https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/education-pedagogy/4191223-s%C3%A9same.html
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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

sésame

English translation:

passport

Added to glossary by kashew
Jan 19, 2011 10:26
13 yrs ago
10 viewers *
French term

sésame

French to English Other Education / Pedagogy
C'est un document sur l'usage de l'anglais dans l'enseignement supérieur dans les pays non-anglophones.

J'ai pensé au mot : sesame
Mais je me demande s'il a le même sens de moyen infaillible d'arriver à quelque chose comme le mot français peut avoir - quelque chose qui ouvre toutes les portes.
Voici la phrase :

De même que le cinquième postulat était la clef de la
géométrie euclidienne, l’usage de l’anglais est pour les dirigeants
universitaires le sésame intangible de toute forme d’internationalisation. En
soutien de ce choix de l’anglais véhiculaire apparaissent des motivations plus
ou moins explicites dont une approche critique est nécessaire.

Puis-je dire "common English" pour anglais véhiculaire ??
Proposed translations (English)
4 +11 passport
3 +7 master key
4 +5 it opens doors
5 open-sesame
4 -1 revolving door
Change log

Jan 25, 2011 09:47: kashew Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): cc in nyc

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Discussion

kashew Jan 20, 2011:
Just for the record: I don't search for old answers and easy points: I think that goes for most of us answerers. Askers should do it automatically.
Isabelle Barth-O'Neill (asker) Jan 20, 2011:
THANK YOU I just want to thank each of you for your great help and this discussion.
It is really interesting and I appreciate.
Carol Gullidge Jan 20, 2011:
what is wrong with "passport"? I can't see anything at all wrong with passport in this connection.
As in "passport to education", etc.
I think it's eminently suitable for this context!
Carmen Schultz Jan 20, 2011:
Although the discussion on 12/9/10 was of a different nature, the actual word sesame was used in the same vein. One can always use previous threads to help find an answer by way of reference and analogy; the different nuances of the French 'sésame' are apparent in both discussions.
I definitely think passport would work very well in the context in question.
cranium Jan 19, 2011:
The Dec 9 thread is not the same discussion... ...owing to the context. None of the terms suggested in the December 9 thread, pertaining to a PIN/login system, apply to today's query.
Carmen Schultz Jan 19, 2011:
http://www.proz.com/?sp=gloss/term&id=15877621 This very same question was posted recently (a few weeks ago)and many interesting answers were proposed. No need to reinvent the wheel.
http://www.proz.com/?sp=gloss/term&id=15877621
Isabelle Barth-O'Neill (asker) Jan 19, 2011:
Okt !! Will do so ??
Noni Gilbert Riley Jan 19, 2011:
Second Carol's comment. The q about anglais véhiculaire is a separate term and to make it accessible for future glossary users it might be worthwhile posting it separately.
Patrick Jones Jan 19, 2011:
A revolving door opens a path for whoever wants to get to the other side.

To my ear master key is a bit of a 'clunky' expresion in that context. Passport works quite nicely though.
Fabio Barbieri Jan 19, 2011:
Except for "master key", nobody has come up with what the asker asked for, namely a term for something that opens irresistibly and as if by magic. And one or two persons don't seem to have even understood the question - what has a revolving door got to do with anything?
Carol Gullidge Jan 19, 2011:
Isabelle Don't forget to only post one question at a time! How are you going to grade this is someone gives the optimum answer for "sésame", and another person provides the best answer for "anglais véhiculaire"?

Perhaps you should split this in two?

Proposed translations

+11
33 mins
Selected

passport

essential (I'd avoid intangible) passport?
Peer comment(s):
agree Patrick Jones : This solution works quite nicely for me too.
15 mins
agree Carol Gullidge : I like passport. Not sure about doing away with intangible though. (sorry, accidentally pressed button prematurely before!)
16 mins
virtual passport - yes? (Diplomatic?) I'm just brainstorming!
agree Noni Gilbert Riley : I like passport v much - especially because it gives international status!
21 mins
agree cranium : nice solution to keep the parallel between nouns
21 mins
agree mimi 254
24 mins
agree ST Translations : Agree with Carol
27 mins
agree Alison Sabedoria (X)
33 mins
agree Evans (X)
41 mins
agree David Salas
49 mins
agree Carmen Schultz : In fact this is what was chosen when this question was asked recently-- this was the answer posted in the glossary:http://www.proz.com/?sp=gloss/term&id=15877621
57 mins
Great minds! I swear I didn't pinch your term!
agree Yvonne Gallagher : and so it does! who's the striker then? (and goalie?):-)
2 hrs
That makes a soccer team!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 mins

open-sesame

This is the expression you want. "Open Sesame" is the magic formula in the story, and it is so widely known that an old Popeye cartoon amusingly deformed it as "Open, sayz me!"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2011-01-19 10:31:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A discussion of Anglais Vehiculaire: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=472596
Note from asker:
Thank. I know the formula. I am just wondering whether I can use the word in English and that it would have the same meaning in the context I have.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Carol Gullidge : every former pantomime-goer may know what it means, but "an open-sesame" just sounds rather odd to my EN UK ears!
25 mins
neutral Noni Gilbert Riley : Yes, we all understand what it is getting at, but it's not a natural expression, sounds v strange.
47 mins
neutral Carmen Schultz : although they mean the same, linguistically they don't work in a parallel fashion
1 hr
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : agree with other comments; also wrong register here, leave it in pantomines:-)
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
+5
8 mins

it opens doors

I can't think of a tidy, corresponding noun.
I would rewrite the sentence so as to say "English opens doors".

Fr. "sésame" frequently denotes something that opens doors in the figurative sense, derived from the Ali Baba story and the expression "Open, Sesame!"
Note from asker:
Thanks. So you would avoid the word "sesame" in English in the context I have.
Peer comment(s):
agree Noni Gilbert Riley : Yes, this works well: opens all doors//Sangro's door opener is gd variant.
4 mins
Gracias Noni
disagree Fabio Barbieri : What's wrong with "It's the open-sesame?" Is there anyone who speaks English who would not understand it?
11 mins
It's a question of register. "C'est le sésame" is a very common expression in French, whereas your suggestion is quite literary and creative. Good for copywriting but not for this particular context, IMHO.
agree Carol Gullidge : as in the good old Collins Robert. They make no mention of an "open sesame", which sounds rather odd to my EN ears, even though I know what it means
17 mins
Thanks - I have never heard the expression used with an article, either
agree Sandra & Kenneth Grossman : door opener
18 mins
thanks
neutral kashew : door-opener n. is slicker! As Sangro says.
27 mins
sure, another possibility
agree ST Translations
53 mins
thanks
agree Carmen Schultz : a good option
1 hr
agree Yvonne Gallagher : opens all doors
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
38 mins

revolving door

I believe in this context revolving door works quite nicely since it is succinct.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Fabio Barbieri : And does not mean what the asker asked for - a safe and universal pass to every context.
6 mins
neutral Alison Sabedoria (X) : This has other associations, usually for people in difficult and/or unstable circumstances: being in and out of employment, benefits, addiction...
28 mins
Also in politics it works in a situation where people help each other out and "scratch each other's backs". So yes, it does have other meanings. With hindsight I agree that "passport" and "intangible key" would be better solutions.
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : sorry not correct here, as Wordeffect says has negative connotations as for recidivists in prison, in and out through the revolving door
2 hrs
Yep, having seen other better solutions I agree this is not the best one.
Something went wrong...
+7
12 mins

master key

Another slightly different idea.

anglais véhiculaire: (English as) teaching language/working language.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 53 mins (2011-01-19 11:20:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Pass key (less clunky?!).

A secret key (trying out ways of avoiding using intangible)...
Note from asker:
Thank !! I did not like common English, but could not think of something different!!
Peer comment(s):
neutral kashew : Hi! Key is a good idea - but does it go with "intangible"?
17 mins
It's not a great combo is it? And, prob q rightly, Patrick calls this clunky! But maybe a secret pass-key/master-key.
agree Fabio Barbieri : Why not. An intangible master key could be understood as part of a system of communication - which is what the asker was speaking of anyway. This is the only answer that actually deals with her request.
31 mins
Thank you Fabio
agree Carol Gullidge : Simply "intangible key" is OK :)
46 mins
Thanks Carol, and yes, that wd solve the clunkiness!
agree Patrick Jones : Yes, I agree that "intangible key", without the "master", would work nicely.
53 mins
Thanks Patrick
agree Alison Sabedoria (X) : With Carol and Patrick
57 mins
Thanks Wordeffect
agree David Salas
1 hr
Thank you David.
agree Carmen Schultz : I think this works too -but passport seems more ubiquitous
1 hr
Thanks Carmen
agree cc in nyc : especially nice juxtaposed with the "key to Euclidean geometry"
7 hrs
Thanks cc!
Something went wrong...