This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Archaeology

tout ce qui est symbole

English translation: inseparable from [or: inextricably linked with] the symbolic sense

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:tout ce qui est symbole
English translation:inseparable from [or: inextricably linked with] the symbolic sense
Entered by: angela3thomas

20:12 Aug 2, 2017
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Archaeology / ancient art
French term or phrase: tout ce qui est symbole
Hi again!
DOC: 1907 Museum catalog of ancient Egyptian mirrors.
CONTEXT: Miroirs solaires.Le miroir, microcosme du soleil, était un jeu d'esprit tout indiqué, en laissant même de côté les raisons mystiques qui sont inséparables de ***tout ce qui est symbole en Égypte.***
ATTEMPT: The mirror as a microcosm of the sun was an appropriate metaphor, even leaving aside the mystical reasons that are inextricable from anything related to/concerning symbols in Egypt.
ISSUE: I found some nice examples at WordRef which helped me understand the basic meaning/construction. But I'm still not sure how to translate this appropriately in my context. I would have liked to say anything that involves ancient Egyptian symbols. or even symbolism. But my author says "en Égypte", not sure of the significance of that.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
angela3thomas
United States
inseparable from [or: inextricably linked with] the symbolic sense
Explanation:
Here's my take on it:

"The mirror, as a miniature representation of the sun, was an appropriate metaphor for it, even beyond the mystical meanings which were, for the Egyptians, inseparable from [or: inextricably linked with] the symbolic sense."

I don’t much like “microcosm” here, since to me that word seems to imply a rather complex entity, rather than the single being which the [divine] sun represents.

OED: "2. a. Any complex entity, esp. a community, regarded as forming a self-contained or self-regulating world or universe."

So I prefer to explicitly enunciate the somewhat more obscure sense given in the OED, “2e. in microcosm: in miniature; on a small scale.”

As I read it, the essence of what B. was intending to say was that the "mystical" meaning and the "symbolic" one were (to use Tony's happy word) inextricably linked in the Egyptian consciousness --a consciousness which, btw, we in the modern West really cannot fathom, much less fully appreciate; it is much closer to the consciousness of the Middle Ages in our own culture.
Selected response from:

Christopher Crockett
Local time: 01:21
Grading comment
Thank you! and others who contributed with feedback and suggestions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1anything related to concrete symbols
Barbara Cochran, MFA
4inseparable from [or: inextricably linked with] the symbolic sense
Christopher Crockett


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
anything related to concrete symbols


Explanation:
The mirror being the concrete symbol.

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 01:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yolanda Broad
35 mins
  -> Merci, Yolanda.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
inseparable from [or: inextricably linked with] the symbolic sense


Explanation:
Here's my take on it:

"The mirror, as a miniature representation of the sun, was an appropriate metaphor for it, even beyond the mystical meanings which were, for the Egyptians, inseparable from [or: inextricably linked with] the symbolic sense."

I don’t much like “microcosm” here, since to me that word seems to imply a rather complex entity, rather than the single being which the [divine] sun represents.

OED: "2. a. Any complex entity, esp. a community, regarded as forming a self-contained or self-regulating world or universe."

So I prefer to explicitly enunciate the somewhat more obscure sense given in the OED, “2e. in microcosm: in miniature; on a small scale.”

As I read it, the essence of what B. was intending to say was that the "mystical" meaning and the "symbolic" one were (to use Tony's happy word) inextricably linked in the Egyptian consciousness --a consciousness which, btw, we in the modern West really cannot fathom, much less fully appreciate; it is much closer to the consciousness of the Middle Ages in our own culture.

Christopher Crockett
Local time: 01:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 131
Grading comment
Thank you! and others who contributed with feedback and suggestions.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search