tant il ne semble maintenu au-dessus de la barre zero
English translation: for (indeed) it appears that only the skill of a tightrope walker could keep it steady above zero
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:
tant il ne semble maintenu au-dessus de la barre zero que comme un funambule
English translation:
for (indeed) it appears that only the skill of a tightrope walker could keep it steady above zero
Sometimes, "tant" is translated by just "as" or "since" because the "so" (very much) part can sound a bit awkward in English in certain contexts. That said, "the very much so" is sometimes clearly implied, justifying its complete omission. But if you want to be more precise (sometimes more poetic types will allow it), you might say:
More semantic precision:
tant il semble (less literary texts) = for/as/considering the *fact* that (gives a more emphasis on "how much it seems", although implied without)
in light of the fact that only the skill of tightrope walker seems to keep it steady over 0 C
More literary (your text)
tant il semble = truly it seems
for truly it seems that only the skill of a tightrope walker seems to keep it steady over 0 C
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:08:04 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Yes, I prefer "as it so much seems/appears that" because it is closest to what the French is saying. It's not as if it sounds awkward in English doing so.
Final translation: as it so much seems/appears that
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:10:57 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
or I prefer "as truly it appear..."
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:11:31 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
I mean "for truly it appears that..." (sorry, I am tired...lol)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:13:12 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Still can't get it right...I mean: "for it truly appears that..." LOL
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 15 days (2011-08-03 02:11:25 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
I'm been thinking about this and thus continuing to change my mind.
I think "indeed" should be in translation, considering that this is a more "poetic" translation, and thus wouldn't sound awkward. As I said before, I know that the "indeed" meaning (actually the "so much" in "tant") is not always translated because it can sound a bit awkward in English in some contexts (journalistic ones, for example). I'm afraid, though, that one could make the argument that the any translation that leaves out some variation of "so much" in the translation of this common phrase in French (i.e., tant il semble) is less than ideal, imho. On the other hand, one could also make a good case to leave it out, if the context makes it too awkward for it to be said "in any form"; besides, it might be clearly implied, too. It's up to you to decide!
The idea is that it takes very little for the temperature to "fall" from 1C back down to 0 (comparable to a tightrope walker who must use enormous amount of balancing skill to maintain his walk across the rope). So, in other words, conditions have to be just perfect for this temperature (le petit degré) to be maintained (the slightest change will bring it back down to 0).
FYI, your translaton doesn't sound quite right to me.
Sometimes, "tant" is translated by just "as" or "since" because the "so" (very much) part can sound a bit awkward in English in certain contexts. That said, "the very much so" is sometimes clearly implied, justifying its complete omission. But if you want to be more precise (sometimes more poetic types will allow it), you might say:
More semantic precision:
tant il semble (less literary texts) = for/as/considering the *fact* that (gives a more emphasis on "how much it seems", although implied without)
in light of the fact that only the skill of tightrope walker seems to keep it steady over 0 C
More literary (your text)
tant il semble = truly it seems
for truly it seems that only the skill of a tightrope walker seems to keep it steady over 0 C
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:08:04 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Yes, I prefer "as it so much seems/appears that" because it is closest to what the French is saying. It's not as if it sounds awkward in English doing so.
Final translation: as it so much seems/appears that
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:10:57 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
or I prefer "as truly it appear..."
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:11:31 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
I mean "for truly it appears that..." (sorry, I am tired...lol)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 days (2011-08-02 03:13:12 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Still can't get it right...I mean: "for it truly appears that..." LOL
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 15 days (2011-08-03 02:11:25 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
I'm been thinking about this and thus continuing to change my mind.
I think "indeed" should be in translation, considering that this is a more "poetic" translation, and thus wouldn't sound awkward. As I said before, I know that the "indeed" meaning (actually the "so much" in "tant") is not always translated because it can sound a bit awkward in English in some contexts (journalistic ones, for example). I'm afraid, though, that one could make the argument that the any translation that leaves out some variation of "so much" in the translation of this common phrase in French (i.e., tant il semble) is less than ideal, imho. On the other hand, one could also make a good case to leave it out, if the context makes it too awkward for it to be said "in any form"; besides, it might be clearly implied, too. It's up to you to decide!
MatthewLaSon Local time: 09:16 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 16
MatthewLaSon's old entry - "tant il ne semble maintenu au-dessus de la barre zero" => "for (indeed) it appears that only the skill of a tightrope walker could keep it steady above zero "
MatthewLaSon's old entry - "tant il ne semble maintenu au-dessus de la barre zero" => "for it truly appears that only the skill of a tightrope walker could keep it steady above zero "
MatthewLaSon's old entry - "tant il ne semble maintenu au-dessus de la barre zero" => "for it truly appears that only the skill of a tightrope walker can keep it steady over the zero mark"
MatthewLaSon's old entry - "tant il ne semble maintenu au-dessus de la barre zero" => "for truly it appears that only the skill of a tightrope walker can keep it steady over the zero mark"
MatthewLaSon's old entry - "tant il ne semble maintenu au-dessus de la barre zero" => "as it so much appears that only the skill of a tightrope walker can keep it steady over the zero mark"
The translation workplace 
