Apr 15, 2017 03:38
7 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
encourager les sourds
French to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Idiom??
I'm working on translating a play. It's very abstract AND it's written in Québécois so there has been a learning curve as I have been working on it.
This phrase appears in a Christmas dinner scene. The play does not have any written characters or punctuation - it reads more like a poem and a stream of consciousness.
Obviously I know what the words mean. But I have been working on this piece for a month and a half and my brain is fried - is there some idiomatic meaning I am not aware of? Or should I just accept that these people have multiple Christmas cards to support the Deaf?
Thank you!!!!
Context:
Le sapin est vraiment petit
mais y'a vraiment beaucoup
beaucoup de boules pis de cheveux d'ange
C'est comme si la madame rouge-mauve avait choisi le p' tit dernier
le p' tit sapin dans l' coin qui fait pitié
Y' a pas bin bin de cadeaux
Quelques cartes accotées dans les branches
Des cartes de pharmacie pis des cartes pour ****encourager les sourds****
Y' a le frère pis sa femme qui sont arrivés avec des paquets
C'est des trucs du Dollorama
des trucs utiles par exemple
comme des lampions pour celle qui croit aux anges
pis des épingles à linge en bois
This phrase appears in a Christmas dinner scene. The play does not have any written characters or punctuation - it reads more like a poem and a stream of consciousness.
Obviously I know what the words mean. But I have been working on this piece for a month and a half and my brain is fried - is there some idiomatic meaning I am not aware of? Or should I just accept that these people have multiple Christmas cards to support the Deaf?
Thank you!!!!
Context:
Le sapin est vraiment petit
mais y'a vraiment beaucoup
beaucoup de boules pis de cheveux d'ange
C'est comme si la madame rouge-mauve avait choisi le p' tit dernier
le p' tit sapin dans l' coin qui fait pitié
Y' a pas bin bin de cadeaux
Quelques cartes accotées dans les branches
Des cartes de pharmacie pis des cartes pour ****encourager les sourds****
Y' a le frère pis sa femme qui sont arrivés avec des paquets
C'est des trucs du Dollorama
des trucs utiles par exemple
comme des lampions pour celle qui croit aux anges
pis des épingles à linge en bois
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +1 | (cards) to support the deaf | sporran |
3 | awaken deaf ears | David Hollywood |
Proposed translations
+1
1 day 15 hrs
Selected
(cards) to support the deaf
See note in discussion
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Odette Grille (X)
: Absolutely, cards sold for profits going to the deaf
5 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
3 mins
awaken deaf ears
maybe
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Note added at 5 mins (2017-04-15 03:43:22 GMT)
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would seem to cover the figurative aspect at least
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Note added at 6 mins (2017-04-15 03:44:56 GMT)
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ok and having worked for many years in translation (and now just looking in), I know what you mean
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Note added at 5 mins (2017-04-15 03:43:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
would seem to cover the figurative aspect at least
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2017-04-15 03:44:56 GMT)
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ok and having worked for many years in translation (and now just looking in), I know what you mean
Note from asker:
OH that's great! Thank you so much. I desperately need other eyes (or ears as the case may be) because when I have spent this long trying to work something out it becomes practically meaningless to me. |
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
philgoddard
: I may be wrong, but I can't help feeling it's something less abstract than this, an ordinary object described in an unusual way, like a child would.
23 mins
|
neutral |
Victoria Britten
: Agree with Phil G
1 hr
|
neutral |
writeaway
: any refs to back this? it sounds lovely but how much sense does it make in the context: Des cartes de pharmacie pis des cartes pour encourager les sourds Can you back it in any way?
3 hrs
|
agree |
Jennifer White
: Why not? The meaning is obscure anyway. No point trying to second-guess (Maybe they are musical cards or those with birdsong?? ;))
6 hrs
|
disagree |
Odette Grille (X)
: It is just cards sold so the profits go to some association supporting deaf people
7 days
|
Discussion
What do you make of "carte de pharmacie"? Does that provide any clues? Do you think the things in the tree are well meant but oddly chosen presents?