Glossary entry

français term or phrase:

auteur des lettres de noblesse

anglais translation:

Royal precursor

Added to glossary by kashew
Apr 5, 2011 07:51
13 yrs ago
français term

auteur des lettres de noblesse

français vers anglais Autre Général / conversation / salutations / correspondance
Article for a magazine
Target = UK

Auteur des lettres de noblesse des phares modernes, le Phare du Cordouan, fête cette année les 400 ans de son premier allumage à l'embouchure de l'Estuaire de la Gironde.

I've been looking at this for a while and I can't get my head round it. Of course, I may not be fully awake, but still...
Change log

Apr 11, 2011 13:19: kashew Created KOG entry

Discussion

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 5, 2011:
Emma Certainly does, (in addition to its royal history).
Emma Paulay Apr 5, 2011:
The first modern lighthouse I think this refers to it being the first of its kind. See this article:
http://www.espace-sciences.org/science/10065-sciences-ouest/...
Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 5, 2011:
Polyglot I agree about the need to avoid anything literal here. Quite what is behind the idea of a lighthouse being "auteur" in the sense described is not something I have found an explanation for. However, in much the same spirit as your line of thought, there is a possible route using the royal importance of the monument and the idea that it is something of a pharaonic leading light (deliberate dreadful use of English intended!).
polyglot45 Apr 5, 2011:
not convinced this should be taken too literally gagner ses lettres de noblesse = win one's spurs, come of age, gain recognition, etc. I suspect this is just a fancy way of saying that the lighthouse in question, now 400 years old, is the one that paved the way for modern lighthouses

Proposed translations

3 heures
Selected

Royal precursor

The "royal" precursor of modern lighthouses.

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Note added at 3 heures (2011-04-05 10:59:40 GMT)
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The royal aspect is probably explained elsewhere in your article, the Fresnel development too.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "You were spot on with your remark about the Royal bit being explained, not to mention Fresnel. This was nice and neat and although Nikki's answer was good to, I preferred this."
+2
24 minutes

The most royal of all lighthouses on France's Atlantic coast, ...

I suspect this is a reference to the noble, indeed royal pas of this lighthouse, something of a "leading light" ha ha ha ... :

http://www.jedecouvrelafrance.com/f-3929.gironde-phare-cordo...

I think the essential thing here is to convey the allusion to royalty, nobility etc. Can probably be played around with a little!
(Have a nice day Miranda... sunny in Tours...)

"Pour accéder à la lanterne, il vous faudra avoir laissé sur votre passage la chapelle et les appartements du Roi !

Ne dit-on pas du phare de Cordouan qu'il est le Roi des Phares et le Phare des Rois..."

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Note added at 24 mins (2011-04-05 08:16:38 GMT)
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royal pasT (unless something decidedly unroyal took place...) ;-)
Peer comment(s):

agree Jocelyne Cuenin : J'aime bien ! Lettres de noblesse ou d'anoblissement, lettres patentes par lesquelles le roi conférait la noblesse à des roturiers, en récompense de services rendus ou contre le paiement d'une certaine somme. (TILF)
5 minutes
agree Yolanda Broad
5 heures
Hello Yolanda!!!
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7 heures

The majestic Phare de Cordouan, which set the standard for the modern lighthouse

I've left "phare" to avoid repeating 'lighthouse".
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9 heures

The gold standard (in modern lighthouses)

the nec plus ultra... (or ne plus ultra depending which language you are speaking).
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Reference comments

1 heure
Reference:

Donner des lettres de noblesse

« Recevoir ou conquérir ses lettres de noblesse, avoir acquis officiellement une grande notoriété; être élevé à une certaine dignité: Grâce à lui, la bande dessinée a reçu ses lettres de noblesse. »
(http://fr.thefreedictionary.com/noblesse)

Ici, c'est grâce au phare du Cordouan que le phare moderne a obtenu sa notoriété. C'est ce « Roi des Phares » qui lui a conféré ses lettres de noblesse.

Au sens figuré, donner des lettres de noblesse veut dire 'établir une réputation'.
Peer comments on this reference comment:

agree polyglot45 : quite
25 minutes
agree Sandra Mouton
1 heure
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