Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Passez! Adieu! Allez vous-en!
English translation:
Leave! Farewell! Begone!
Added to glossary by
B D Finch
Oct 20, 2019 09:54
4 yrs ago
French term
Passez! Adieu! Allez vous-en!
Non-PRO
French to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Louisiana French
Hello everyone!
This is from Kate Chopin's the Awakening. Hence, I hope it is not wrong to consider it "Louisiana French" from the late 19th century.
The situation is about the way an alluring married woman (Mrs. Ratignolle) was treating a young man (Robert) who used adore her. Here is how their conversation goes:
[Robert is speaking to a third person, Mrs. Pontellier] "She knew that I adored her once, and she let me adore her. It was 'Robert, come; go; stand up; sit down; do this; do that;...'"
[Mrs. Ratignolle replying] "Par example! I never had to ask. You were always there under my feet, like a troublesome cat."
"You mean like an adoring dog. And just as soon as [Mr.] Ratignolle appeared on the scene, then it was like a dog. Passez! Adieu! Allez vous-en!"
"Perhaps I feared to make Alphonse jealous,"...
What does those French exclamations mean within this context? Thanks in advance :)
This is from Kate Chopin's the Awakening. Hence, I hope it is not wrong to consider it "Louisiana French" from the late 19th century.
The situation is about the way an alluring married woman (Mrs. Ratignolle) was treating a young man (Robert) who used adore her. Here is how their conversation goes:
[Robert is speaking to a third person, Mrs. Pontellier] "She knew that I adored her once, and she let me adore her. It was 'Robert, come; go; stand up; sit down; do this; do that;...'"
[Mrs. Ratignolle replying] "Par example! I never had to ask. You were always there under my feet, like a troublesome cat."
"You mean like an adoring dog. And just as soon as [Mr.] Ratignolle appeared on the scene, then it was like a dog. Passez! Adieu! Allez vous-en!"
"Perhaps I feared to make Alphonse jealous,"...
What does those French exclamations mean within this context? Thanks in advance :)
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Oct 21, 2019 11:23: B D Finch Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
9 hrs
Selected
Leave! Farewell! Begone!
I think this might be suitable for the period.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
9 mins
|
|
Thanks Tony
|
|
| agree |
AllegroTrans
: Retains the period flavour
22 hrs
|
|
Thanks AT
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much"
+4
38 mins
Go away! Goodbye for ever! Get out of here!
fairl literally, but i'm sure you have the idea and can come up with some more culturally- and period-appropriate colloquial terms.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Cyril Tollari
52 mins
|
|
Merci, Cyril !
|
|
| agree |
Chakib Roula
2 hrs
|
|
Shukran, Chakib!
|
|
| agree |
Michele Fauble
8 hrs
|
|
Merci, Michele !
|
|
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
9 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Yvonne!
|
-2
6 hrs
Go on! Bye bye! Shove off/Get lost!
More options
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
B D Finch
: Not the way anyone spoke in the 19th century!// No, when translating literature the register is essential and must be appropriate for the period, class etc.
2 hrs
|
|
That's right, however, as we learned, no 19th century translation is required, but a flavor of the words to be used as an explanation for 21st century readers.
|
|
| disagree |
AllegroTrans
: Definitely not 19th century usage: I am sure the asker wants to retain the correct period flavour
1 day 49 mins
|
+1
7 hrs
Shoo! Beat it! And don't come back!
Perhaps I'm reading too much into the dialogue (hence low confidence), but my hunch is that the exclamations are meant to give the cuckolded husband the impression that his wife is being pestered and is trying to drive the unwanted flirt/suitor/traveling salesman (lol) away—with a "Thank goodness you're here, honey!" to top it off.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2019-10-20 17:37:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Other options: Scat! Leave me alone!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2019-10-20 19:56:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
As BD points outs, "beat it" was probably not in use at the time of the novel (see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/22nqbqy), so I would replace it with "scat" (see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/mnecqia).
'Shoo! Scat! And don't come back!'
'Shoo! Scat! Leave me alone!'
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 9 hrs (2019-10-21 19:21:10 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Although the question is closed, for future reference I do want to defend my answer in terms of its suitability for the period.
First recorded uses of "shoo" predate the setting of the novel by a long way. The ODE traces its origins in late Middle English and dates verb use from early C17. Collins traces it to C15 (related to Middle High German schū, French shou, Italian scio). Cassel's Dictionary of Word Histories defines it as 'begone, be off' and traces its orgins to C14-15.
The ODE, Collins & Cassel's date "scat" in C19, and as I noted above, Jonathon Green, the world's preeminent expert on English slang, also trace its use to C19.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2019-10-20 17:37:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Other options: Scat! Leave me alone!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2019-10-20 19:56:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
As BD points outs, "beat it" was probably not in use at the time of the novel (see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/22nqbqy), so I would replace it with "scat" (see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/mnecqia).
'Shoo! Scat! And don't come back!'
'Shoo! Scat! Leave me alone!'
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 9 hrs (2019-10-21 19:21:10 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Although the question is closed, for future reference I do want to defend my answer in terms of its suitability for the period.
First recorded uses of "shoo" predate the setting of the novel by a long way. The ODE traces its origins in late Middle English and dates verb use from early C17. Collins traces it to C15 (related to Middle High German schū, French shou, Italian scio). Cassel's Dictionary of Word Histories defines it as 'begone, be off' and traces its orgins to C14-15.
The ODE, Collins & Cassel's date "scat" in C19, and as I noted above, Jonathon Green, the world's preeminent expert on English slang, also trace its use to C19.
Note from asker:
| Thank you for the details, Wolf! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
B D Finch
: Not sure about "Beat it" in a 19th century novel.
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, Barbara! Good point.
|
|
| agree |
Lucy Galbraith
: I like that this keeps the dog comparison going!
15 hrs
|
|
Yes, thanks, Lucy!
|
|
| disagree |
AllegroTrans
: Definitely not 19th century usage: I am sure the asker wants to retain the correct period flavour
1 day 8 mins
|
|
See my last note.
|
Discussion