Dec 3, 2013 08:35
10 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
France
Tracking the right turn of phrase
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: French to English, English, French
des veaux/dévots
French to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Joke
Les vaches ne vont pas à la messe
Et pourtant tous leurs fils sont [devo]
Context: from a film set in the mid-80s, a man coming into the back room of a restaurant and greeting another, who is making out openly with a rather beautiful young man. Pas très catholique !
It may of course be that I have to substitute an entirely different joke, but I thought I'd offer this up as a fun challenge. So far I haven't got further than pies/pious, which isn't exactly great - and time is short-ish...
Et pourtant tous leurs fils sont [devo]
Context: from a film set in the mid-80s, a man coming into the back room of a restaurant and greeting another, who is making out openly with a rather beautiful young man. Pas très catholique !
It may of course be that I have to substitute an entirely different joke, but I thought I'd offer this up as a fun challenge. So far I haven't got further than pies/pious, which isn't exactly great - and time is short-ish...
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
12 hrs
Selected
What did the lovesick ram say to the object of his affection? : "I'm devoted to Ewe"
Zapped the dubious joke (you're probably right, Tony) in favour of a twee one which could certainly do with "tweaking", but manages to retain farm animals and devotion with a pun.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Only a bit of tweaking needed!"
+2
4 mins
sheep
Why not change it slightly, and say 'cows don't go to mass but sheep do'?
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Note added at 1 hr (2013-12-03 10:20:18 GMT)
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I'm not really sure, either, just what the idea behind the joke was in the first place — it doesn't seem to have a lot to do with the scenario being described?
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Note added at 1 hr (2013-12-03 10:20:18 GMT)
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I'm not really sure, either, just what the idea behind the joke was in the first place — it doesn't seem to have a lot to do with the scenario being described?
Note from asker:
| Blimey, you're quick on the button this morning, Tony! Nice suggestion, too. |
| Not too sure either exactly what the point is. This is (more or less) the first time we hear this character; whether it is an echo of a Catholic upbringing wanting to express itself when he sees two men canoodling, or just a not-very-funny joke as a conversation-opener is unfortunately not made clear. |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Daryo
: where is the parallel with : "ils sont des veaux / ils sont dévots"? Sure, one way of seeing it; I see more here a difference between generations - sons being of a totally different mindset from their mothers’
31 mins
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There isn't a direct, literal one — but I like the idea of sheep = stupid people and also = the congregation of a church; similar idea!
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| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: nice one!
1 hr
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Thanks, G2!
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| agree |
Mirella Biagi
1 hr
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Thanks, Mirella!
|
2 hrs
"a wolf doesn't go to church, sheep do"
a variation on Tony's idea; this pair is more contrasted.
That seems to be the mentality of these characters, (we're wolves, all other are sheep) but it may not be exactly the indented meaning of this pun.
That seems to be the mentality of these characters, (we're wolves, all other are sheep) but it may not be exactly the indented meaning of this pun.
Note from asker:
| Variations on a theme... Thanks! |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Lorraine Dubuc
: Je crois que l'idée sous-entendue est : chacun son choix
2 hrs
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I'm not really sure myself what was the intended meaning of the pun; this is just a pure "exercice de style" on Tony’s idea (Raymond Queneau etc...)
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+1
3 hrs
Catharine Cellier-Smart
Reunion
Reunion
Native in English
Works in field
Reunion
The Smart Solution
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, Creoles & Pidgins (French-based Other) to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
79
Deaf men can't hear Mass, but their children are all one of the he(a)rd
a suggestion, to play around with
or 'kids' instead of 'children'
or 'kids' instead of 'children'
Note from asker:
| With a rhyme, too - thanks! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Lorraine Dubuc
: How about sheeps instead of men and kids intead of children?
1 hr
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it did briefly cross my mind, but as kids aren't the young of sheep but of goats it seems too far-fetched to me ...
|
3 hrs
Paul Hirsh
France
France
Native in English
Specializes in field
France
The Human Translator
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Russian to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
32
calf-olics
sorry bout that
Note from asker:
| Get off the stage! |
+2
5 hrs
flock
I see you're too busy looking after your flock to go to mass.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yolanda Broad
: I like the idea of "flock." It has all kinds of rhyming possibilities.
2 hrs
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Thanks Victoria
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| agree |
Simon Mac
: I also like this and your suggestion sounds good in the context
18 hrs
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Thanks Simon
|
7 hrs
Verginia Ophof
Belize
Belize
Native in English
Specializes in field
Belize
Near Native Proficiency in Source langua
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, Dutch to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
53
herd/shepherd - the herd mentality
of sheep and shepherd (s)
Herd/shepherd
Herd/shepherd
Discussion
It depends upon whether you consider it is more important to express the basic meaning or to find a rhyme (mission impossible à mon avis!).