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comment le précieux..

English translation: how ... then turn it round


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20:56 Oct 15, 2011
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
French term or phrase: comment le précieux..
A passage I already asked a question about concerning 'silloge': Now simple old 'comment' has me stuck. In this context does it mean 'where' rather than how ? If not, what does it mean?

Tout l’univers du hors-de-prix s’ouvre dans le silloge du don cérémoniel,* comment* le précieux est ce qui est donné et reçu dans la relation de reconnaissance réciproque

Many thanks in advance
LorraineB
Local time: 21:02
English translation:how ... then turn it round
Explanation:
The sentence seems clumsy.
comment le précieux est ce qui est donné et reçu dans la relation de reconnaissance réciproque :
- HOW the precious is what is given and received in a relationship of reciprocal understanding;
--> How what is precious is what is given and received in a spirit of reciprocal understanding
-->how it is what is exchanged in a spirit of mutual understanding that is precious
--> how it is the object of exchange in a spirit of mutual understanding that is precious.

"How" here is a sort of shorthand for "the fact that sth. happens" or "the manner in which it comes to be that sth. happens" or "why it is that sth. happens".

IOW, why it is that if you send me a daisy chain to thank me for my contribution to this question, that daisy chain becomes precious beyond all price to us both - and indeed to the entire translation community - because - and only because - it is the floralisation (not to say "personification") of the altruistic sentiment of respect and - eventually - understanding that exists (or should) between members of the loverly flower-power group of people that we translators are.
After a number of us have exchanged daisy chains, then "the daisy chain" as an absolute becomes symbolic of love and understanding and professional devotion and altruism amongst translators, ProZ puts a daisy-chain logo up on its page header, and "Google" is spelt out in daisy-chain lettering every St Jerome's Day.
Selected response from:

xxxBourth
Local time: 21:02
Grading comment
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1how ... then turn it roundxxxBourth
4or the way in which what is precious...
Tim Cleary


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
or the way in which what is precious...


Explanation:
What is being discussed here seems to be the exchange of gifts, and the words you are aiming to translate would appear to be about how these gifts are exchanged. You might equally use how what is precious..., but these words seems less formal and less appropriate for an academic genre. Adding or before the clause would loosen it up a bit and make it more natural to a native English reader.

Tim Cleary
Local time: 20:02
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
how ... then turn it round


Explanation:
The sentence seems clumsy.
comment le précieux est ce qui est donné et reçu dans la relation de reconnaissance réciproque :
- HOW the precious is what is given and received in a relationship of reciprocal understanding;
--> How what is precious is what is given and received in a spirit of reciprocal understanding
-->how it is what is exchanged in a spirit of mutual understanding that is precious
--> how it is the object of exchange in a spirit of mutual understanding that is precious.

"How" here is a sort of shorthand for "the fact that sth. happens" or "the manner in which it comes to be that sth. happens" or "why it is that sth. happens".

IOW, why it is that if you send me a daisy chain to thank me for my contribution to this question, that daisy chain becomes precious beyond all price to us both - and indeed to the entire translation community - because - and only because - it is the floralisation (not to say "personification") of the altruistic sentiment of respect and - eventually - understanding that exists (or should) between members of the loverly flower-power group of people that we translators are.
After a number of us have exchanged daisy chains, then "the daisy chain" as an absolute becomes symbolic of love and understanding and professional devotion and altruism amongst translators, ProZ puts a daisy-chain logo up on its page header, and "Google" is spelt out in daisy-chain lettering every St Jerome's Day.

xxxBourth
Local time: 21:02
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 42
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks. Sorry it took so long to get back, was finally on holiday and far from Internet


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  yukulele: hello i m french and just want to say that "Comment" in this sentence is used like a subject, which is not the original function of the word ; this is a rethoric formula. The context is a little short. in general it s more french to say " ou comment..."
16 hrs
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