un peu contrite dans son contact

English translation: a bit stiff/tense in the way she interacts with people

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:un peu contrite dans son contact
English translation:a bit stiff/tense in the way she interacts with people

10:54 Mar 26, 2019
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2019-03-29 13:54:07 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Medical - Psychology
French term or phrase: un peu contrite dans son contact
I'm translating another psychiatric assessment and I'd like some help with the phrase "Il s’agit d’une patiente qui paraît un peu contrite dans son contact", especially with the word "contrite".

I think that phrase would mean something like "This is a patient who seemed a little remorseful" but it sounds strange to me.

Here's the context:
Il s’agit d’une patiente qui paraît un peu contrite dans son contact, avec une humeur qui était inquiète d’une part et un peu terne. Elle n’a pas démontré d’émotivité à fleur de peau à aucun moment dans l'entretien, sans anxiété envahissante, sans pleurs ou émotivité.

Here's my translation of the context:
This was a patient who seemed a little remorseful during the examination. She came across as worried at times and a little gloomy at others. However, there were no intense emotions. There was no invasive anxiety or heightened emotionality. She did not cry during the examination.
Paul Jones
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:38
a bit stiff/tense in the way she interacts with people
Explanation:
Hi Paul,
I think you are right that "contrite" literally means remorseful, however, unless there is anything in the context that would suggest that she has something to feel remorseful about, I would not go that way.
My impression is that the way French people use this word is not as specific as the dictionary definition might make you think. They use it to mean that a person is kinda stiff and tense. I think because this is the way you look like when you are feeling remorse and so the adjective has moved on to indicate that. I hope this makes sense to you.

As for the second part of the sentence, you can see my suggestion above. But if the broader context tells you that the author is referring to the examination go for it.
Selected response from:

Claudia Letizia
Germany
Local time: 21:38
Grading comment
Thanks Claudia, that makes sense.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4a bit subdued/dispirited
Yvonne Gallagher
4self-conscious when interacting with people
Stephanie Kantorski
3a bit stiff/tense in the way she interacts with people
Claudia Letizia


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
un peu contrite
a bit subdued/dispirited


Explanation:
chastened/dispondent or even depressed could be other possibilities

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 20:38
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 2

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: I think this is more likely than "stiff/tense", but we can't be sure.
5 hrs
  -> Thanks. I don't see any reason why it would be "stiff/tense" from the bit of context. She's rather emotionless after all
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a bit stiff/tense in the way she interacts with people


Explanation:
Hi Paul,
I think you are right that "contrite" literally means remorseful, however, unless there is anything in the context that would suggest that she has something to feel remorseful about, I would not go that way.
My impression is that the way French people use this word is not as specific as the dictionary definition might make you think. They use it to mean that a person is kinda stiff and tense. I think because this is the way you look like when you are feeling remorse and so the adjective has moved on to indicate that. I hope this makes sense to you.

As for the second part of the sentence, you can see my suggestion above. But if the broader context tells you that the author is referring to the examination go for it.

Claudia Letizia
Germany
Local time: 21:38
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
Grading comment
Thanks Claudia, that makes sense.
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2 days 7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
self-conscious when interacting with people


Explanation:
I get the meaning of "apologetic" here, but I think we'd say "self-conscious" in this context. In other words, she lacks confidence and is prone to being very careful about what she says.

Stephanie Kantorski
United States
Local time: 13:38
Native speaker of: English
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