Jul 12, 2004 14:03
20 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
United States
fût-ce...
French to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
criticism
This is from a preface to a new edition of Jules Verne's La Chasse au météore. The focus is alterations made to the story by Verne's son Michel - which are being criticized in this passage - specifically a character he invented and inserted into the story. I want to be very sure that the 'fût-ce à l'état d'ébauche' means 'not even in the rought draft.' Is that right?
"Fier de son personnage, Michel Verne se réjouit de voir un 'spécialiste de l'étude des oeuvres de (son ) père louer précisément une partie du roman dont n'existe aucune trace, fût-ce à l'état d'ébauche, dans le manuscrit autographe (personnage de Zéphyrin Xirdal et dénouement).'"
"Fier de son personnage, Michel Verne se réjouit de voir un 'spécialiste de l'étude des oeuvres de (son ) père louer précisément une partie du roman dont n'existe aucune trace, fût-ce à l'état d'ébauche, dans le manuscrit autographe (personnage de Zéphyrin Xirdal et dénouement).'"
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 | yes |
sarahl (X)
|
| 5 +2 | even if only in outline form --or even if only sketched out |
Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
|
| 4 | even in outline/draft |
CMJ_Trans (X)
|
| 3 +1 | if only in draft form |
Nanny Wintjens
|
| 4 | not even in draft form |
Brian Gaffney
|
Proposed translations
39 mins
French term (edited):
f�t-ce...
Selected
yes
exactly!
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks sarah"
1 min
even in outline/draft
so your idea is right
+1
22 mins
Nanny Wintjens
Spain
Spain
Native in French
Spain
A life devoted to words and style
Native in: French
Works in: Dutch to French, English to French, Spanish to French, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
French term (edited):
f�t-ce...
if only in draft form
Just another suggestion !
+2
4 mins
French term (edited):
f�t-ce...
even if only in outline form --or even if only sketched out
fut-ce=even if only
just know the French....no references sorry
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Note added at 6 mins (2004-07-12 14:09:35 GMT)
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\"I want to be very sure that the \'fût-ce à l\'état d\'ébauche\' means \'not even in the rought draft.\' Is that right?\"
No Stephanie...there is not the idea of not in it....cheers
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Note added at 27 mins (2004-07-12 14:30:59 GMT)
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no trace of which exists, even in outline form....
OK...it depends how you say it IN English...
no trace of which exists, EVEN IN OUTLINE FORM....EVEN AS A ROUGH SKETCH.....
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Note added at 28 mins (2004-07-12 14:31:35 GMT)
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yes you COULD go the other way, but it is MORE CUMBERSOME
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Note added at 29 mins (2004-07-12 14:32:18 GMT)
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Note to CMJ
You are right but that makes it much heavier, IMO
just know the French....no references sorry
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Note added at 6 mins (2004-07-12 14:09:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"I want to be very sure that the \'fût-ce à l\'état d\'ébauche\' means \'not even in the rought draft.\' Is that right?\"
No Stephanie...there is not the idea of not in it....cheers
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2004-07-12 14:30:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
no trace of which exists, even in outline form....
OK...it depends how you say it IN English...
no trace of which exists, EVEN IN OUTLINE FORM....EVEN AS A ROUGH SKETCH.....
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2004-07-12 14:31:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
yes you COULD go the other way, but it is MORE CUMBERSOME
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2004-07-12 14:32:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Note to CMJ
You are right but that makes it much heavier, IMO
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: but she got the "not" from the bit before in the same sentence so it could work provided she avoids double negatives
2 mins
|
|
there is no negative in the phrase...only with the verb....
|
|
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
5 mins
|
| agree |
GerardP
25 mins
|
17 hrs
French term (edited):
f�t-ce...
not even in draft form
In this context, the negative works best.
Discussion