Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
sous l’arbre à palarbre
English translation:
under the palaver tree
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Apr 14, 2018 09:40
6 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term
France
sous l’arbre à palarbre
French to English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
This is a conference programme for an innovation conference in Benin. This is the title of one of the agenda items.
Sous l’arbre à palarbre
« Quelles formations et modèles
d’entrepreneuriat pour créer des emplois
durables et un développement inclusif ? »
I can find reference to the word 'palabres' (endless discussions) but am unsure if this has any connection to the original text (which appears numerous times throughout the document).
Any help appreciated
Alison
Sous l’arbre à palarbre
« Quelles formations et modèles
d’entrepreneuriat pour créer des emplois
durables et un développement inclusif ? »
I can find reference to the word 'palabres' (endless discussions) but am unsure if this has any connection to the original text (which appears numerous times throughout the document).
Any help appreciated
Alison
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +4 | under the palaver tree |
Charles Davis
|
| 4 | under the parley tree |
Catharine Cellier-Smart
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Change log
Apr 15, 2018 19:31: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
42 mins
Selected
under the palaver tree
It's clearly metaphorical, but I don't see why the same metaphor shouldn't work just as well in English. "L'arbre à palarbre" is a variant spelling, deliberate or otherwise, of "l'arbre à palabre(s)", which (as Philippe has just indicated in the discussion area) is an African cultural phenomenon. In English it's called the palaver tree.
"The Palaver Tree is a designated location (originaly a large tree such as the baobab) in many African community where the community come together to discuss in a peaceful and constructive manner, issues of common interest. At times the Palaver three [sic] may also transform into a stage for performance and story telling."
http://imaginationforpeople.org/en/project/the-palaver-tree-...
"En Afrique, l’arbre à palabres est un lieu traditionnel de rassemblement, à l'ombre duquel on s'exprime sur la vie en société, les problèmes du village, la politique"
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbre_à_palabres
"“Under the Palaver Tree: Community Ethics for Truth-Telling and Reconciliation”. Anna Floerke Scheid.
The West African notion of the "palaver," as described by Congolese theologian Bénézet Bujo, is an excellent resource for postconflict reconciliation."
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23562640?seq=1#page_scan_tab_co...
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Note added at 46 mins (2018-04-14 10:27:34 GMT)
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The "palarbre" spelling is found elsewhere; it's the name of cultural associations/theatre groups in Senegal and Cameroon, apparently.
"The Palaver Tree is a designated location (originaly a large tree such as the baobab) in many African community where the community come together to discuss in a peaceful and constructive manner, issues of common interest. At times the Palaver three [sic] may also transform into a stage for performance and story telling."
http://imaginationforpeople.org/en/project/the-palaver-tree-...
"En Afrique, l’arbre à palabres est un lieu traditionnel de rassemblement, à l'ombre duquel on s'exprime sur la vie en société, les problèmes du village, la politique"
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbre_à_palabres
"“Under the Palaver Tree: Community Ethics for Truth-Telling and Reconciliation”. Anna Floerke Scheid.
The West African notion of the "palaver," as described by Congolese theologian Bénézet Bujo, is an excellent resource for postconflict reconciliation."
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23562640?seq=1#page_scan_tab_co...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 46 mins (2018-04-14 10:27:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The "palarbre" spelling is found elsewhere; it's the name of cultural associations/theatre groups in Senegal and Cameroon, apparently.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
AllegroTrans
: Good as a translation but I don't think any average EN-speaker will understand the metaphor unless they have lived/travelled extensively in Africa; but of course if the target audience is in Bénin, it's fine
13 mins
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Thanks, Chris. Yes, I entirely agree.
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| agree |
Lorraine Dubuc
: Translation is good and probably commonly used in Benin.
2 hrs
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Thank you, Lorraine :-)
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| agree |
philgoddard
: I think "palarbre" may simply be a common mistake, because of "arbre", but what a nice mistake!
6 hrs
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Yes, isn't it? I agree; I think it's a mistake here, though I've seen the odd case where it might be a deliberate pun.
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| agree |
Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.
10 hrs
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Thanks, Patricia :-)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs
Catharine Cellier-Smart
Reunion
Reunion
Native in English
Specializes in field
Reunion
The Smart Solution
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, Creoles & Pidgins (French-based Other) to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
137
under the parley tree
I'm posting this as an alternative as I feel that "palaver" has slightly more negative/pejorative undertones than "palabres" in French.
"the involvement of traditional elements such as ‘town criers’ or the ‘parley tree’ as a site for discussion contributed decisively to the success of the project."
https://conservation-development.net/Projekte/Nachhaltigkeit...
"the involvement of traditional elements such as ‘town criers’ or the ‘parley tree’ as a site for discussion contributed decisively to the success of the project."
https://conservation-development.net/Projekte/Nachhaltigkeit...
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
philgoddard
: I don't disagree with this, but parley usually refers to negotiations in a dispute. You're right that palaver can imply endless discussion about nothing, but I think it works well in this perhaps slightly humorous context.
4 hrs
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Discussion