable). I think I may need to completely rephrase this in a different way and leave out the 'of Good' altogether...

Any thoughts much appreciated! Thanks!

writeaway

what do you have so far?

07:40 May 10, 2012

it would help to know, so people don't waste their time offering answers that have already been rejected.
Also the source text has génie, not Génie, which changes it from a name to what the person is. Is that right-no caps?

Answers

1 hr confidence:

genius of good/goodness

Explanation:
This is what I read in St Cottolengo's biographies. Hope it helps

Example sentence(s):

Cottolengo ... was defined as “genius of good” by Pius XI,

Reference: http://www.amormisericordioso.org/ws/en/family-of-merciful-l...
Reference: http://www.alberione.org/operaomnia/dettaglio.php?recordID=9...

Klyma
Cameroon
Local time: 04:37
Native speaker of: French

1 hr confidence:

His art for the good

Explanation:
http://www.linternaute.com/dictionnaire/fr/definition/genie/

genie in the sense of talent

Laurette Tassin
France
Local time: 05:37
Native speaker of:

English,

French

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

(this man) who was goodness itself

Explanation:
another suggestion,
though I suppose you could also say"'the embodiment of good(ness)"

katsy
Local time: 05:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 15

3 hrs confidence:

Wizard of Good

Explanation:
Not all wizards (or witches) are bad...

kashew
France
Local time: 05:37
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

12 hrs confidence:

Good Spirit

Explanation:
I'd suggest "Good Spirit."

Reference: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/good+spirit

John Holland
France
Local time: 05:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

1 day 2 hrs confidence:

warrior of the Light

Wolf Draeger
South Africa
Local time: 05:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 32

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone for all the great suggestions!

1 day 6 hrs confidence:

God-sent

Explanation:
Or. Good Samaritan. Meaning: welcomed and cherished by all.
Sounds to me.

axies
Australia
Local time: 13:07
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Portuguese

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English translation: warrior of the Light

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