French Translation Needed

[Mr Manifesto]

Reading Henry Miller's "Tropic of Cancer". He uses the phrase avec de choses inouies and, smart alec that he is, refuses to translate it. Because everyone knows French, don't you know.

Well, I'm Canadian, know a smidge of French, and have never heard of the word 'inouies'. I suspect it's rude because it isn't in my French/English dictionaires, nor is it on BabelFish. Anyone know what this one means? There's an umlat-type accent over the second 'i', if that means anything. Any help appreciated.

 

[LucyR]

Well, you don't have the phrase quite right. I think it's supposed to be avec des choses inouies. The last word seems to mean "beyond belief" and the second last means "compartments". Perhaps in the filthy context of that novel the phrase makes sense. Just guessing here.

 

[Mr Manifesto]

Well, you don't have the phrase quite right. I think it's supposed to be avec des choses inouies. The last word seems to mean "beyond belief" and the second last means "compartments". Perhaps in the filthy context of that novel the phrase makes sense. Just guessing here.

Well, he was referring to a woman as having a [Now come on, Mr M, we are DECENT PEOPLE HERE- Pyhrro] like a valise just before using the phrase.

I thought 'chose' meant 'thing' (ie, object). Guess I need to brush up on my frenchedness, like.

 

[LucyR]

Well, he was referring to a woman as having a [Now come on, Mr M, we are DECENT PEOPLE HERE- Pyhrro] like a valise just before using the phrase.

I thought 'chose' meant 'thing' (ie, object). Guess I need to brush up on my frenchedness, like.

I should have said that I only think chose means compartment - I got that from the fact that the direct translation is "choice".

In any case, I thought you were Australian.

 

[Deviant Pixie]

Australian ay?

In any case, I thought you were Australian.

Mr M is one of the 21.64% of Australians who were born overseas, (and one of the 27'879 people who originated in Canada.) (Census 2001) Australian Bureau of Statisitics

So many Aussies can lay claim to any nationality that suits their purpose and we can also get rid of any we don't like in the same way. Other non-aussie Aussies include Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson.

Can't help with the translation I'm afraid, as being born in Australia has resulted in me being unable to speak English, let alone anything else.

 

[Mr Manifesto]

Re: Australian ay?

Mr M is one of the 21.64% of Australians who were born overseas, (and one of the 27'879 people who originated in Canada.) (Census 2001) Australian Bureau of Statisitics

So many Aussies can lay claim to any nationality that suits their purpose and we can also get rid of any we don't like in the same way. Other non-aussie Aussies include Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson.

Can't help with the translation I'm afraid, as being born in Australia has resulted in me being unable to speak English, let alone anything else.

Hey! No fair hacking into my census results. Anyway, I made up most of those answers, especially the one about making 110k+ a year, so don't get any ideas about me.

Anyway, you can't expect me to give up my Canadian citizenship when Howard's in power. Gotta have that back door...

 

[LucyR]

Do Canada and Australia permit dual citizenship?

How much do you really make, then?

 

[Mr Manifesto]

Do Canada and Australia permit dual citizenship?

How much do you really make, then?

Yes, they certainly do. Canada and Australia being the most pinko-Commie English speaking countries that aren't freezing sh!tholes like New Zealand. Actually, Australia is becoming more American these days, I think Canada is the more Communist country now (they even predominantly use red on their flag... what does that tell you?)

As for what I make, the actual numerical description hasn't been invented by mathematicians yet, but a rough analogy is, 'what I make can be written in large letters on the back of a postage stamp with enough room for the address.'

 

[Deviant Pixie]

Re: Re: Australian ay?

Hey! No fair hacking into my census results. Anyway, I made up most of those answers, especially the one about making 110k+ a year, so don't get any ideas about me.

Anyway, you can't expect me to give up my Canadian citizenship when Howard's in power. Gotta have that back door...

NAUGHTY! lying on Census is very naughty.

Besides, the only reason you are keeping the Canadian citizenship is so you can "run away to Canada" when Howard et al. bring in the Draft.

 

[LucyR]

Re: Re: Re: Australian ay?

NAUGHTY! lying on Census is very naughty.

Besides, the only reason you are keeping the Canadian citizenship is so you can "run away to Canada" when Howard et al. bring in the Draft.

Are they really considering conscription? Tell me that's a joke.

 

[Luciana]

It depends on the context... it might mean:

with unprecendent things

with extraordinary things

with incredible things

Try looking up "inouï" in your dictionary, it's certainly there.

 

[LucyR]

Er..I did. It means beyond belief.

However, the word "things"doesn't seem to fit the context (which might shock a young lady of doubtless delicate sensibilities, such as yourself).

 

[Deviant Pixie]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Australian ay?

Are they really considering conscription? Tell me that's a joke.

While I have no snazzy link to back this up, (perhaps Manifesto can find a news article or something), I do recall conscription being discussed here by politicians and the like ever since the Australian Defence Force started playing in the war on terror.

In the context of my post it was a joke, but the kind of eerie joke that might just come true.

 

[ceo_esq]

It depends on the context... it might mean:

with unprecendent things

with extraordinary things

with incredible things

Try looking up "inouï" in your dictionary, it's certainly there.

Literally, choses inouïes means "things unheard-of". The root ouïe refers to hearing, which incidentally is where Oyez, oyez ("hear ye, hear ye"), occasionally still used in ceremonial settings in English, comes from.

I agree that the translations you provide are generally more effective ones.