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à double visage
annuaire LDAP
May 20, 2013 09:14
11 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term

Vacances rythmées

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Feminism
I'm translating another series of Haiku and again the theme is feminism.

I'm not familiar with the term "Vacances rythmées", but online research suggests it's similar to what in my day was called "Play Scheme", a sort of centre/club you'd attend during the school holidays to carry out activities or be taken on day trips. Can anyone confirm this? And is there a proper equivalent.

In other contexts I've seen it used to simply mean "active holidays", would that make more sense here? Because if her (I'm assuming it's a her) Blackberry's switched off then surely that'd be because she wants to spend quality time with her kids uninterrupted, so it's unlikely they'd have been sent to a holiday club, so does it mean she's on some sort of active holiday with her children?

No more context I'm afraid, the surrounding poems don't relate to this one, and I can't contact the author. What do you think? Is it obvious to any of you out there?
Many thanks for any advice.

Coquillages et crustacés,
Blackberry coupé,
Vacances rythmées…
Proposed translations (English)
3 some ideas
3 +3 structured holidays
4 +1 an active vacation/holiday
3 +2 the perfect break
3 Action-packed holiday
2 staggered holidays

Discussion

Jane Proctor (X) May 22, 2013:
Sorry Sonya and Wolf but I feel quite strongly that you've got the wrong end of the stick. It doesn't imply a relaxing holiday... quite the opposite. Ask a French person to describe such a holiday and I don't think endless hours lying on the beach will figure in the description!
Carol Gullidge May 20, 2013:
or "holidays, what bliss" ;))


OK, but you get my drift...!
Carol Gullidge May 20, 2013:
then, I suppose something like "blissful holidays" would give you the final 5 syllables!
Sonya Mountford-Jones (asker) May 20, 2013:
Sorry yes, it's to be translated into an EN Haiku
Sonya Mountford-Jones (asker) May 20, 2013:
Hi Carol Where there's rhyme in the ST I try to achieve rhyme in the TT, if not in all 3 lines then at least in 2. Many don't rhyme at all though and from previous translations I've been given for reference it doesn't seem to be essential.
Thanks,
Sonya
Carol Gullidge May 20, 2013:
you don't mention whether you have to translate the whole thing into an English haiku. Are you planning to use rhyme in the TT?
Carol Gullidge May 20, 2013:
Vacances rythmées in my experience of tourism texts, this tends to be something along the lines of "leisurely", "easy-going", "at your own pace"..., rather than anything organised

Proposed translations

1 day 6 hrs
Selected

some ideas

I agree with Carol that it might mean "measured, relaxed" as opposed to 'active', especially in the context of sea and sand; so here are my attempts at the whole thing (no regard for rhythm).

Seafood and sunshine
Blackberry offline
Taking my time.

Sun, sand and seafood
Blackberry unglued (or eschewed or subdued)
Relaxed hols - all's good (or Relaxed in a good mood).

It is what it is :-)
Note from asker:
I like your Seafood and sunshine, Blackberry offline. Thanks Wolf.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Wolf, I really liked your first rendition."
+1
32 mins

an active vacation/holiday

The word "rythmées" here has the same meaning as in the common phrase "journée rythmée", which means a day punctuated by activities and events. It's nothing to do with a center for children (there just happened to be some articles online about centers like this that used the phrase!)
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : Yes, or activity holidays. Most of the Google hits I found were about keeping children busy.
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+3
32 mins

structured holidays

If your supposition is correct and it's about a mother on holiday with her children then perhaps the days have a certain structure to them (meals, outings, naps, bath time, story time, bed time etc) imposed by the children. As opposed to a holiday taken as a couple or alone where the tempo is less structured.


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Note added at 40 mins (2013-05-20 09:54:51 GMT)
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or,

busy holidays
Peer comment(s):
agree Jane Proctor (X) : Yes, I've noticed French teachers like things to be "rythmé(e)s!"
30 mins
Thanks Jane!
agree GILLES MEUNIER
31 mins
Thanks Gilou!
agree Laura Whigham-Trouvé : Yes, perfect: I think that's what I was trying to get to with "punctuated by activities" :)
1 day 23 hrs
Thanks Laura! The Asker has chosen another answer though.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

Action-packed holiday

Just a suggestion
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

the perfect break

nothing to do with French but gets the rhythm
Peer comment(s):
agree Letredenoblesse
2 hrs
agree Timothy Rake
3 hrs
agree Wolf Draeger
1 day 4 hrs
disagree Laura Whigham-Trouvé : "Vacances rythmées" does not carry a value judgement: the constant activities are perhaps exhausting for the mother, or perhaps enjoyable (I think Jane F is right on the money)
1 day 22 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

staggered holidays

Without more context, could I suggest a completely different tack? Could this refer quite simply to staggered holidays? i.e. the French system of regional school holidays so that all children are (to the delight of travel companies) on holiday at the same time?
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