français term
France
Legal, Medical, Marketing & Gaming
Native in: français 
Works in: anglais vers français, français, français vers anglais
légèrement bancale...
" Contrairement à nous, Dieu est censé être, avoir et générer la béatitude infinie. La quantité ou la qualité de sa béatitude ne peut augmenter, diminuer ou être altérée de quelque façon que ce soit. Par conséquent, comment pourrais-je plaire ou offenser la Source toute-puissante des univers par mes petites actions ? Cela ressemble un peu à un concept pédagogique, légèrement bancale..."
Last sentence would be : " It looks like a pedagogical / educational concept, slightly wobbly "
I'm seeking advice about "wobbly", is it a relevant way to express it in English ?
Jun 7, 2020 15:24: Jennifer White changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Non-PRO (3): Yvonne Gallagher, Rachel Fell, Jennifer White
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Proposed translations
slightly dodgy / rather shaky
'shaky' perhaps best conveys the notion that the concept is a bit weak, doesn't really hold up / stand up to thorough analysis.
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Note added at 40 mins (2020-06-07 11:09:20 GMT)
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Cf. "You're on shaky ground there!" / "Easily demolished her shaky theory..."
'shaky' is usable in the register here; 'dodgy' perhaps rather less so...
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Note added at 41 mins (2020-06-07 11:10:20 GMT)
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And of course 'shaky' corresponds well to 'bancale' in its sense of 'lopsided' or 'rickety'.
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Note added at 44 mins (2020-06-07 11:12:58 GMT)
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"looks a bit like / feels a bit like..." — and depending on what follows, I'd be inclined to bring the qualifiers up to the front, unless the continuation precludes that...
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Note added at 4 hrs (2020-06-07 15:24:43 GMT)
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There seems to be an issue of register here: while the first part of this text does indeed seem to me to suggest a fairly formal register, to me the term 'bancale' seems to reflect a much less formal register, which is what i ahve sought to reproduce here.
Perhaps Asker could enlighten us as to the register of their document overall, and what immediately follows this extract in particular. It would of course help to understand the source of this document, and to whom it is addressed?
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Note added at 21 hrs (2020-06-08 08:22:46 GMT)
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OK, Asker, that is easier to understand now; and in the light of your comment about 'bancale', then I think 'shaky' is acceptable as equivalent register (but clearly not 'dodgy'!)
| It's a dialogue between a spiritual master (Indian person) and a french guy. The register is natural, which means when they speak about theological or philosophic matters they will rather use specific technical terms and the register will get more formal, and sometimes of course the atmosphere gets a bit more relax. But honestly, "bancale" applied to an idea is quite common in french, and it doesn't really denotes any familiar register. Anyway, I like your answer, thank you very much for your help. |
| agree |
philgoddard
: Not dodgy, though. That's too colloquial and British.
1 heure
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Thanks, Phil! / Yes, I agree.
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| agree |
SafeTex
1 heure
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Thanks, S/T!
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| agree |
John ANTHONY
2 heures
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Thanks, John!
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| agree |
Anne Schulz
: always enjoy your rich language :-)
3 heures
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Thanks, Anne! :-)
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| agree |
Margaret Morrison
: Yes I like shaky but not dodgy
4 heures
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Thanks, Margaret! Agreed!
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| agree |
Michele Fauble
7 heures
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Merci, Michele !
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| agree |
Victoria Britten
21 heures
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Thanks, Victoria!
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| agree |
Jennifer White
22 heures
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Thanks, Jennifer!
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États-Unis
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: anglais 
Works in: espagnol vers anglais, français vers anglais, anglais vers espagnol, and 3 more.
rather questionable
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Note added at 1 hr (2020-06-07 11:40:49 GMT)
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Or "somewhat questionable".
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: "somewhat questionable pedagogical concept" fits register best
18 minutes
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Thanks, Yvonne. I agree with your comment.
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| agree |
Pierre POUSSIN
2 heures
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Merci, Pierre.
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| agree |
Verginia Ophof
2 heures
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Thank you, Verginia.
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| agree |
liz askew
: Yes, this fits the register.
3 heures
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Thanks. Yes, that's what I thought, too.
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| agree |
Anne Schulz
3 heures
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Thanks, Anne.
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| agree |
GILLES MEUNIER
2 jours 3 heures
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Merci, GILOU.
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Mexique
Confianza, certeza, creatividad.
Native in: espagnol (Variant: Mexican)
Works in: anglais vers espagnol, italien vers espagnol, français vers espagnol, and 6 more.
slightly unsafe/precarious
| neutral |
Tony M
: Although those would work for a physical object like, say, a step-ladder, they are a little trickier to use with something more abstract, as here — and particularly with anything so un-contentious as a 'concept'
11 minutes
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Royaume-Uni
experienced and well qualified linguist
Native in: anglais (Variant: UK)
Works in: espagnol vers anglais, anglais, espagnol, and 3 more.
a little unsure / somewhat dubious / doubtful
France
Dynamic, flexible & reliable interpreter
Native in: français (Variants: Standard-France, Moroccan) , anglais (Variants: British, US, Canadian)
Works in: français vers anglais, anglais vers français, anglais, and 1 more.
slightly wonky
Be careful, in American English wonky has a different meaning: Having or characterized by an enthusiastic or excessive interest in the specialized details of a particular subject or field, especially political policy.
"while your conclusion is right, the argument is wonky."
| neutral |
Tony M
: As with my own suggestion of 'dodgy' above, 'wonky' is really not in an appropriate register for the document here.
29 minutes
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Discussion