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C2 French reading: how a translation jury explains its choice

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Compare a jury’s criterion, a translator’s reservation and a critic’s response. Practise reading qualified judgements and the difference between form and function.

In short

The jury prioritises perceptible breaks in rhythm; the translator asks whether a visible break keeps the same function in French. The critic calls for an explicit trade-off. A reasoned choice can remain open to challenge.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A small literary jury discussing two open blank books around a table in a refined French reading room.
A translation jury weighs le rythme of competing versions. Illustration: Atelier

Un prix, plusieurs critères de lecture

A · Communiqué du jury

Nous avons retenu une traduction qui rend perceptibles1 les ruptures de rythme du texte. Ce choix ne signifie pas que les autres propositions seraient infidèles. Il privilégie2 un effet auquel le jury a accordé une importance particulière cette année, après discussion des contraintes propres à chaque version.

B · Entretien avec une traductrice

Une rupture très visible en français peut recouvrir ce qui, dans la langue de départ3, demeurait discret. Il ne suffit pas de reproduire un mouvement pour en conserver la fonction. Je ne conteste pas le droit du jury de choisir ; je voudrais que le lecteur puisse voir ce que ce choix laisse au second plan4.

C · Chronique critique

La pluralité des critères ne nous dispense pas de juger. Elle nous oblige à nommer l’arbitrage5. Un palmarès devient trompeur lorsqu’il fait passer une préférence argumentée6 pour la disparition de toute alternative raisonnable. À l’inverse, répéter que « tout se vaut » rendrait inutile la discussion que le prix pourrait précisément ouvrir.

Read it in English

We selected a translation that makes the text’s breaks in rhythm perceptible. This choice does not mean the other proposals are unfaithful. It prioritises an effect to which the jury attached particular importance this year, after discussing the constraints specific to each version.

A very visible break in French can obscure something that remained subtle in the source language. Reproducing a movement is not enough to preserve its function. I do not dispute the jury’s right to choose; I would like readers to see what that choice places in the background.

A plurality of criteria does not exempt us from judging. It requires us to name the trade-off. A prize list becomes misleading when it presents a reasoned preference as the disappearance of every reasonable alternative. Conversely, repeating that ‘everything is equally good’ would make pointless the very discussion the prize could open.

reproduire un mouvementreproduce a movement

Focus: Keep a formal feature, such as a sudden break.

en conserver la fonctionpreserve its function

Focus: Keep what that feature does for the reader.

nommer l’arbitragename the trade-off

Focus: Explain which effect was given priority and which receded.

Study a small illustration of form and effect
French versionPossible reading
Elle ouvre la lettre. Puis le silence.The short fragment makes the break prominent.
Elle ouvre la lettre, puis se tait.The continuous sentence makes the transition smoother.

These two French sentences illustrate a choice of rhythm. In the dossier, the translator asks whether prominence serves the same function as it did in the source language. The jury’s statement tells us which effect it preferred; it gives us no passage from the winning translation.

Question 1No account needed
Which claim does the jury explicitly reject?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

That the other versions are necessarily unfaithful.. The jury expressly says its choice does not mean the other proposals are unfaithful.

Question 2No account needed
What does the translator question?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Whether copying a break always preserves its function.. She distinguishes reproducing movement from conserving its function and asks what the choice backgrounds.

Question 3No account needed
Which position fits the critic?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A preference can be justified while reasonable alternatives remain.. The critic rejects both blanket equivalence and a verdict that erases reasonable alternatives.

Question 4No account needed
What does cette année limit in the jury statement?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The scope of the emphasis: this jury gave this effect particular weight this year.. The time phrase locates the jury’s weighting rather than establishing a permanent rule for all prizes.

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