Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
retenir l'air
English translation:
keep, hold and pick up (for different instances)
Added to glossary by
Yvonne Gallagher
Jan 19, 2013 13:52
11 yrs ago
French term
retenir l'air
French to English
Art/Literary
Music
For example:
"Très souvent le musicien préfère composer une musique nouvelle sur un texte ancien plutôt que de retenir l'air ancien."
"J'ai envie de chanter cette chanson, d'ailleurs je n'arrive pas à retenir l'air."
Plus une musique passe à la radio et plus vite on arrive à retenir l'air."
Something pick up the tune, hold the tune?
"Très souvent le musicien préfère composer une musique nouvelle sur un texte ancien plutôt que de retenir l'air ancien."
"J'ai envie de chanter cette chanson, d'ailleurs je n'arrive pas à retenir l'air."
Plus une musique passe à la radio et plus vite on arrive à retenir l'air."
Something pick up the tune, hold the tune?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | keep, pick up and hold (for different instances) |
Yvonne Gallagher
|
| 4 +5 | to remember the tune |
Sarah Bessioud
|
| 4 | memorize the melody |
kashew
|
| 4 | retain the [original] tune |
Paul Hirsh
|
Change log
Jan 22, 2013 22:34: Yvonne Gallagher Created KOG entry
Jan 22, 2013 22:35: Yvonne Gallagher changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/1300525">Yvonne Gallagher's</a> old entry - "retenir l'air"" to ""keep, pick up and hold (for different instances)""
Proposed translations
+1
3 mins
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, UK, US, Canadian) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
keep, pick up and hold (for different instances)
imo
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Note added at 6 mins (2013-01-19 13:59:33 GMT)
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yes, the three examples you give have slightly different meanings
"Très souvent le musicien préfère composer une musique nouvelle sur un texte ancien plutôt que de retenir l'air ancien." =keep the tune or air
"J'ai envie de chanter cette chanson, d'ailleurs je n'arrive pas à retenir l'air." hold the tune or grasp the tune
Plus une musique passe à la radio et plus vite on arrive à retenir l'air." the faster it is/the easier it is to PICKUP the tune
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Note added at 7 mins (2013-01-19 13:59:49 GMT)
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pick up
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Note added at 8 mins (2013-01-19 14:01:33 GMT)
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as Jeux de Mots says, the second instance could also use
"remember"
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Note added at 2 days1 hr (2013-01-21 15:11:07 GMT)
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However, I don't believe the third example is "remember". You "pick up" or learn a tune by hearing it played many times on the radio. You can only remember something you already know.
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Note added at 2 days1 hr (2013-01-21 15:12:31 GMT)
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3rd is referring to whether it is catchy enough to pick up
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Note added at 3 days8 hrs (2013-01-22 22:34:40 GMT) Post-grading
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glad to have helped
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Note added at 6 mins (2013-01-19 13:59:33 GMT)
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yes, the three examples you give have slightly different meanings
"Très souvent le musicien préfère composer une musique nouvelle sur un texte ancien plutôt que de retenir l'air ancien." =keep the tune or air
"J'ai envie de chanter cette chanson, d'ailleurs je n'arrive pas à retenir l'air." hold the tune or grasp the tune
Plus une musique passe à la radio et plus vite on arrive à retenir l'air." the faster it is/the easier it is to PICKUP the tune
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Note added at 7 mins (2013-01-19 13:59:49 GMT)
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pick up
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Note added at 8 mins (2013-01-19 14:01:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
as Jeux de Mots says, the second instance could also use
"remember"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days1 hr (2013-01-21 15:11:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
However, I don't believe the third example is "remember". You "pick up" or learn a tune by hearing it played many times on the radio. You can only remember something you already know.
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Note added at 2 days1 hr (2013-01-21 15:12:31 GMT)
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3rd is referring to whether it is catchy enough to pick up
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Note added at 3 days8 hrs (2013-01-22 22:34:40 GMT) Post-grading
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glad to have helped
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks. The various notes make this the most helpful I feel."
+5
3 mins
Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
A way with words
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US, British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, English
to remember the tune
The first example quoted has a slightly different meaning. This means that the composer does not use the original music, but prefers to start from scratch.
However, the other two examples of use refer to remembering the tune.
However, the other two examples of use refer to remembering the tune.
Note from asker:
| Thanks very much. All the answers were helpful. |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Catherine De Crignis
: OK for examples 2 and 3 but NOT for ex 1
23 mins
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I agree. That's exactly what I said in my explanation!
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| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: Agree with the distinction you make too ; the first one referring to a decision as to whether the original version should be used, the other ones are to do with being able to remember the tune/melody (the last one to do with its catchiness).
2 hrs
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Thank you, Nikki.
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| agree |
Louisa Tchaicha
3 hrs
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Thank you, Louisa.
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| agree |
philgoddard
9 hrs
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Thanks, Phil.
|
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| agree |
Laura Nagle (X)
13 hrs
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Thanks, Laura.
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| agree |
John Holland
1 day 4 hrs
|
36 mins
memorize the melody
Or, memorize the tune
For ii and iii - for the first I'd put "retain".
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Note added at 38 minutes (2013-01-19 14:31:29 GMT)
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http://www.flashmusicgames.com/memory_sound.html
For ii and iii - for the first I'd put "retain".
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Note added at 38 minutes (2013-01-19 14:31:29 GMT)
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http://www.flashmusicgames.com/memory_sound.html
Note from asker:
| Thanks very much. All the answers were helpful. |
4 days
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
:
8
retain the [original] tune
the composer would prefer to set the text to a new tune rather than retain/keep the old one
Discussion
1- keep, retain, stick to the original tune
2 & 3- = remember