Long before my ears could hear, He called me by my name

French translation: bien avant d'avoir vu le jour, il m'appelait par mon nom

20:00 Aug 22, 2001
English to French translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary
English term or phrase: Long before my ears could hear, He called me by my name
This is a line from a song:
Underneath my mother's heart,
Waiting for nativity,
I never was so tiny
But what God's eyes could see!
AND LONG BEFORE MY EARS COULD HEAR, HE CALLED ME BY MY NAME.
There in the darkness He watched me grow...
Katy Bryan
French translation:bien avant d'avoir vu le jour, il m'appelait par mon nom
Explanation:
I think here you have to keep the image the author wants to give: when he talks about the ears that couldn't yet hear, he actually means that he was still in his mother's belly, so I would translate by a phrase which gives this idea in French (voir le jour = naître = to be born ) and which has also a connection with the senses ( voir = see).
It's not a literal translation but it 's more natural in the French language and in my view, it's perfect for a song.
For "called", he would prefer to use the "imparfait" tense since it's seems to be a repetead action, as well as "watched" in the following sentence.

Selected response from:

guidou
Local time: 07:37
Grading comment
I appreciate the "poetic liberties" you took when providing the answer. Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
na +1bien avant que je puisse percevoir des sons, il m'appela par mon nom
Stephanie Bachelay
nabien avant que je puisse entendre, il m'appela (par mon nom)
annekneip (X)
nabien avant d'avoir vu le jour, il m'appelait par mon nom
guidou
nabien avant que je puisse entendre, il m'appella par mon prenom
yacine
na -1Et bien avant de je peux entendre il a dit mon nom.
Dawn Cuccinello-Cruz (X)
na -1et bien avant que je sois capable d'entendre, il l'a appelé par mon nom
DPolice


  

Answers


22 mins peer agreement (net): -1
Et bien avant de je peux entendre il a dit mon nom.


Explanation:
I think that if you leave out the ears, it makes sense. The rest is pretty simple. Good luck!

Dawn Cuccinello-Cruz (X)
PRO pts in pair: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Katia Xenophontos (X): sorry, but this is not French...
3 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs peer agreement (net): -1
et bien avant que je sois capable d'entendre, il l'a appelé par mon nom


Explanation:
the previous answer makes no sense in French.

DPolice
Local time: 07:37
PRO pts in pair: 779

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Katia Xenophontos (X): faux > il m'a appelé par mon nom
1 hr
  -> that was a typo as everyone could see
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
bien avant que je puisse percevoir des sons, il m'appela par mon nom


Explanation:
it would suit a song as it sort of rhymes

Stephanie Bachelay
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:37
PRO pts in pair: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Katia Xenophontos (X): ou "par mon prénom"
29 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs
bien avant que je puisse entendre, il m'appela (par mon nom)


Explanation:
ou
bien avant que je puisse entendre, il s'adressa à moi

Ce qui implique que Dieu l'appela par son nom.
Je préfère presque la 2ème possibilité.

En tous cas, le subjonctif "puisse" doit absolument être utilisé ici

annekneip (X)
Germany
Local time: 07:37
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in pair: 7
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs
bien avant d'avoir vu le jour, il m'appelait par mon nom


Explanation:
I think here you have to keep the image the author wants to give: when he talks about the ears that couldn't yet hear, he actually means that he was still in his mother's belly, so I would translate by a phrase which gives this idea in French (voir le jour = naître = to be born ) and which has also a connection with the senses ( voir = see).
It's not a literal translation but it 's more natural in the French language and in my view, it's perfect for a song.
For "called", he would prefer to use the "imparfait" tense since it's seems to be a repetead action, as well as "watched" in the following sentence.



guidou
Local time: 07:37
Grading comment
I appreciate the "poetic liberties" you took when providing the answer. Thank you.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 hrs
bien avant que je puisse entendre, il m'appella par mon prenom


Explanation:
i hope it helps you
yacine


yacine
Local time: 07:37
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in pair: 157
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search