French term
United Kingdom
Clarity and finesse
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English, French to English
se réclament
"De quelle inquiétante étrangeté se réclament les Conversions qui prennent allure de plus en plus martiale? Pourquoi évoquer de la sorte un trouble intérieur par un désordre extérieur ?"
The "désordre extérieur" refers, I believe, to the moment in which Paul is thrown from his horse and left temporarily blinded.
The translation I have found for "se réclamer de qch" is "to align oneself with something", but I'm not sure that fits here, and I'd be very grateful for suggestions.
| 3 +5 | profess/affirm |
Wolf Draeger
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| 4 | [suggestion for the whole sentence] |
philgoddard
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PRO (2): philgoddard, Cyril Tollari
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Proposed translations
profess/affirm
To get an idea of the allure de plus en plus martiale, see links below (many other portrayals, of course).
Art is often no more than exquisite propaganda ;-)
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Note added at 5 hrs (2019-11-13 19:27:43 GMT)
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Another stab at example sentences (that however lose the rhetorical flourish of the FR):
"The increasingly warlike depictions of the Conversions profess a disquieting strangeness."
"In their increasingly warlike depictions, the Conversions profess a disturbing eeriness."
What disquieting strangeness do the Conversions profess in their increasingly warlike depictions?
How strange and disturbing the affirmation of the Conversions in their increasingly warlike depictions!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversion_of_Saul_(Michelangelo)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversion_of_Saint_Paul_(Caravaggio)
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Cyril Tollari
: Oui
2 hrs
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Thanks, Cyril!
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B D Finch
: Profess
3 hrs
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Thanks, B!
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philgoddard
: I agree with your explanation, but I think your suggested translations sound a bit formal and stilted.// French can sometimes sound a bit pompous and declamatory - I think it's better to use plainer English, otherwise people won't want to read it.
4 hrs
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Me too, but the FR doesn't leave much wriggle room.
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writeaway
9 hrs
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Ta!
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Lorraine Dubuc
: Profess is an excellent choice
23 hrs
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Thanks, Lorraine!
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| agree |
Stephanie Benoist
: I was going to suggest "convey" before I saw this, but "profess" is perfect. nice clin d'oeil with religion. I think that this text should remain "flowery" in english, so passionately written on an obscure topic...
1 day 11 hrs
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Thanks, Stephanie!
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United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
[suggestion for the whole sentence]
Why do the Conversions become increasingly strange, disturbing, and violent?
Discussion