06:04 Aug 5, 2001 |
English to French translations [Non-PRO] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Selected response from: Germaine Canada Local time: 04:15 | |||
Grading comment
|
Summary of answers provided | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
na +1 | roucoulement |
| ||
na | un exploit prouesse |
| ||
na | les pilots ont réussi leur coup |
| ||
na -1 | un exploit prouesse |
|
un exploit prouesse Explanation: It would seem that the word coo here is used as a homonym for the word feat, so I would use "un exploit prouesse". |
| |
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
un exploit prouesse Explanation: Oops - certainly not a homonym. I should say a synonym!!! |
| |
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
roucoulement Explanation: In the spirit of the homing pigeon, I guess you could say that pilots pull off quite a “coo” in how they manage to do this safely coo: roucouler, roucoulement: murmure tendre et monotone qui est le cri du pigeon, de la tourterelle; chanter langoureusement; tenir des propos tendres. Littéralement, ça donnerait "(...) on pourrait dire que les pilotes font un (simple) roucoulement de la façon dont ils manoeuvrent pour faire ça en toute sécurité" ou: (...) je suppose qu'on peut dire que les pilotes roucoulent cette manoeuvre en toute sécurité... Il me semble y avoir une notion de facilité ("simple comme une chanson"), mais comme l'image tient aux pigeons, il m'apparaît difficile d'amener une métaphore qui ne contienne pas "roucoulement". Reste à voir si nos confrères et consoeurs auront davantage d'inspiration... |
| |
Grading comment
| ||
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
les pilots ont réussi leur coup Explanation: It is of course a play on words. The answer selected is moving in the right direction, but the other half of the story remaisn to be told... A "corrected" version would be "pilots pulls off quite a coup", the English having borrowed from the French. Le jeu est sur "coup"/"coo", bien entendu. "pull off a coup", "pull something off" = "réussir son coup". The word "coup" is often used in this way in English. "coo" recoulement, bruit que fait un pigeon, par exemple, ici un pigeon voyageur (homing pigeon). The style is that of a newpaper article headline, shortened with words 'missing'. A full verison might read : "The pilots pulled off quite a coup". The use of the present indicative, here used to describe a past event but to make it more immediate, more alive, is a common journalistic technique, although very common in French. http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary Main Entry: 2coup Pronunciation: 'kü Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural coups /'küz/ Etymology: French, blow, stroke -- more at COPE Date: 1791 1 : a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful stroke or act 2 : COUP D'état Main Entry: coo Pronunciation: 'kü Function: intransitive verb Etymology: imitative Date: 1670 1 : to make the low soft cry of a dove or pigeon or a similar sound 2 : to talk fondly, amorously, or appreciatively <an album that will be cooed over by condescending classical music critics -- Ellen Sander> <the family cooed over the baby pictures> - coo noun |
| |
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.