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French to English translations [PRO] Science - Geography / Geography of religion
French term or phrase:L'en deça
One last question on this text! Context, the same as previous questions. Sentence on book jacket: "le réel se double de visions de l'au-delà et de l'en-deça qui donnent un sense à la natureet à la société et orientent l'existence des hommes." Many thanks to all of you for your answers. Will reply individually later - under pressure to finish right now! Margaret
Explanation: to form a pair: "this world and the world beyond"
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 mins (2009-10-12 11:11:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
or maybe David's reading as "above and below" is nearer the mark?
native speaker needed I think!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2009-10-12 12:53:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
One (uncorroborated) source for the nominal use of this term:
"Si on parle de l'au-delà de la vie (la mort), l'en deçà définit « la vie telle que nous la vivons. »
Si on parle de l'au-delà des perceptions (le surnaturel), l'en deçà définit alors « le monde tel que nous le percevons. »"
[http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_deçà]
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 hrs (2009-10-12 22:16:26 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hi Margaret, glad it was of help.
By the way, would it surprise you to learn that it's not actually me in the 'photo'? ;-)
David, the dictionary definitions include "below" but also "on this side" (as opposed to "on the other side", e.g. of a river, a boundary). Either resonance might be at play here, I guess, which is why it's a tricky one for non-native speakers, especially when there is interplay with other terms.
thought about the "here and now" but after research it seems to refer to the underworld (agree with Martin that a native speaker will have to jump in :)
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 hr confidence:
Here/on this side/on this earth
Explanation: Possible
Gad Kohenov Local time: 19:05 Does not meet criteria Works in field Native speaker of: French, Hebrew
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks. Definitely along the lines of on this earth or in this world. My questions have set up quite a chain of suggestions/comments. Margaret
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2009-10-12 12:16:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hello,
I do not understand the idiom " en deçà duquel " as I cannot find deçà anyplace. Here is the complete phrase:
En 2003, le seuil de cession en deçà duquel les plus-values sont totalement exonérées sur un portefeuille titres ordinaire (c'est-à-dire sans la moindre contrainte de blocage) a été porté de 7 500 euros à 15 000 euros.
(Le Monde, 4-12-2005)
From the context it should mean "below which" but I am not sure, and I am mostly interested in the construction.
Thank you for your help as always.
Jon Cooper
Etretat (Normandie)
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#2 4th December 2005, 10:53 AM
Jean-Michel Carrère
Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005
Native language: French from France
Posts: 6,044
It's a very formal way to say "below which", you often find it in economic or legal texts. On entends souvent: "les résultats de cette entreprise sont en deça de ce qui était attendu par les marchés financiers".
David Hollywood Local time: 13:05 Meets criteria Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks David. my questions have certainly caused considerable discussion. The idea is definitely that of this world or this earth and whatever different religions or ideologies see as "the other side" Margaret
9 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
this world
Explanation: to form a pair: "this world and the world beyond"
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 mins (2009-10-12 11:11:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
or maybe David's reading as "above and below" is nearer the mark?
native speaker needed I think!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2009-10-12 12:53:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
One (uncorroborated) source for the nominal use of this term:
"Si on parle de l'au-delà de la vie (la mort), l'en deçà définit « la vie telle que nous la vivons. »
Si on parle de l'au-delà des perceptions (le surnaturel), l'en deçà définit alors « le monde tel que nous le percevons. »"
[http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_deçà]
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 hrs (2009-10-12 22:16:26 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Hi Margaret, glad it was of help.
By the way, would it surprise you to learn that it's not actually me in the 'photo'? ;-)
Martin Cassell United Kingdom Local time: 17:05 Meets criteria Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Yep, "this world" fitted the bill perfectly
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Martin, your suggestion fits the bill perfectly and has been incorporated into the text. By the way, love your photo! Margaret