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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

les aléas de l'histoire

English translation:

the changing tide of world events

Added to glossary by Sandra Petch
Feb 14, 2007 16:53
17 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term

les aléas de l'histoire

French to English Art/Literary History
"Soumis aux aléas de l'histoire, le commerce entre l'Europe et la Chine devient difficile au début du XIXe siècle."

I've turned this every which way I can and still aren't happy with the result.
All inspiration most welcome!
As always, many thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
2 ups and downs
4 +7 the vagaries of time
3 +3 the vicissitudes of history
5 the hazards of history
3 +2 unpredicability of events, of the unfolding world
3 +1 unexpected twists and turns
4 the imponderables of history
3 the hazards of history
3 ebb and flow of History

Discussion

Sandra Petch (asker) Feb 15, 2007:
Thank you There are some excellent ideas here and I'll certainly keep them in mind for future "aléas" ! Ultimately I chose Timothy's "tide" as the tone of the text in general is quite imaginative. The final rendering then is "The changing tide of world events cast a shadow over trade between Europe and China in the early nineteenth century" with full credit to Bourth for "world events." :-)
Martin Cassell Feb 14, 2007:
Voilà que les aléas de Kudoz te font échouer. C'est comme ça, des fois.
Richard Benham Feb 14, 2007:
I give up. After trying at least a dozen times to suggest "the vagaries/vicissitudes of history", I find that both ideas have been suggested while I was stuffing around.

Proposed translations

5 mins
Selected

ups and downs

I don't really like it. But I thought I'd suggest it anyway to set the brainstorming off.

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Note added at 5 mins (2007-02-14 16:59:16 GMT)
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...of history

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Note added at 10 mins (2007-02-14 17:04:20 GMT)
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But the course/tide of history made trade difficult between Europe and China.

Another idea.
Note from asker:
Hi Timothy - that was one of my instinctive solutions too!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
+7
5 mins

the vagaries of time

I just had this one in another translation.
Peer comment(s):
agree Kathryn Strachecky : I like it!
1 min
Thanks Kathryn
agree Timothy Barton : So do I.
5 mins
Thanks Timothy
agree Tony M : But I would go for the usual expression of "vagaries of history", since it isn't so much passing time, weathering of an old building, etc.
6 mins
Good suggestion Tony.
agree Vicky Papaprodromou
20 mins
Thanks Vicky
agree Richard Benham : With Tony's suggestion, which would have been one alternative of my answer, if I had ever got it posted.
2 hrs
Thanks and sorry to hear about your struggles with the site.
agree Carol Gullidge
5 hrs
Thanks Carol
agree emiledgar : Yes. but I'm with Tony: "v of history"
6 hrs
Thanks Emile. I'll keep it in mind for next time.
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11 mins

the hazards of history

"subjected to the hazards of history" for the beginning of your sentence.

It seems to appear quite a lot in historical texts as you search Google for "aleas de l'histoire" and "subjected to the hazards of history".

Hope this helps!
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11 mins

the hazards of history

none
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+3
13 mins

the vicissitudes of history

possible a little literary, depending on the tone of the rest of your text ...
Peer comment(s):
agree Christopher Crockett : "vicissitudes" fits, particularly since the text speaks of "difficulties".
2 mins
thanks Christopher
agree Kristina Kolic
8 mins
thanks Kristina
agree Jean-Claude Gouin
1 hr
thanks
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+1
13 mins

unexpected twists and turns

as in - trade .... (was) affected by the unexpected twists and turns of history...... a bit long, maybe?
Peer comment(s):
agree Jean-Claude Gouin
1 hr
Thank you 1045!
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16 mins

ebb and flow of History

as said above, you'd rather keep the term "History"
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+2
21 mins

unpredicability of events, of the unfolding world

Maybe you need to get away from "history" as a translation of "histoire" and work in something about "historical events", or just "events", which is what it has to be referring to.

I think in English there is too much association of "past events" with the word "history", which of course "histoire" does not have, given its other meanings (the history of events as they happen, rather than as they have happened).

To tie it in with "history" nonetheless, maybe "Subject to the unpredictability of world events", "the unpredictability of the unfolding world"

Peer comment(s):
agree Jean-Claude Gouin
1 hr
agree Raymonde Gagnier : A big yes for "world events"!
2 hrs
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2 hrs

the imponderables of history

Or "of world affairs", "of the course of events", "of life", etc., if you want to move away from "history".
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