Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Nov 3, 2019 20:13
4 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
La manière
French to English
Other
Poetry & Literature
I'm translating a novelette by an author who introduces it with an aphorism by Henri Crâne : "La manière,
C’est l’âme de la Terre,
Qu’il faut découvrir par soi-même..."
I don't actually have to translate "La manière", as the novelette's author wants to keep the quote in French, but I'd be grateful for some brainstorming suggestions, as it sets the scene for the novelette. I can sense intuitively what Henri Crâne is saying, but can't put my finger on an English word or phrase that makes me go "aha! that's it".
An "aha" moment would help me colour the tone and style of the rest.
Many thanks for your understanding and help as always!
C’est l’âme de la Terre,
Qu’il faut découvrir par soi-même..."
I don't actually have to translate "La manière", as the novelette's author wants to keep the quote in French, but I'd be grateful for some brainstorming suggestions, as it sets the scene for the novelette. I can sense intuitively what Henri Crâne is saying, but can't put my finger on an English word or phrase that makes me go "aha! that's it".
An "aha" moment would help me colour the tone and style of the rest.
Many thanks for your understanding and help as always!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | The way |
JohnKelly
|
| 3 | Style |
Ben Gaia
|
| 2 | attitude; mentality; outlook |
Wolf Draeger
|
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Selected
The way
This seems to me to be a reference to Daoism. In Chinese philosophy the dao is the way, the path, or the intrinsic nature of something. In French it is most commonly translated as "le chemin du dao", but maniere better captures the inherent nature of the subject, rather than the path needing to be followed.
The first paragraph of the link below shows you how this concept is discussed in French.
The first paragraph of the link below shows you how this concept is discussed in French.
Example sentence:
We need to find our way in the world.
It is the way of the world, everyone must find the truth themselves.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Cyril Tollari
14 hrs
|
| agree |
Nicole Acher
: Simple, yet it conveys the intent of the author, I believe.
23 hrs
|
| agree |
SafeTex
: Short and sweet but works just fine
1 day 14 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Most helpful thanks :)"
1 day 23 hrs
Style
How about Style? A way of behaving but also a classy way of behaving, which has to be found for yourself.
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Note added at 1 day 23 hrs (2019-11-05 19:34:38 GMT)
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More context would be good, too.
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Note added at 1 day 23 hrs (2019-11-05 19:34:38 GMT)
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More context would be good, too.
2 days 3 hrs
Wolf Draeger
South Africa
South Africa
Native in English
Specializes in field
South Africa
Related KudoZ points
:
32
attitude; mentality; outlook
Freestanding quotes are always tricky and open to interpretation, but judging by your context, perhaps what Crâne has in mind is a certain mindset that looks to nature (the Earth, Gaia) for guidance on how to think and live, on how to foster the right attitude or way of thinking.
The Sixties were a hotchpotch of heady, confused and conflicting ideas and feelings (and things got ugly at the end of the decade), but one common thread was a genuine if disoriented yearning to reconnect with something basic beyond modernity and consumerism, to reclaim innocence (however defined) and to live in harmony with nature and the cycles of the world (again, however defined). Perhaps you can draw on that to reach out to today's readers?
Trekking across Africa or going to India was one way in those days for Westerners to 'find themselves' (wherever they might be), or just have a good time, or both. For some, the contrast with their own relative wealth and privilege was a life-changing experience. Perhaps another theme that might resonate today?
In this case, maybe the sheer vastness and wild beauty of African landscapes reinforced the sense of awe before nature and the desire to return to a simpler, 'truer' way of life? Lots of myth and romance there, of course, but such sentiments are often sincere.
Just a few thoughts to get the creative juices going, hope it helps! (Though you say you don't need to translate the quote, gave it a crack anyway).
(Btw, are the web refs relevant?)
The Sixties were a hotchpotch of heady, confused and conflicting ideas and feelings (and things got ugly at the end of the decade), but one common thread was a genuine if disoriented yearning to reconnect with something basic beyond modernity and consumerism, to reclaim innocence (however defined) and to live in harmony with nature and the cycles of the world (again, however defined). Perhaps you can draw on that to reach out to today's readers?
Trekking across Africa or going to India was one way in those days for Westerners to 'find themselves' (wherever they might be), or just have a good time, or both. For some, the contrast with their own relative wealth and privilege was a life-changing experience. Perhaps another theme that might resonate today?
In this case, maybe the sheer vastness and wild beauty of African landscapes reinforced the sense of awe before nature and the desire to return to a simpler, 'truer' way of life? Lots of myth and romance there, of course, but such sentiments are often sincere.
Just a few thoughts to get the creative juices going, hope it helps! (Though you say you don't need to translate the quote, gave it a crack anyway).
(Btw, are the web refs relevant?)
Example sentence:
It's about having the right attitude, figuring out how to live in accordance with the soul of nature.
The Earth is our guide, its soul is our outlook on life, it's up to each one of us to find that out for ourselves.
Reference:
Discussion
For what it’s worth, I rarely translate the title of a work until I’ve read the complete text
http://thehowofhappiness.com/
"The How of Happiness" - By Sonja Lyubomirsky
Mastering the ‘How’
https://medium.com/@greatmanagerinstitute/style-is-the-new-s...
"Style is the New Skill — The Art of Mastering the ‘How’ before the ‘What’"
Kirti Prasad
The Art and Manner
http://takingnotenow.blogspot.com/2013/10/georges-perec-on-a...
Georges Perec, "The Art and Manner of Arranging one's Books"
The Way and the Manner
https://books.google.fr/books?id=1xYRAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA142&lpg=P...
"The Spirit teacheth how to pray—the way and the manner of it."
The Church of England Magazine, Volume 21
Learning the Knack
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/599966-learning-the-knack-o...
Salman Rushdie
http://photos.oshoworld.com/ofi/uncategorized/chapter-7-lear...
Osho Friends International
how to act/ conduct oneself / the path you will choose -?
(I see "maniere" as "maniere de vivre".)
Btw, I appreciate your expression "colour the tone and style of the text". :)
And BTW if I could put into words what I "sense intuitively" I wouldn't be asking...