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LE MAGAZINE D’INFORMATION DES LANGAGIERS Numéro 109 • Automne 2010
www.ottiaq.org
E N G L I S H T R A N S L ATO R S S P E A K O U T
Envoi de publication canadienne convention numéro 1537393
POUR COMMENCER
Langue dominante
et minorité traduisante : N O
109 AUTOMNE 2010
un paradoxe à explorer Dossier
How is English translation in
5
Quebec faring in the 21st century?
Circuit explores a few aspects of
Yolande Amzallag, trad. a. this question.
C e numéro sur la traduction vers l’anglais pose la question suivante :
pourquoi, dans un vaste pays bilingue où l’anglais domine, les traduc-
teurs vers l’anglais sont-ils minoritaires par rapport aux traducteurs vers le
Sur le vif
Une traductrice montréalaise
18
à la découverte du Nunavut.
français, et de surcroît, moins nombreux qu’eux dans la seule province Le congrès de l’Association
canadienne de traductologie.
exclusivement francophone du pays ? Le fait que l’anglais soit la principale Notes et contrenotes.
langue de travail du gouvernement fédéral canadien et la langue dominante en Amérique du Échappées sur le futur.
Nord est un élément de réponse, mais qui ne résout pas entièrement l’énigme. Au Québec,
en particulier, l’écart étonne car c’est la province canadienne qui, théoriquement, aurait le
Des livres 21
plus besoin de traduction en anglais pour communiquer avec ses partenaires dans le reste
A new Canadian dictionary:
du Canada et aux États-Unis. Ce phénomène trahit-il une tendance à l’insularité dans la seule the Collins. Les nouveautés.
et irréductible région francophone en Amérique du Nord ? Ou bien la souveraineté de la
langue anglaise relègue-t-elle ses traducteurs à la marge ? Dans les faits, si l’on considère
Pages d’histoire 23
que l’anglais est la langue officielle de plus de 75 pays, que 80 % de l’information électro-
Jean-Baptiste Morvan de Bellegarde :
nique est enregistrée en anglais et que les deux tiers des scientifiques du monde entier lisent théoricien de la traduction oublié de
et publient en anglais, force est de reconnaître que l’anglais est plus une langue source l’histoire officielle.
qu’une langue cible. Ainsi, le statut minoritaire des traducteurs vers l’anglais n’est pas un
privilège réservé à l’univers biculturel canadien. Cela dit, à la lecture de ce dossier, on
Des revues 25
constate que cela ne les soustrait pas aux maux et défis universels de l’exercice de la pro-
Pour se tenir à l’affût des
fession. La majorité des lecteurs de Circuit ont sûrement rencontré les mêmes écueils que nouveaux courants en pédagogie
Betty Howell ou Ken Larose : des textes source mal écrits, des exigences irréalistes de la part et en éthique de la traduction.
Le consentement éclairé :
de clients peu initiés à la langue cible, et la confusion répandue selon laquelle la traduction plus facile à dire qu’à traduire.
est une simple reprographie d’une langue à une autre. J’aimerais souligner ici qu’au-delà des
différences structurelles entre les langues, la concision, la simplicité et la transparence ne
sont pas l’apanage exclusif de la langue anglaise, mais de tout message qui se veut intelli- Des mots 26
La locution tel que suivie du
gible, quelle que soit la langue utilisée pour le véhiculer. Et puisque la traduction consiste
participe passé : qu’en est-il
non seulement à transposer un message d’une langue à une autre, mais à adapter ce mes- aujourd’hui ?
sage à la culture de ses locuteurs, il est tout naturel que l’anglais pratiqué au Québec se
distingue de celui parlé ailleurs au Canada, en Amérique du Nord ou en Europe. Comme le
Des techniques 27
montre Charles Boberg, il constitue une langue minoritaire « dans tous les sens du terme ».
Protéger la confidentialité
De la minorité à l’universel, il n’y a qu’un pas, que franchit Graham Fraser en citant perti- des données de nos clients.
nemment Paul Ricoeur, pour qui la traduction est « une médiation entre la pluralité des
cultures et l’unité de l’humanité ». Par-delà les considérations politiques, notre commissaire
aux langues officielles vante les vertus du bilinguisme, salue les langagiers comme « les
Curiosités 28
Le geste serait-il à l’origine
architectes de notre dialogue national » et souligne leur contribution inestimable à la richesse
du langage ?
de la culture canadienne. Par ailleurs, le récit passionnant de Lucie Moisan sur son aventure
au Nunavut nous rappelle que le Québec et le Canada sont le foyer d’une mosaïque de
minorités culturelles, où les professions langagières jouissent d’un statut privilégié et se Classe affaires 29
pratiquent jusqu’aux confins du Grand Nord. Des conseils pour vendre
sa petite entreprise.
En donnant la parole à nos collègues anglophones, ce numéro d’automne leur restitue,
le temps d’une saison, le statut dominant dont leur langue semble les priver et nous ras-
semble dans notre mission commune de protecteurs de la pluralité culturelle. À titre professionnel 30
Bonne lecture à tous ! L’usurpation des titres professionnels.
2021, avenue Union, bureau 1108
Publié quatre fois l’an par l’Ordre des traducteurs,
Montréal (Québec) H3A 2S9
terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec
Tél. : 514 845-4411, Téléc. : 514 845-9903
Courriel : circuit@ottiaq.org
Site Web : www.ottiaq.org
Droits de reproduction
Toutes les demandes de reproduction doivent être achemi-
Vice-présidente, Communications — OTTIAQ nées à Copibec (reproduction papier).
Betty Cohen Tél. : 514 288-1664 • 1 800 717-2022 licenses@copibec.qc.ca Très apprécié
Directrice Avis de la rédaction
Yolande Amzallag La rédaction est responsable du choix des textes publiés, mais J’ai beaucoup apprécié l’article
Rédactrice en chef les opinions exprimées n’engagent que les auteurs. L’éditeur
Gloria Kearns n’assume aucune responsabilité en ce qui concerne les an- de Denis Gauvin, consacré à
nonces paraissant dans Circuit.
Rédaction © OTTIAQ
Daniel Sloate (Circuit no 108). Le
Philippe Caignon (Des mots), Pierre Cloutier (Pages d’histoire), Dépôt légal - 4e trimestre 2010
Lucille Cohen (secrétaire), Marie-Pierre Hétu (Des techniques), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
portrait qu’il trace de ce poète,
Didier Lafond (Curiosités), Solange Lapierre (Des livres), Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Nils Lovgren, Barbara McClintock, Éric Poirier, ISSN 0821-1876
pédagogue et traducteur est très
Eve Renaud (Sur le vif), Sébastien Stavrinidis (Des revues) éloquent. Il fait échec au vent de
Tarif d’abonnement
Dossier Membres de l’OTTIAQ : abonnement gratuit
Barbara McClintock et Solange Lapierre Non-membres : 1 an, 40,26 $ ; 2 ans, 74,77 $. Étudiants inscrits
l’oubli qui l’avait presque effacé
à l’OTTIAQ : 28,76 $. À l’extérieur du Canada : 1 an, 46,01 $ ; 2 ans, de notre univers professionnel.
Ont collaboré à ce numéro
86,27 $. Toutes les taxes sont comprises. Chèque ou mandat-
Charles Boberg, Jean-Paul Fontaine, Graham Fraser, Diana
Halfpenny, Grant Hamilton, Betty Howell, Margaret Jackson,
poste à l’ordre de « Circuit OTTIAQ » (voir adresse ci-dessus). La trace la plus profonde qu’il
Cartes de crédit American Express, MasterCard, Visa : www.
Ken Larose, Claude Laurent, Paul Lavoie, David Lowe, ottiaq.org/publications/circuit_fr.php aura laissée sera sans doute chez
Michaël Mariaule, Lucie Moisan, Jane Wilhelm
Direction artistique, éditique, prépresse et impression Deux fois lauréat du Prix de la meilleure ces étudiants qu’il a su marquer
Mardigrafe publication nationale en traduction de la
Fédération internationale des traducteurs. d’une façon indélébile.
Publicité
Catherine Guillemette-Bédard, OTTIAQ
Tél. : 514 845-4411, poste 225 • Téléc. : 514 845-9903
R. Dubuc, trad. a., term. a.
100 % PC
Imprimé sur papier recyclé 30 % postconsommation (couverture)
et 100 % postconsommation (pages intérieures), fabriqué avec des
fibres désencrées sans chlore, à partir d’une énergie récupérée, le biogaz.
Est-ce à, de, en, par, Dictionnaire illustré
pour, sur ou avec? - des activités
La préposition vu de l'entreprise
par un praticien (français-anglais)
Maurice Rouleau Diane Riopel, ition
2 éd
e
Clément Croteau
raître
À pa
Langue et localisation - Le français de spécialité -
Politique, stratégies Enjeux culturels et politiques
et pratiques Sous la direction de
James Archibald Olivier Bertrand
et Isabelle Schaffner
Guide de lecture du roman La tournée
d’automne de Jacques Poulin
Djaouida Hamdani Kadri
Pour commander : www.polymtl.ca/pub Tél. : 514-340-3286
DOSSIER ENGLISH TRANSLATORS SPEAK OUT
Translating into English:
A Minority Language in Quebec
What is your first or main language?
English □ French □ or Bilingual □ ?
Y
es, you are reading Circuit in English. In response to an
OTTIAQ member’s suggestion, Solange Lapierre and I
prepared this special issue on English translation. In fact,
it has been 16 years since the publication of “Quebec: Language
and Culture with an Accent” (Circuit No. 45, 1994), edited by
former OTTIAQ president Bruce Knowlden, now Manager of the
Translation Bureau’s East Coast Regional Unit, and Judith
Woodsworth, now Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor, one
of Canada’s “Top 100 Most Powerful Women.”
How is English translation faring in the 21st century? The
English translation community in Quebec is doing very well
indeed. On the other hand, the number of native English speak-
ers is declining in Quebec, reflecting our “love it or leave it” rela-
tionship with the province. The article by Commissioner of
Official Languages Graham Fraser discusses the contribution of
English Quebecers and their passion for living peacefully in this
very special place where two languages and cultures meet.
McGill Professor Charles Boberg touches on the history of
Anglophones in Quebec and informs us that there are three main
English dialects among native speakers in Quebec.
Literary translator Diana Halfpenny serves us a delicious cup
of tea and conversation about some serious and not-so-serious
translation difficulties. Well-known Circuit contributor Betty Howell muses about Anglo-Saxon
stereotypes and examines the translation market in Quebec. And Ken Larose, freelancer and
former president of ATIO and CTTIC, takes on the debate about geographical place names.
Based on a survey by David Lowe about the Translation Bureau—and what is true for the
Bureau is true for the industry—the translation market is around 89% from English to French
and 11% from French to English. Unlike Francophone translators, most of us are generalists. Barbara McClintock, C. Tr.
However, being a generalist means possessing highly specialized knowledge to handle the com-
plex texts we are given to translate. Liedewij Hawke was a French-to-English literary translator
for 20 years when her editors asked her to take on translations from Dutch into English. As she
explains, she needs very specialized knowledge to deal with the difficulties of adapting a
European book for North American readers.
As for Grant Hamilton, the thriving French language means that business is good, and it’s not
a bad thing to be in the minority in our profession.
Language is a political issue in Quebec. However, most English Quebecers living here in the
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
province speak two and sometimes more languages and contribute actively to Quebec society,
so it is time to drop the old two solitudes cliché! In fact, many Quebecers speak both official
languages so fluently that a new category should be added to polls and surveys on main
language spoken: bilingual.
5
DOSSIER ENGLISH TRANSLATORS SPEAK OUT
Anglo-Saxon Attitudes
or the Reception of English
Translations in Quebec
Translators S ince I have yet to meet a French-to-English trans-
lator in Quebec who boasts of having read
“Beowulf ” in the original, I am sure I can be forgiven
criticism for wasting words, not praise for having a
large vocabulary.
Another unconscious synonym for Anglo-Saxon
everywhere have the surprise I felt the first time I was told by French
speakers that I use an Anglo-Saxon approach to
might be “modest.” After all, Britain in the Early
Middle Ages did not have a culture with claims for
to satisfy that translation. Clearly, those who use this adjective, greatness, and most English translators don’t con-
especially when discussing my English word choices, sider what we do to play a vital role in assuring the
two-headed mean something other than “an early form of the survival of English. While we all strive to write well,
monster: the buyer English language that was spoken and written in we don’t want the translation to call attention to
parts of what are now England and south-eastern itself, not even for its purity of language or excel-
and the reader. Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and lence of style. We want it to serve its purpose – at
A seasoned the mid-12th century” [Wikipedia] when they detect which we have to guess, more often than not.
Anglo-Saxon attitudes in the result.
translator No, when they describe the cultural framework Cultural references for a quality
explains what they see embodied in the English translation as
Anglo-Saxon, they must mean something else, some-
translation
makes translating thing obviously different from what they consider the It has been my experience that there are a few
French approach to language. While coping with this French clients who consider our work, like our lan-
from French to perspective quickly becomes instinctive to English guage, to be rather low on the culture scale and
English in Quebec translators in Quebec, it might be helpful to examine assume that any references they don’t recognize must
some of its components in greater detail because be references to TV sitcoms or rock lyrics, rather than
especially they reveal a few of the obstacles to communication Shakespeare or speeches by FDR. An experienced
challenging: the perceived by those who pay for the translation (who,
not incidentally, are not those to whom the transla-
translator should be expected to know what cultural
references will be readily familiar to the intended audi-
translation has to tion is addressed). ence, and this specialized knowledge is at least as
important as correct grammar and spelling (and much
satisfy both native less likely to be proposed by a translation memory
Pragmatic, concise and modest
speakers and those English
system) in creating a quality translation. Yet, often
enough, attempts to use idiomatic English style or
who are not… First of all, it may not be unreasonable to substi- more sophisticated English vocabulary are met with
Still, working as a tute the word “pragmatic” for “Anglo-Saxon” in this
context. English translators generally devote their
surprise, followed by the question of why we would use
English words or expressions the client doesn’t know.
translator in energies to expressing a French message in English The admirable professional status (and rates) for
as simply and directly as the context allows. We like all translation in Quebec undoubtedly reflect the
Montreal isn’t so to get to the heart of the matter, with words of one status of the 90% of translators who work into
bad! syllable and as few titles as possible. We like to French. English translators are fortunate to be able
make clear just what we expect of the recipient of a to ride on their coattails, because for at least some
By Betty Howell, C.Tr. business letter for example, translating a Veuillez of our clients, allowing the use of English is at best a
agréer phrase into a “I hope to hear from you,” or necessary evil and at worst a sign of cultural surren-
“Thank you for giving this matter your attention” or der. There are people who see English translation for
whatever we think the letter is supposed to achieve, use in the province as a concession forced on them
rather than trusting that recipients can read between by history, not a free choice made in order to reach a
the lines well enough to know what to they are larger audience. Rather than embracing the other
expected to do next. insights (and markets) made possible by two lan-
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
A second synonym for Anglo-Saxon in this con- guages, they would like to pretend that the other
text might be “concise.” After all, it is not just language doesn’t really exist—or at least, that it
repeated articles and prepositions that make French doesn’t really matter. Rather than expressing an
texts longer than their English translations. We were interest in English Canadian culture (whose exis-
taught in school to find the least convoluted way of tence they tend to deny), they prefer to denigrate it
expressing ourselves. “Being wordy” is, after all, a by calling it “Anglo-Saxon.”
6 B o r n i n B o s t o n , B e t t y H ow e l l s e t t l e d i n M o n t re a l i n 1 9 6 9 . Pre s i d e n t o f Tra d u c t i o n s B e t t y H ow e l l I n c . , a n a c t i ve m e m b e r o f OT T I AQ a n d a t e a c h e r
o f t ra n s l a t i o n a t M c G i l l f o r 1 5 ye a r s , s h e c a n n o t i m a g i n e a n y p o s s i b l e c a re e r b e t t e r t h a n b e i n g a t ra n s l a t o r o f Fre n c h t o E n g l i s h i n M o n t re a l .
There is no single, ideal translation subject matter better than most native speakers,
of any text at any moment in also imagine they know the language better. I am
infinitely grateful to the clients who read my transla-
history tions and ask why something has been expressed in
Given that everything in Quebec (Québec?) is a way they would not have expected—and some-
political, from street names to education policy by what less grateful to those (fortunately far fewer)
way of when to include accented letters, French-to- who expect a mirror image of the original, down to
English translators cannot afford to ignore how their expecting the same number of occurrences for a
work is received by those who pay for it. There is no word in both languages, if the translation is to be
single, ideal translation of any text at any moment in “faithful and accurate.”
history, merely some correct ones that better fulfill This probably does not mean that we should
their purpose than others. Translators everywhere adopt Anglo-Saxon attitudes in dress, alliterative
have to satisfy that two-headed monster: the buyer poetry and burial practices—but I nevertheless think
and the reader. What makes translating French into we should persist in the application of the virtues
English in Quebec especially challenging is that the that this special use of “Anglo-Saxon” refers to:
translation has to satisfy both native speakers and pragmatism, succinctness and modesty.
those who are not, but, because they may know the
Going for Bloke in Quebec Being an English
translator in
Even so, English translators are
T here used to be a time when English translators
came to Quebec and French translators went to
other provinces. In fact, it seemed like my whole
more of a minority than one would
Quebec is very
much like being a
1980 graduating class left for Ontario. The only
guess
person who stayed behind was, I believe, the sole The equation “Quebec into English/other French translator.
other graduating Anglophone. I wanted to stay, too, provinces into French” doesn’t really hold up when Or so I thought
but personal circumstances took me back to my we look at what actually gets translated in this coun-
home town of Toronto, so I was out of luck. As an try. Quebec is about 22% of Canada’s population, when Circuit first
Anglophone I had no hope of working there as a
translator. Employers wanted Francophones.
but French-to-English translation is far less than 22%
of the total.
asked me to reflect
The obvious cause is the federal government, on the subject.
The Internet age has made English which provides a cornucopia of work into French, but
very little into English. Why? Because English is the
The differences
translators a much smaller minority language of the workplace in Ottawa, and French is are not huge.
So for Anglos, the job opportunities were in the language of translation.
Quebec City and Montreal, and for Francos, they were Quite aside from whether this is scandalous or But differences do
in Ottawa and Toronto, and a bit in New Brunswick
and Manitoba. French translators could hope to land
disheartening or simply a fact of life, it has made
Canada a leader in French translation and provided
exist that alter the
a job someday back in Quebec, but they had to be great employment opportunities for Francophone working day in
very good because competition was fierce. translators in Quebec. At the same time, it has kept a
That has all changed. Now that we can work lid on the number of English translators in the country
subtle ways. Let’s
wherever we want, Anglophones do not have to and within Quebec. examine a few.
come here anymore, and Francophones do not have
to leave. Even in Quebec City, the place where every- Being a minority is not such By Grant Hamilton, C. Tr.
thing is already in French, the great majority of trans-
lators work into French.
a bad thing
This is not necessarily a bad thing. As an agency There is an upside to less government work into
owner who, over the years, has sought to recruit English. It means that translators usually get to work
Anglophones and bring them to Quebec City, I have on important stuff. Nothing gets translated out of
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
noticed that many prefer not to come. They speak habit or obligation—managers have to budget for
and write French, but for them French-speaking and defend the expense, so it has to be necessary.
Quebec is chez les autres, and they would prefer to This is particularly true at the Quebec provincial
stay chez eux. It is a phenomenon that has kept level, where English is not an official language.
Quebec a French-speaking place over the years and A side benefit is that the work has greater per-
the rest of Canada English-speaking. ceived value. Clients attach a lot of importance to the
G ra n t H a m i l t o n i s t h e f o u n d e r a n d p re s i d e n t o f A n g l o c o m I n c . , a Q u e b e c C i t y t ra n s l a t i o n a n d c o p y w r i t i n g a g e n c y. T h e 2 0 0 9 w i n n e r o f ATA’s
7
A l i c i a G o rd o n A w a rd f o r Wo rd A r t i s t r y i n Tra n s l a t i o n i s a p o p u l a r w o r k s h o p p re s e n t e r i n b o t h C a n a d a a n d t h e U n i t e d St a t e s .
DOSSIER ENGLISH TRANSLATORS SPEAK OUT
Websites, brochures, user guides, speeches, press Educational opportunities for
releases, and other materials that they have trans- English translators are getting
lated into English, and so they are willing to pay more
for it. Perhaps this explains why word rates are essen-
better
tially the same from French into English, despite the Back in the linguistic mists of time, there was not
10% to 15% additional words that French texts usually much need for English translators in Quebec. There
contain. were some at the National Assembly and throughout
Another benefit of less government work into the government, but the business realm was firmly in
English is variety—a good 70% of the available work Anglo hands and had no need of English translation.
comes from private clients. This means that students There were not even any real courses of study you
embarking on their careers are just as likely to work could take to learn the profession.
in banking, insurance, marketing, or some other Now university programs tailored to Anglophones
business field as they are to work for the govern- exist in Quebec, developed in response to new market
ment; they have more choice. Variety also appeals to requirements. As economic power shifted in past
generalists like me who like to switch between decades, entire industries came to function wholly in
subject matter. French. And as the use of French in the workplace
rose, so did the need for English translation.
Client profiles are different One example is the advertising industry. The over-
whelming language of the workplace is French, and not
in the French-to-English market just any French, but very idiomatic, colloquial, and
Clients who purchase English translations in (despite impressions to the contrary) well-written
Quebec are usually Francophones with a good com- French. This has acted as an entry barrier to
mand of English. This has several consequences: Anglophones, who despite their increased fluency
• Clients may overestimate their command of cannot function in French at the very high levels that
English and cause problems with their edits. advertising demands. At the same time, it has opened
• Clients may actually forbid the use of perfectly the door to English translators who are comfortable
legitimate words—like job, switch, or check— working with promotional texts for public consumption.
due to semantic interference from joual (“Please Linguistically talented Anglophones are much
use a nicer word!”). more likely to work in their own language as copy-
• Translators are more likely to be praised for good writers or journalists than they are to become trans-
work, because their clients can actually recognize it. lators. It’s a matter of supply and demand, and
• Translators who do bad work have trouble hold- possibly the historical lack of second-language skills
ing on to clients, because people know right among Anglophones. But at least today, those who
away that the quality is poor. do turn to translation have opportunities to train in
the field.
For obvious reasons, this type of client is more
prevalent in the Montreal area, where the business The future of English translation
community has an almost universal command of
English. Unilingual Francophones, a much smaller
in Quebec is bright
group, tend to cluster in Quebec City and the civil If the French texts we receive at the office are any
service, which explains the poor quality of English indication, French has a long and bright future in
that occasionally makes its way into government Quebec, and so does English translation. The written
communications. work of Francophone Quebecers is at least of equal
The purchasers of French translation present a quality, and often better quality, than the English
very different profile. They fall mainly into two dia- texts we receive from Anglophones. It is lively and
metrically opposed categories: native speakers of spontaneous, and can be hard to translate into
French and people with no knowledge whatsoever of English because it remains so faithful to the essence
French. The former can be very critical of the French of French.
translations they receive, without realizing that they I know it is easy to be pessimistic about the state
are in fact taking issue with the content of the of French in Quebec—Montreal seems more and
English. The latter have no idea whether the French more English each passing day… Anglicisms litter the
is good unless someone tells them. Their biggest spoken word… college students struggle to write
concern is how fast you translate—doing things in proper French… But the documentary evidence
French is usually a nuisance for them, so they just shows that there are many reasons to be optimistic,
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
want it over with as quickly as possible. too. English remains an add-on, an afterthought, a
language that more people speak and understand
but that very few truly master. Quebecers still live
and breathe French. And they will need professional
translators for many years to come to share their
voice with the world.
8
The Official Languages
Act–an Invaluable
Contribution
T he situation in Quebec is truly unique. It is a
province where English, the majority language of
Canada and North America, is a minority language. It
McGill, Concordia and Bishop’s, and many other
public institutions, represent the community’s contri-
bution to the development of Quebec society. The
is also a province where the minority language com- Centaur Theatre, the Blue Metropolis International Last year, Canada
munity has made significant contributions to Quebec Literary Festival and the Quebec Writers’ Federation celebrated the
society. Few Canadians realize that the French are cultural assets for all Quebecers. And the Lower
immersion movement originated in the English- North Shore’s Telehealth program, the Literary and 40th anniversary
speaking school system of Quebec in the mid-1960s.
The English-speaking minority took concrete steps,
Historical Society of Quebec’s Morrin Centre project,
and Topportunity in the Eastern Townships represent
of the Official
through its education system, to ensure its children just some of the successful initiatives from the Languages Act,
could grow up to be able to function and contribute regions.
to this changing society. In hindsight, the French The recently launched Quebec English-Speaking
and the Office of
immersion experiment was not only the start of a Communities Research Network, a joint initiative of the Commissioner
very important phenomenon in Canadian education, Concordia University’s School of Extended Learning
but also the sign of the English-speaking commu- and the Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic of Official
nity’s energy and adaptability.
Through immersion, integration and inspiration,
Minorities, based in Moncton, will help strengthen the
bonds between Canada’s French- and English-speaking
Languages took
69% of English-speaking Quebecers can converse in minority communities. that opportunity
French, according to the latest census data. This is I have no doubt Quebec’s English-speaking com-
much higher than the average bilingualism rate of munity will continue to make its mark in the province
to reflect back on
50% in Europe. In fact, it is comparable to many and in Canadian society. Saying this is more than an everything it has
countries known for their multilingualism, such as act of faith. It is recognition that the community has
Belgium. Among young people, bilingualism exceeds all the essential elements to overcome the chal- accomplished over
80% in Quebec’s English-speaking community.
The image of a hostile, unilingual English-speaking
lenges it faces. It also comes from a confidence in
the resourcefulness of our young people.
the past four
Quebecer—immortalized in the apocryphal Eaton’s decades.
saleslady—is an outdated myth. Today’s community is
bilingual, well integrated and very diverse. It takes an
The Vancouver Winter Olympics
interest in the vitality of French in Quebec—hence the The Vancouver Winter Olympics provided an
appointment of Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Executive inspiring example. I was deeply impressed by the
Director of the Quebec Community Groups Network, to number of our young Quebec athletes—both
the Conseil supérieur de la langue française. English- and French-speaking—who could comfort-
I have said repeatedly that Canada’s language ably express themselves in both official languages.
policies do not mean that all Canadians have to be Alexandre Bilodeau, Joannie Rochette, Jennifer Heil,
bilingual. But it is not surprising that individuals are Roberto Luongo, Charles Hamelin, Clara Hughes,
discovering and enjoying the opportunities that Jasey-Jay Anderson and countless others charmed
come with speaking other languages. For societies their audiences with their desire to excel, their per-
By Graham Fraser
such as ours, with so much to share with the world, sonalities and their bilingualism. The fact that their
individual bilingualism is a major asset, not a cul- number is growing from one Olympic Games to
tural threat. another is a powerful message about our young
people’s commitment to their country and their
openness to the world.
An asset to Quebec Canada’s language professionals are also a
Likewise, a strong English-speaking minority is source of inspiration. They toil in the shadows in
an asset to Quebec. English-speaking Quebecers order to open spaces for people to meet and commu-
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
continue to make an important contribution to nicate. They encourage the development of a con-
Quebec society—in the arts, sciences, economy and structive communication that recognizes a plurality
public services. This contribution is made visible of identities. They are the architects of our national
through the community’s great institutions, some of dialogue.
which have made their mark on Quebec and
䊱
Canadian history.
A we l l - k n ow n a n d re s p e c t e d j o u r n a l i st a n d a u t h o r w i t h c l o se t o 4 0 ye a r s o f j o u r n a l i s t i c e x p e r i e n c e , G ra h a m Fra s e r w a s a p p o i nt e d C o m m i s si o n e r
9
of Official Languages in 2006.
DOSSIER ENGLISH TRANSLATORS SPEAK OUT
Paul Ricœur, “to translate is to status of English and French in Canadian society.
mediate between the plurality of They are to be commended for their dedication to
excellence and for their continuing commitment to
cultures and the unity of humanity.” Canada’s linguistic duality and cultural diversity.
When you think about it, each one of us does the The Official Languages Act ultimately expresses
same job in our own way. We are mediators and the ideals held by Canadians. We are still reaching
bridge-builders. Little by little, we lead our fellow cit- for these ideals. It is important to recognize not only
izens to a greater awareness of their historic, cultural what still needs to be done, but also the huge poten-
and artistic heritage while opening their eyes to the tial Canada’s official language minority communities
world. To paraphrase the words of French philoso- represent. And with the invaluable contributions of
pher Paul Ricœur, “to translate is to mediate Canada’s language professionals and official lan-
between the plurality of cultures and the unity of guage communities, we are creating ties, building
humanity.”1 bridges and enriching our society by celebrating our
Quebec interpreters, translators and terminolo- differences and appreciating our similarities.
gists contribute to the dissemination of knowledge 1 . P a u l R i c œ u r, “ C u l t u r e s , d u d e u i l à l a t r a d u c t i o n ” ,
and play a key role in working toward the equal Le M o n d e , M a y 2 4 , 2 0 0 4 .
All-dressed English:
A reflection on two Why Quebec English is Unique
languages in
contact. In his
new book,
Professor Boberg
W hat is deluxe in Alberta, has everything on it in
Ontario, comes with the works in Nova Scotia,
but is all-dressed in Quebec? Pizza, of course! This
Ontario, leaving only a small community of English-
speakers in Montreal.
The relative lack of Loyalist influence may help
term, a translation of French toute garnie, is one of to explain one of the most salient pronunciation
analyzes the many that make Quebec English unique, reflecting differences between Quebec English and that of
distinctness of its distinctive status as a minority language in a fran- other North American regions. Whereas in British
cophone province. and East Coast American English (e.g. New York
Quebec English. While the English spoken in Canada, especially City) the distinction between the vowels of met
Local expressions, between British Columbia and Ontario, is often cited
as an example of relative homogeneity across a large
and mat is retained when they occur before /r/, as
in merry and marry, or herald and Harold, in the
such as metro, region, Eastern Canada is home to several more dis- central and western United States and in most of
tinctive local varieties of speech. Quebec English is Canada (including all of the areas of Loyalist set-
dépanneur, chalet not, perhaps, as obviously different as the English of tlement and influence) these vowels undergo a
and stage, may Newfoundland, being more closely connected histori- “conditioned merger,” in which the contrast is neu-
cally with English in the rest of mainland Canada, but tralized before /r/, so that marry has the vowel of
sound strange to it nevertheless retains several unique qualities that met, sounding like merry, and Harold sounds like
English speakers set it apart from the English of Toronto, Calgary or
Vancouver.
herald. Quebec is a striking exception to this pat-
tern in Canada: Montreal English-speakers retain
from outside the vowel of mat in words like carrot, narrow and
barrel.
Quebec. A brief history, starting in 1763 The substantial growth of the Anglophone popu-
As in other regions, its distinctness is rooted in lations of Quebec City and Montreal occurred in the
history. This began with the Treaty of Paris (1763), nineteenth century, following the Napoleonic Wars,
which established Quebec as a British colony after when growing industrialization in Britain, combined
the Seven Years’ War. While the immigration of with a need for new settlers and workers in Canada,
Loyalist refugees from the American Revolution pro- encouraged the emigration of hundreds of thou-
vided the main English-speaking foundation of the sands of Irish, English and Scots to North America.
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
Maritimes and Ontario (and, by extension, Western After the opening of the Lachine Canal in 1825, the
Canada), Loyalist and post-Loyalist American immi- growing industrial and commercial importance of
gration played a less important role in Quebec, Montreal made it a prime destination for these emi-
except in the Eastern Townships region directly adja- grants. By the 1830s, Montreal had an English-
By Charles Boberg cent to Vermont. Most of the Loyalists who arrived in speaking, or at least ethnically British, majority, but
Quebec were transferred to new townships in this lasted only a few decades.
10 Charles Boberg is Associate Professor of Linguistics at McGill University. His research focuses on variation and change in Nor th American English. His
new book, The English Language in Canada: Status, History and Comparative Analysis, was published by Cambridge University Press in September 2010.A declining population
labelled all-dressed (toute garnie); and apartments
since the 1970s are classified by the number of rooms they contain,
Later in the century, the departure of many with the bathroom counting for half a room, so that
English-speakers to pursue greater opportunities what a student in Vancouver or Toronto would call a
elsewhere, together with a high birthrate among bachelor suite (an American student’s studio apart-
French Canadians and the migration of rural ment), a student in Montreal calls a one- or two-and-
Francophones into Montreal to find industrial a-half, meaning an apartment without a separate
employment, restored a French-speaking majority bedroom. Students who stay on in Montreal might
that has prevailed up to the present. In the twentieth do a stage, pronounced in the French way, which
century, the Anglophone population continued to would be called an internship, apprenticeship or
receive new additions from further immigration – practicum elsewhere in Canada. After a day of such
more from East European Jews, Italians, Greeks and work, they might join friends for a cinq-à-sept on a
other non-British groups than from Britain itself – terrasse, which would be happy hour at an outdoor
but the Anglophone proportion of the population café or restaurant patio in other cities; other dialects
continued to decline. This trend became particularly of English have a related word terrace, pronounced
acute in the late 1970s and 1980s, after the introduc- with initial rather than final stress, but this has other
tion of language planning measures designed to meanings.
ensure the continued vitality of French in Quebec, Many Quebec English Gallicisms are known only
partly by demoting English to unofficial status and to locals, occurring outside the limited experience of
suppressing its public use (Bill 101, or the Charter of
the French Language, 1977). Most Anglophones were
E
strongly opposed to these measures and many
expressed their opposition by leaving Quebec. The
resulting exodus, numbering well over 100,000
people, was the main factor in reducing the size of nglish in Quebec is a minority language in every sense:
Montreal’s English-speaking population by about a not just numerically, but since the 1970s in the political,
third. At present, it accounts for 12 percent of
social and institutional senses as well.
Montreal’s population and 8 percent of Quebec’s, a
drastic decline from the levels of the mid-nineteenth
century.
English in Quebec, then, is a minority language in
every sense: not just numerically, but since the
1970s in the political, social and institutional senses
as well. Quebec’s Anglophones now live in a thor-
oughly francophone society. A large majority of those
who remain are bilingual; many work in francophone
workplaces and most educate their children in
French immersion programs. This intensive exposure
to French has encouraged the adoption of dozens of
Gallicisms in Quebec English (thereby partly balanc-
ing the larger number of Anglicisms in Quebec
French!). These can be French words transferred into visiting students. One of the most regionally variable
English, English translations of French terms or sets of words in Canada refers to a small, rustic
phrases, or shifts in the meanings of English words house in the countryside, often on or near a lake,
influenced by the meanings of similar words in where city dwellers spend summer weekends or
French. Of the first type of Gallicism, perhaps the vacations. In Western Canada this is called a cabin,
best-known example is dépanneur, often shortened in Eastern Canada a cottage, but in Quebec it can be
to dep, a term quickly acquired by the students from called a chalet, a French word that in other regions
all over North America who attend McGill University refers to a ski lodge. Perhaps this is because cottage
(in France this term designates a repair shop, has a different meaning in Montreal, where it is used
whereas in Quebec it is equivalent to the English to refer to a two-storey house, as opposed to a bun-
terms convenience store or corner store). galow. A balcony or veranda along the front of this
house might be termed a gallery, a use that also dis-
tinguishes Quebec from European French, while the
Gallicisms
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
backyard might feature a cabanon, elsewhere called
McGill students also learn several other a garden shed. Quebec Anglophone babies might be
Gallicisms. The local underground railway system is given a suce rather than a pacifier, and a year or two
called the metro, as in Paris, not the subway, as in later might be dropped off at a garderie rather than a
New York or Toronto; the standard set of pizza or daycare, or at pre-maternelle rather than nursery
䊱
hamburger toppings, as mentioned above, is school.
11DOSSIER ENGLISH TRANSLATORS SPEAK OUT
French: the sole official language
variation. For instance, English is spoken in different
of Quebec ways by the many ethnic groups that make up the
The demotion of English to unofficial status, with modern Anglophone community, so that Montreal
French the sole official language of Quebec, has English-speakers can tell whether someone is of
imposed many other French terms on Quebec English, British, Italian or Jewish ancestry based purely on
since local governmental bodies refuse to adopt the way they pronounce certain words (hanger with
English versions of their names and terminology. or without a [g] sound; not with the final /t/ aspi-
Thus, the Government of Quebec calls itself the rated or unreleased; time with a darker or more open
Gouvernement du Québec even in its English- vowel, etc.). These and other examples of variation
language advertisements, requiring sudden shifts of in the English spoken both in Quebec and across
language in mid-sentence. For a similar reason, Canada are explored in The English Language in
English Quebecers buy their wines and spirits at the Canada: Status, History and Comparative Analysis.
SAQ, elsewhere called the liquor store; take their
landlords to the Régie, rather than the rental board; Editors’ Notes: The population statistics, based
and send their teenagers to CEGEP, not junior college. on the 2001 and 2006 Statistics Canada Censuses,
The French component in Quebec English makes only include native speaker data (not people who list
it one of the most distinctive local dialects in English as their first language used or only language
Canada, yet Quebec English itself shows internal known, of the two official languages of Canada).
What’s in a Name?
Political It Depends Which Language
correctness
or need for You Are Speaking
information?
Translators into T he following comments are prompted by many
years of friendly and not-so-friendly discussions
correctness are over. Let me give you a simple exam-
ple. How many years now have we been told that we
English ought to with clients requesting French-to-English transla- are wrong to say “Quebec City”? How many years
tions, and more specifically, with those clients who has TERMIUM allowed its peculiar entry about that
resist pressures to adamantly tell me at the outset that it is very impor- fine city to remain in its database, twisting the
change the way tant to follow certain conventions in my English ver-
sion. These demands usually involve putting French
tender minds of young translation graduates?1 How
often have you been told by government and private
they write and words where I would normally put English words, or clients that it is Québec for the city and Quebec for
at least English versions of French words. Coming to the province—or perhaps the other way around, or
spell certain words terms with these requirements is no easy matter, even that you should write both with an accent (and
and expressions, particularly when the various clients do not appear Montreal too, while we’re at it).
to agree on the specifics. If you simply do as you are I often wonder where the pressure is coming
especially when told, you are merely adding to the confusion. I would from. And why. The Geographical Names Board of
it comes to like to explain, through the use of a number of
common examples, why I think translators into
Canada? The Commission de toponymie du Québec?
Political pressure? The belief that an anglicized
geography and English ought to resist pressures to change the way spelling is some form of insult, historical or other-
they write and spell certain words and expressions. wise? All of these, I think, and many more sources as
administration. well. The trouble is that by the time the stated prefer-
ences of official bodies reach the streets, the schools
No English Academy and the offices of the nation (let alone the rest of the
English, as we all know, is somewhat uncontrol- world), stubborn people like me choose to ignore
lable and has no ultimate authority. There is no them even though we understand them, and legions
English Academy. The usual way of putting it is to more who are keen to please get it all wrong. While
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
say that French is top-down and English is bottom- the Names Board recommends “Quebec” for the
up. English dictionaries are not prescriptive and province and “Québec” for the city, clients tend to
reflect usage instead. Despite misguided efforts by ask for all sorts of combinations, and for some
well-meaning people to alter the way the English lan- reason translators just do as they are asked to avoid
By Ken Larose guage refers to places and official bodies in Quebec, offending anyone. And some people are offended
I believe that efforts to cater to an imaginary political and can be quite adamant about what they want.
12 Ke n L a ro s e h a s b e e n p re s i d e n t b o t h o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f Tra n s l a t o r s a n d I n t e r p re t e r s o f O n t a r i o a n d t h e C a n a d i a n Tra n s l a t o r s , Te r m i n o l o g i s t s
a n d I n t e r p re t e r s C o u n c i l .Quebec City, Belize City, End user’s need for information
Volgograd… If I were to translate a document from Polish into
Is using the word “city” to distinguish a city from English for a client and provided a sentence like “The
a country, state, province and suchlike an Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych Rzeczypospolitej
Americanism, as in New York City? May I suggest that Polskiej argued in favour of dropping the second
this usage is common in other countries, e.g. clause of the agreement…” that client would not be
Panama City, Guatemala City, Mexico City, and Belize happy. And what if I left the equivalent in Japanese?
City? The word “city” in other languages can creep All of which is to say that if your client is in need of
into place names in other ways as well, for example information and is not conversant in French, then to
the late but not so lamented Leningrad and leave proper names like “Ministère de la culture, des
Stalingrad (now Volgograd). My personal favourite is communications et de la condition féminine” in
Culver City, California, named after the man who French because TERMIUM (or the Government of
founded it. When you go to their Website, the home Quebec) says there is no English name for that
page proudly says: “Welcome to the City of Culver
City.” But I digress. The long and the short of it is
that total confusion reigns at the moment. Microsoft
Encarta has bought into the accents, but not much
else, and gets things wrong much of the time;
Wikipedia has not adopted any accents and still says
Quebec City and Montreal. Despite efforts by the
Feds to be PC on the matter, most English-language
writers and translators in Canada have refused to toe
the line, even those who work at the Translation
Bureau. Why? Because it is not really the role of
French-speakers anywhere to tell us how to speak
and spell in English. If the Queen were to write a stiff
letter to M. Sarkozy to tell him that the name of a
certain city is not “Londres” but London, and that the
river that runs through it is not the “Tamise” but
rather the Thames, and could they please make an
effort to learn how to pronounce it properly… well,
you get my drift. How to be nice about it? I patiently
use examples from other languages to explain to
people that names like München are difficult for
English and French speakers to pronounce, and that department, is to do everyone a disservice, notwith-
is why we say Munich. Ditto for thousands of place standing the instructions we all receive to leave such
names in many languages. proper names in French. Many target readers will not
On a related matter, I wish to recount that while understand what it means, and sometimes, this
messing around with Google Translate the other day might actually matter. From the pecuniary stand-
I went to the Quebec portal to look up the names of point, it would be great for freelancers to just be able
all the Quebec government departments. Google to leave all those names in French and get paid
asked me “This page is in French, would you like to anyway. I can’t really bring myself to do it. At the very
translate it?” No, said I, I am going to click on the least, French-to-English translators should put the
word “English” up in the top right corner of the gov- full French name in the first time it appears, accom-
ernment site to see what happens. Not much hap- panied by an unofficial rendering of what it means
pened, as expected. And Google asked yet again and the French acronym, and use the acronym there-
“This page is in French, would you like to translate after.
it?” So I said OK and quickly got something that, Think of the end-user. Then try to come to an
while not great, was certainly more helpful than accommodation with your client. If you simply do as
what the government site had provided. There are, I you are told, you are not doing anyone a favour, and
know, very good historical reasons why the French not really doing your job as a translator. And never
language in Quebec has required measures to pro- forget that, ultimately, usage will determine the
tect it and defend it. And there are good reasons to outcome.
have only official French names in Quebec. But that’s
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
no excuse for not telling an English reader what they Laval University…
might mean. When translators are faced with proper
names from other countries, it does not stop them
and l’Université de Toronto
from “unofficially” translating official names from And what of university names? We all try hard to
many languages into many other languages so that leave the French names exactly as they are, but is
people elsewhere can understand. this really necessary? It is no more incorrect to say
13DOSSIER ENGLISH TRANSLATORS SPEAK OUT
T
I have emphasized the need for proper communi-
cation and a defence of readable English. But my
purpose is selfish in another way: my French sensi-
bilities do not enjoy, when listening to English-
here are good language radio or watching TV, or even speaking to a
reasons to have only live Anglo, the painful and mangled French pronunci-
ations, not only of the lengthy names of government
official French names
agencies, not only of their attempts to make the
in Quebec. transition from “Kweebec” to Kwaybec”, but also of
expressions like “Les Jeux de la francophonie.”
Please, give them something they can say. It’s bad
enough to have to listen to Don Cherry try to pro-
nounce Martin Brodeur’s name. At least with hockey
we can switch to the French broadcast of a game.
But please don’t force those who don’t speak French
to have to listen to the mangled French spoken on
the English-language networks.
Laval University than it is to say l’Université de 1 . Here is a quotation from the T E RM I U M entry: “Hence, the
a c t u a l l y o r h i s t o r i c a l l y i n h a b i t e d “ Q u é b e c , ” t h e i n c o r-
Toronto. And would you be surprised to learn that p o ra t e d n a m e o f t h e c i t y, s h o u l d b e w r i t t e n w i t h a n a c -
when the University of Quebec system was devel- c e n t i n E n g l i s h , w h i l e t h e n a m e o f t h e P r ov i n c e o f
Q u e b e c , a n a m e o f Pa n - C a n a d i a n s i g n i f i c a n c e , i s w r i t t e n
oped, the charter was in French and English, with without the accent. One should NEVE R say or write
official English names attributed to each campus? “Quebec” or “Quebec City” (the American form of
d e s i g n a t i o n f o r i n h a b i t e d p l a c e s ) t o re f e r t o t h e i n h a b i -
The point of all this is that there is little room for t e d e n t i t y ; t h e c o r re c t s p e l l i n g a n d d e s i g n a t i o n s a re
political correctness in translation. Unless you as a “ Q u é b e c ” a n d “c i t y ( C i t y ) o f Q u é b e c . ”
translator really don’t care, then you really ought to
be focusing more than anything else on getting the
message through to the target audience.
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
14Translating the
Untranslatable:
A Brief Exploration
of Linguistic Conundrums
M any years ago, when trying to devise a motto
for my freelance translation business, I came
up with the (to my mind) brilliant phrase “Not word
(My visitor and I spent more time than we had
planned researching these questions on the com-
puter but, luckily, my “cake” didn’t burn.)
to word, but meaning to meaning.” However, no
A literary
matter how much I focus on the meaning, I still have Terms left un-researched translator
to use words to render the sense of the source text
in the target language. In doing so, I have been
or un-checked explains that one
known to spend as much as an hour—although I’m No article on resolving translation conundrums aspect of her work
being paid the same pittance for that particular verb today would be complete without a nod in the direc-
or noun as for any pronoun and preposition—search- tion of the World Wide Web. If I were religious, I would she appreciates is
ing for that translators’ Holy Grail, “le mot juste.”
What can I do—what, indeed, can any of us do?—
sing daily hosannas to the great God “Google”; if I
were inclined to meditation, my chant would be not
that it provides a
when the source text refers to something for which no “Om” but “Oog.” Since I am neither, however, I limit window into so
word exists in the target language? Language is, after my veneration to daily (if not hourly) amazement at
all, an expression of culture. Objects and actions are the munificence of this resource. As with many quali-
many different
usually invented or initiated first; the words describ- ties, this abundance also has a downside: it can dis- worlds, even with
ing them come along afterward, sort of like Bo Peep’s tract by its inclusiveness or obscure by sheer
sheep. So, if a given people-group never deemed a numbers. However, when I think of how I used to prac- the most difficult
particular custom or idea worthy of its own lexical
entry, their language must live at a disadvantage with
tise my craft before access to the Internet became
widespread, I cringe at the memory of terms left un-
texts, such as
respect to its sibling tongues. researched or un-checked for lack of resources or time Monique Lépine’s
to consult them, and reach eagerly for my mouse to
blot out those shameful recollections.
memoir Vivre.
To bake… faire cuire au four? For me, as for many of you, translation consists
Translators are often called up to remedy this dis- of so much more than simply transcribing words
advantage in the course of their work (and we all have from one language into another. This may be the
our favourite “black beasts” in this respect), but my case for point-form presentations or CVs—one
most recent encounter with it occurred when a friend reason I usually turn down such projects. No, a good
came to visit. As she walked through my front door, part of our art consists in organizing the words so
she sniffed the air and declared “Ça sent le gâteau!” that they make sense and have the greatest dramatic
My first thought was that an Anglophone would have effect. The latter is particularly important in literary
inquired what I was “baking.” From there it was but a translation. I experienced great difficulty when trans-
short step to wondering why there is no French equiv- lating a particularly horrific scene from Monique
alent for the apparently simple word the dictionary Lépine’s1 memoir Vivre (Aftermath in English, pub- By Diana Halfpenny
defines as “cooking with dry heat in an oven.” lished by Penguin). The scene, found on p. 243 of
Although it can be used as much for casseroles as it the Libre Expression edition, goes like this:
can for cookies, usage restricts it to encompassing [Maryse] écrivait au tableau. La balle qui a
breads and sweets: things that are sold in a bakery. touché la jeune femme de vingt-trois ans
The French have their “pâtisseries”—indeed, based n’était probablement pas mortelle selon le
on the number of them in French-speaking cities, pathologiste. Marc s’est ensuite dirigé vers
le fond de la classe en tirant sur d’autres
you’d think they were an important part of French cul-
étudiantes puis est revenu vers l’avant.
C i r c u i t • A u t o m n e 2 0 10
ture. So, why don’t they have a verb for what is done C’est à ce moment qu’il a entendu les
there, other than the circumlocutory “faire cuire au gémissements de Maryse et l’a poignardée
four”? An entry we found in the Wordreference Forum à trois reprises avec un couteau de chasse.
(a fascinating distraction for language-lovers!) sug- L’un de ses coups a été fatal.
gests that the best way to translate “bake-off ” is My difficulty was this: the only way to truly
“concours du meilleur dessert”! render that scene accurately was to visualize it
B o r n i n E n g l a n d , D i a n a H a l f p e n n y l i ve d i n d i f f e re n t c o u n t r i e s b e f o re s e t t i n g u p s h o p a s a f re e l a n c e , q u a d r i l i n g u a l t ra n s l a t o r i n M o n t re a l 2 0 ye a r s
a g o. S h e’l l t ra n s l a t e a n y t h i n g ( a s l o n g a s s h e c a n u n d e r s t a n d i t ! ) a n d o n c e t ra d e d h e r t ra n s l a t i o n s k i l l s f o r a g o u r m e t Fre n c h m e a l …
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