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13:11 Apr 26, 2011
French to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Government / Politics / parliaments
French term or phrase:saisit
…… a organise un atelier parlementaire en vue d’élaborer un plan d’action national. La contribution de la Chambre basse en la matière est déjà rendue publique. Le Sénat de XX (pays), *saisit* à son tour, devrait élaborer un document similaire…..
looks like a good option to me. but it would be helpful to know what this issue is and whether the Senate of XXX was actually consulted or required to respond.
Either "saisi" or "saisit" make sense to me. This may be political jargon, Saisir meaning to grab, address, catch an issue or problem, and by extension if it is the past participle, have the lower house's attention grabbed, ie. consulted, compelled to address an issue or problem, etc.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-04-26 14:46:15 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I think every one is saying the same thing, just in different words. This means that a matter or issue has been referred to the body in turn for action. You can say "referred to _____ in turn", "consulted on the issue in turn", or even "have been notified for action", but that seems stilted for the register.
Since English style has an aversion to passive voice that French does not, and the register seems to be ordinary, this suggestion takes the thought from what to me sounds stilted and less natural if expressed as "has had the issue referred to it for action in turn", or "has in turn been notified for action".
The thought is the "senate, addressing the issue in turn", "the senate "having the issue referred to it for action in turn", or if you want a readable, compendious, natural sounding English that avoids the dreaded passive voice, the "senate is attacking the issue in turn."
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2011-04-26 18:06:19 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Well I keep getting puzzled comments, so I'll elaborate further.
1) On the assumption that good translation is to take the whole thought in the source language, fully understand its meaning, both explicit and implied, and to distill it to its meaning, rather than taking individual words and putting them together based on dictionary equivalents.
2) Register: the register of this passage seems to be that possibly of a publication of general interest. The language is ordinary, literate, stylish and direct. It does not appear to behighly formalised parliamentary language, diplomatspeak or 'legalese'.
3) The thought is this:
Commonly in government systems, as in france and the US, legislation is produced by two bodies: the lower house, which is the Chambre de Députés in France, and in the US, the House of Representatives. And an upper house, the 'sénat' in France, and the 'senate' in the US.
In the US, for example when there is an issue, problem, or situation that seems to require legislation, the House proposes a bill, and then they submit it to the upper house or senate, to consider, amend, change, reject, confirm into law, etc.
This passage is dealing with that classic process. It says:
"has organized a parliamentary (congressional) workshop to formulate a national plan of action (to address whatever issue, problem or situation needs addressing).
"The lower chamber's contribution has already been published. The country's senate **saisit** in turn, should come out with a similar document."
"saisir" in legal context means to have an issue referred to legislature with an obligation to act understood (or at least consider acting), or in the case of a legal issue in court, to have the case referred to court for decision.
So in this situation, whatever the issue, problem, or situation that is being addressed by the lower house, is also expected to be addressed by the upper house, or senate.
This is a perfunctory, procedural type thing. No one "requests" or "sollicits" a senate to act, it is mandated by law to act. For example, in the US, the House of representatives draws up legislation, and then it goes by regular procedure to the Senate for 'advise and consent'. Again, this is perfunctory. They are indeed "notified", one common legal dictionary translation of 'saisi', but that doesn't capture every thing. In this case they are not just notified, but referred a matter with an obligation to consider it, or to act on it. "Notified" is too 'legalese' for this register.
So, I think every one agrees that this is a case where some issue/problem/matter/situation has been referred to legislative authority for resolution (or non-resolution but consideration).
Again in English, we often try to change what is in passive voice in French to active in English for reasons of good style.
So we are at the place where the lower house has considered the issue and it is now up to the upper house (senate) to, in turn, consider the issue, and possibly act on it.
This does not appear to be a legal document, a summons or other legal instrument (in which case, notification might be approriate) but a narrative in every day, but literate and stylish French.
So I say, one good way to express this thought in English, is "the senate, in turn attacking the issue", which I see has many thousands of google hits confirming that the wording is widely used and easily understood.
It is not "word for word" literal translation, it takes the whole thought and register, and expresses it in English style similar to the French.
joehlindsay Local time: 11:08 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English
Explanation: Il s'agit certainement de "saisi" (sans "t"), le participe passé du verbe "saisir" qui, dans la langue juridique, signifie "porter un litige devant une juridiction".
Therefore, IMHO, "the matter has been brought". See Web Ref 1.
Reference information: As it is appears through the following references, "to bring an issue or a bill before the Senate " ( or the House of Representatives ) is the usual term in this case.
"After thoroughly reviewing the 2,315-page financial regulatory reform conference bill during the July 4 work period, I intend to support passage of the legislation when it's brought before the Senate for consideration," Nelson said in a statement.
“While she is sympathetic with their situation, she will not support the Dream Act legislation brought before the Senate because it expands the scope of the bill beyond the intended individuals...
that date through May 22, 2008, Obama voted on just 34 percent of all the bills that came before the Senate.
The translation workplace 
