Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Vous souhaiteriez contribuer à un certain climat de racisme que
English translation:
you seem to be going about it as if you wanted to contribute to...
Added to glossary by
Terry McKinven
May 11, 2010 09:27
14 yrs ago
French term
Vous souhaiteriez contribuer à un certain climat de racisme que
French to English
Social Sciences
Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
This is a sentence that comes a letter aimed at two former Belgian senators, female ambassadors for Muslim faith. It is about the wearing of veils and how these two women seem to want to help Muslims but seem to disapprove of Muslim women evolving. So, this question is addressed to them. Here is the full sentence:
"Vous souhaiteriez contribuer à un certain climat de racisme, d’intolérance et de discrimination que vous ne vous y prendriez pas autrement. Pourquoi?"
Is anyone able to help translate this? The way I understand it is:
"You hope to contribute to what is an undeniable environment of racism, intolerance, and discrimination that...??? Why?"
Hopefully someone can shed some light on the topic.
Cheers
"Vous souhaiteriez contribuer à un certain climat de racisme, d’intolérance et de discrimination que vous ne vous y prendriez pas autrement. Pourquoi?"
Is anyone able to help translate this? The way I understand it is:
"You hope to contribute to what is an undeniable environment of racism, intolerance, and discrimination that...??? Why?"
Hopefully someone can shed some light on the topic.
Cheers
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
4 hrs
French term (edited):
vous souhaiteriez contribuer à ... que vous ne vous y prendriez pas autrement
Selected
you seem to be going about it as if you wanted to contribute to...
I hesitated to submit an answer, as I am far from confident that I have truly got to grips with the whole of the meaning here. However, with the proviso of a confidence level of <1, this is sort of the way I understand it.
Naturally, this form of wording probably wouldn't fit in the register of your document as it stands, but I hope it might at least give you a starting point to work from...
And I can only echo previous comments about 'certain' — this is not the meaning 'sure, definite' here, but rather the idea of 'an element of / somewhat' — where we quite often use 'certain' in EN too. As in: "a certain reticence to explain the whole story"
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Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:06:02 GMT)
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My interpretation is that this is not the 'true' conditional here, but rather that specifically FR usage that distances the speaker from the situation, rather in the way in the UK we sometimes say 'allegedly...' in order to avoid being taken to court for libel! « Selon X, il y aurait eu 6 morts et une trentaine de blessés... »
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Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:07:18 GMT)
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Sorry, I've just noticed that my explanation got truncated above, so here it is again:
I hesitated to submit an answer, as I am far from confident that I have truly got to grips with the whole of the meaning here. However, with the proviso of a confidence level of 'less than 1', this is sort of the way I understand it.
Naturally, this form of wording probably wouldn't fit in the register of your document as it stands, but I hope it might at least give you a starting point to work from...
And I can only echo previous comments about 'certain' — this is not the meaning 'sure, definite' here, but rather the idea of 'an element of / somewhat' — where we quite often use 'certain' in EN too. As in: "a certain reticence to explain the whole story"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:08:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry, I've just noticed that my explanation got truncated above, so here it is in full:
I hesitated to submit an answer, as I am far from confident that I have truly got to grips with the whole of the meaning here. However, with the proviso of a confidence level of 'less than 1', this is sort of the way I understand it.
Naturally, this form of wording probably wouldn't fit in the register of your document as it stands, but I hope it might at least give you a starting point to work from...
And I can only echo previous comments about 'certain' — this is not the meaning 'sure, definite' here, but rather the idea of 'an element of / somewhat' — where we quite often use 'certain' in EN too. As in: "a certain reticence to explain the whole story"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:09:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
System glitch?
Naturally, this form of wording probably wouldn't fit in the register of your document as it stands, but I hope it might at least give you a starting point to work from...
And I can only echo previous comments about 'certain' — this is not the meaning 'sure, definite' here, but rather the idea of 'an element of / somewhat' — where we quite often use 'certain' in EN too. As in: "a certain reticence to explain the whole story"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:06:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
My interpretation is that this is not the 'true' conditional here, but rather that specifically FR usage that distances the speaker from the situation, rather in the way in the UK we sometimes say 'allegedly...' in order to avoid being taken to court for libel! « Selon X, il y aurait eu 6 morts et une trentaine de blessés... »
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:07:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry, I've just noticed that my explanation got truncated above, so here it is again:
I hesitated to submit an answer, as I am far from confident that I have truly got to grips with the whole of the meaning here. However, with the proviso of a confidence level of 'less than 1', this is sort of the way I understand it.
Naturally, this form of wording probably wouldn't fit in the register of your document as it stands, but I hope it might at least give you a starting point to work from...
And I can only echo previous comments about 'certain' — this is not the meaning 'sure, definite' here, but rather the idea of 'an element of / somewhat' — where we quite often use 'certain' in EN too. As in: "a certain reticence to explain the whole story"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:08:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry, I've just noticed that my explanation got truncated above, so here it is in full:
I hesitated to submit an answer, as I am far from confident that I have truly got to grips with the whole of the meaning here. However, with the proviso of a confidence level of 'less than 1', this is sort of the way I understand it.
Naturally, this form of wording probably wouldn't fit in the register of your document as it stands, but I hope it might at least give you a starting point to work from...
And I can only echo previous comments about 'certain' — this is not the meaning 'sure, definite' here, but rather the idea of 'an element of / somewhat' — where we quite often use 'certain' in EN too. As in: "a certain reticence to explain the whole story"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2010-05-11 14:09:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
System glitch?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Najib Aloui
: the original is slightly less direct but since it's polemics...
1 hr
|
| agree |
Verginia Ophof
2 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+4
19 mins
If you want to exacerbate the current atmosphere of racism, intolerance and discrimination, then...
If you want to exacerbate the current atmosphere of racism, intolerance and discrimination, then that's the right way to go about it. Why are you doing this? / why are you taking this attitude?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Marian Vieyra
: Yes, but as Tony says begin with "It looks as if " you want to exacerbate...
2 hrs
|
|
Not really. The conditional is "If" or "Should" or perhaps "Had you intended to exacerbate....then you wouldn't have gone about it any other way." Thanks though!
|
|
| agree |
John Detre
: // thanks! (I think :-) )
2 hrs
|
|
Thank you, John. There's always something very reassuring about an "agree" from you!//Yes, it was a compliment!
|
|
| agree |
chaplin
: should you wish should appear
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Desdemone (X)
5 hrs
|
21 mins
Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
45 years experience
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
Your aim is to.../you aim to ....?
I don't think you would use the same tense in English.
+1
27 mins
Hilary Wilson
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in French
&
English
United Kingdom
Spécialiste en écologie
Native in: English 
, French
Works in: English to French, French to English
You couldn't do any better if you were trying to....
and add Emma's : exacerbate the current atmosphere of racism, intolerance and discrimination
1 hr
davidgrillot
United States
United States
Native in French
&
English
United States
The linguistical locksmith
Native in: English , French
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
Your implacable view of the veil contributes to a climate of racism, intolerance and discri..
and then perhaps with Emma's "Why do you take this attitude?"
2 hrs
if you wanted to fuel/exacerbate the current atmosphere of racism, intolerance and discrimination,
you would have done exactly the same. Why?
5 hrs
Should you be contributing to exacerbate a certain atmosphere ...
of racism, intolerance and discrimination, then...
#
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So why should you be contributing. burt bees skin care reviews ... Both your fingers and your hair have oil that will only exacerbate the problem. ...
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# [DOC]
CLIPS REPORT
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Formato do arquivo: Microsoft Word
If you are a parent, how much should you be contributing to a 529 plan? ...... While colleges seek to level the playing field, other forces exacerbate ...
https://uminfopoint.umsystem.edu/sites/uc/.../2008/clips0807...
#
•• African American Skin Care Dark Spots • MEDERMA Scar Treatment ...
- [ Traduzir esta página ]
So why should you be contributing. burt bees skin care reviews ... Both your fingers and your hair have oil that will only exacerbate the problem. ...
mederma.retailmall.biz/africanamericanskincaredarkspots.html - Em cache
# [DOC]
CLIPS REPORT
- [ Traduzir esta página ]
Formato do arquivo: Microsoft Word
If you are a parent, how much should you be contributing to a 529 plan? ...... While colleges seek to level the playing field, other forces exacerbate ...
https://uminfopoint.umsystem.edu/sites/uc/.../2008/clips0807...
Discussion
"Certain" is not "undeniable" here - it's not about certainty at all - typical everyday French usage explained in most dictionaries.
Also beware of over-translation — where does that 'undeniable' come from? 'certain' is the same usage here as 'a certain... ' in EN, but does not mean it in the sense of 'sure'.