Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
parole de toutou
English translation:
Dog's honor!
Added to glossary by
John Holland
Dec 9, 2012 01:04
11 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
parole de toutou
French to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
I am translating a set of comic strips intended for children with a painful and sometimes debilitating childhood disease. The comic strips deal with goals, hope, cures, and fitting in at school. One strip features a dog, Pirate, and its master, Luna, a little girl who has disease in question. In this strip, the dog is talking almost exclusively to the reader. At the very end of the dog’s discourse in several different panels, it says, “Parole de toutou !” Here are three examples: “Luna ne veut pas aller en classes primaries. C’est à moi, Pirate, de l’aider. Parole de toutou !”, “Je décide qu’on va tous aller se promener. Une bonne promenade, ça fait du bien ! Parole de toutou !” and “Merci Luna ! Tu as toujours tant d’idées et de courage. Parole de toutou !” I would appreciate some help on this. What’s the best way to translate “Parole de toutou”? I have some ideas, but none seems to fit all the contexts.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Dec 23, 2012 05:43: John Holland Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+7
6 hrs
Selected
Dog’s honor!
This expression is sometimes used to express that you can trust what a person (or, in the last example below, a puppy) says. Here are a few examples:
From http://blog.bellatheboxer.com/guidelines-and-disclosures.htm... :
"Your privacy is very important. As such, your personal contact information will never be shared with anyone. Dog’s honor!"
From http://www.drdogsbehaviorsolutions.com/index.php :
"I will see your name and email address and promise to never sell or share them with anyone. Dog’s honor!"
From the comments at http://www.fififlowers.com/2008/09/location-location-locatio... :
"Alfie promises to do a good job and be a great listener today for you Fifi. Dog's honor!"
From the "Pee-Mail" sidebar at http://mrappgate.blogspot.fr/2011/12/good-day.html :
"Sometimes Mommy hogs the computer though and forgets to let me check it, so I may not pee back for a little while. I will though. Puppy dog's honor!"
It seems pretty close to the original text.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2012-12-09 09:25:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Here are some more examples, this time with the British spelling:
From http://www.sofurry.com/view/256648/guest :
"Dutifully, Fritz stopped several paces away, flopping down on his side submissively, exposing himself if the umbreon chose to attack. Not usually wise in the presence of a strange canine, but this one would certainly expect the extra courtesy and the appearance of complete capitulation. "Like I said man, I'm just here for the action, ya know? You won't get any trouble from me, dog's honour." He raised a paw, flashing a grin that showed all his teeth."
From a transcript of "The Garfield Show," as said by Odie the dog, at http://www.livedash.com/transcript/the_garfield_show-(orange...
"00:11:46 >> Wait!
00:11:47 How do we know you're telling the truth?
00:11:50 >> I swear.
00:11:51 Dog's honour!"
From a blog by a dog at http://emberdog.com/diary_08_sep_2.html
"I've got a suspicion that we might be going home tomorrow, as bags have been moved about. I'll be sorry if we have to leave so soon, as I'm enjoying Cornwall very much.
I hope you like the picture of the secret door. I promise I'm not making it up. Dog's honour. Woofs and licks to all."
And finally, here's one from a comment on an aggregator of children's publishing blogs, at http://www.jacketflap.com/megablog/?highlight=The Sense of H... :
"As a dog lover I enjoyed this. Funny, but full of good advice. I'm in the process of designing my own website - I know, I know, I can hear your shout of horror from here - but I really can't afford to have it done professionally. I'm off over to yours to check it out for ideas (no stealing, dog's honour)!"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2012-12-09 12:46:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think it's quite possible that "parole de toutou" may be intended to evoke "parole de scout" (as a kind of assonance).
I've definitely heard "scout's honor" more than "dog's honor." However, I find the fact that "dog's honor" seems to have been used in a cartoon for children (i.e., in the Garfield transcript link above) pretty persuasive. It's a similar register.
From http://blog.bellatheboxer.com/guidelines-and-disclosures.htm... :
"Your privacy is very important. As such, your personal contact information will never be shared with anyone. Dog’s honor!"
From http://www.drdogsbehaviorsolutions.com/index.php :
"I will see your name and email address and promise to never sell or share them with anyone. Dog’s honor!"
From the comments at http://www.fififlowers.com/2008/09/location-location-locatio... :
"Alfie promises to do a good job and be a great listener today for you Fifi. Dog's honor!"
From the "Pee-Mail" sidebar at http://mrappgate.blogspot.fr/2011/12/good-day.html :
"Sometimes Mommy hogs the computer though and forgets to let me check it, so I may not pee back for a little while. I will though. Puppy dog's honor!"
It seems pretty close to the original text.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2012-12-09 09:25:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Here are some more examples, this time with the British spelling:
From http://www.sofurry.com/view/256648/guest :
"Dutifully, Fritz stopped several paces away, flopping down on his side submissively, exposing himself if the umbreon chose to attack. Not usually wise in the presence of a strange canine, but this one would certainly expect the extra courtesy and the appearance of complete capitulation. "Like I said man, I'm just here for the action, ya know? You won't get any trouble from me, dog's honour." He raised a paw, flashing a grin that showed all his teeth."
From a transcript of "The Garfield Show," as said by Odie the dog, at http://www.livedash.com/transcript/the_garfield_show-(orange...
"00:11:46 >> Wait!
00:11:47 How do we know you're telling the truth?
00:11:50 >> I swear.
00:11:51 Dog's honour!"
From a blog by a dog at http://emberdog.com/diary_08_sep_2.html
"I've got a suspicion that we might be going home tomorrow, as bags have been moved about. I'll be sorry if we have to leave so soon, as I'm enjoying Cornwall very much.
I hope you like the picture of the secret door. I promise I'm not making it up. Dog's honour. Woofs and licks to all."
And finally, here's one from a comment on an aggregator of children's publishing blogs, at http://www.jacketflap.com/megablog/?highlight=The Sense of H... :
"As a dog lover I enjoyed this. Funny, but full of good advice. I'm in the process of designing my own website - I know, I know, I can hear your shout of horror from here - but I really can't afford to have it done professionally. I'm off over to yours to check it out for ideas (no stealing, dog's honour)!"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2012-12-09 12:46:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think it's quite possible that "parole de toutou" may be intended to evoke "parole de scout" (as a kind of assonance).
I've definitely heard "scout's honor" more than "dog's honor." However, I find the fact that "dog's honor" seems to have been used in a cartoon for children (i.e., in the Garfield transcript link above) pretty persuasive. It's a similar register.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
emiledgar
36 mins
|
Thanks, emiledgar
|
|
agree |
Jocelyne Cuenin
: comme Chris dans la discussion : http://dictionnaire.reverso.net/francais-anglais/parole de s...
J'ai un vague souvenir de "Parole de Manitou", mais je n'en suis plus sûre.
2 hrs
|
Merci, Petitavoine. J'ai trouvé "Manitou" dans le contexte d'un nom "totem" de scout : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Léon_Ashkénazi . Peut-être il y a un lien quelque part dedans...
|
|
agree |
Lara Barnett
3 hrs
|
Thanks, LaraBarnett
|
|
agree |
Louisa Tchaicha
5 hrs
|
Thanks, Louisa.S
|
|
neutral |
Victoria Britten
: xxx's honour is perfect; I'd go for "doggy'"s or"doggie's" rather than "dog's"
6 hrs
|
Thanks, Victoria. I'm not sure that I wouldn't prefer the expression that's alreay in use, though.
|
|
agree |
philgoddard
: Good idea.
10 hrs
|
Thanks, philgoddard
|
|
agree |
Bertrand Leduc
12 hrs
|
Thanks, Bertrand
|
|
agree |
ACOZ (X)
15 hrs
|
Thanks, ACOZ
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
4 hrs
you'd better believe it!
Can't think of anything with a canine theme!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2012-12-09 06:10:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Maybe a doggy variation on 'you've got my word for it' would be 'you've got my woof for it'. Just a suggestion!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2012-12-09 06:10:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Maybe a doggy variation on 'you've got my word for it' would be 'you've got my woof for it'. Just a suggestion!
7 hrs
Doggy's word!
It is common to say 'parole d'un homme' for meaning 'trust me..'. In this comic, it is the dog talking and he wants the girl to know what hes saying is true. I would suggest 'Doggy's word!' as in 'man's word/word of a man'.
Doggy (instead of dog) seems to fit better in this context.
Doggy (instead of dog) seems to fit better in this context.
+1
14 hrs
puppy paw swear
Well, kids often say "pinky swear", meaning that, instead of a handshake, they'll do a "pinky (finger) shake". So since this is a comic strip for kids (with a very serious topic though), maybe it's a fun alternative.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
John Detre
9 hrs
|
neutral |
Germaine
: I like puppy paw, but "swear" is a "sensitive" word for some people.
13 hrs
|
+1
20 hrs
cub's honour/honor
another suggestion
+2
9 hrs
Pirate's promise
Perhaps we should be concentrating more on how the kids would see it. I've never heard the expression "dog's honour" (though John's links prove that it exists) and I presume they haven't either. Is it really a case of all dogs, or is it the character himself/itself that's important here? I think it's the latter, though I'm not so confident of the answers I've come up with so far as none of them seem to fit all the contexts:
"Pirate's promise"
"Pirate's hono(u)r"
"You can take Pirate's word for it"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day8 hrs (2012-12-10 09:31:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I have another suggestion that may fit well:
"Pirate's pact"
i.e. there's a pact between the reader and Pirate that can't be broken - friends and mutual support forever.
"Pirate's promise"
"Pirate's hono(u)r"
"You can take Pirate's word for it"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day8 hrs (2012-12-10 09:31:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I have another suggestion that may fit well:
"Pirate's pact"
i.e. there's a pact between the reader and Pirate that can't be broken - friends and mutual support forever.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
cc in nyc
6 hrs
|
Thanks
|
|
neutral |
Germaine
: I like the use of Pirate, but "promise" is a "dangerous" word with kids. Pirate won't be allowed to fail anything.
18 hrs
|
I take your point, Germaine - I've added another suggestion above
|
|
agree |
Emma Paulay
: Or even "you can take Pirate's woof for it" ;-)
1 day 5 hrs
|
Thanks Emma. I love "woof" ;) but I think the expression's a bit long for repeated use. Up to the asker to see if/where it would fit well..
|
3 days 11 hrs
shiver me whiskers!
A playful option drawing on the faithful pup's name, though it doesn't retain the "you can trust me on that" feeling.
Agree with Germaine that these kind of sayings are principally about endearing a particular character to the readers and associating it with that phrase (like "billions of blistering barnacles" for Captain Haddock in Tintin, or "these Romans are crazy" for Obelix).
Btw, I think there is room for deviation in the translation of comics; I find the puns and jokes in the English translations of Asterisk and Obelix to be frequently better than the originals, for example!).
Agree with Germaine that these kind of sayings are principally about endearing a particular character to the readers and associating it with that phrase (like "billions of blistering barnacles" for Captain Haddock in Tintin, or "these Romans are crazy" for Obelix).
Btw, I think there is room for deviation in the translation of comics; I find the puns and jokes in the English translations of Asterisk and Obelix to be frequently better than the originals, for example!).
+2
3 days 15 hrs
Woof woof! that's a fact!
I read "parole de toutou" as being used for emphasis; a nice walk always does you good, you're such a brave girl... and that's a fact!
Then it needs to be "doggyfied"
Woof woof! that's a fact!
And that's a waggy-tail fact!
Not easy, good luck!
Then it needs to be "doggyfied"
Woof woof! that's a fact!
And that's a waggy-tail fact!
Not easy, good luck!
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Yolanda Broad
: Another good solution
1 day 5 hrs
|
agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: easily understood
4 days
|
Discussion