Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
force sévère
English translation:
Austere power /(or Severe power)
Added to glossary by
Lara Barnett
May 23, 2012 14:09
12 yrs ago
French term
force sévère
French to English
Art/Literary
Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.)
glass sculpture
I think he's referring to a feature in one of his sculptures, but it could be more personal reflection on his environment. Hard to tell with these guys:
"Sous la protection d’une puissante vigne centenaire, l’étroite terrasse renouvelle ma perception du paysage… Collines silencieuses, toujours plus lointaines, chargées aujourd’hui d’une ***force sévère*** que je ne percevais pas quelques mois auparavant…"
Or is it the seasonal change in the hills' appearance?
"Sous la protection d’une puissante vigne centenaire, l’étroite terrasse renouvelle ma perception du paysage… Collines silencieuses, toujours plus lointaines, chargées aujourd’hui d’une ***force sévère*** que je ne percevais pas quelques mois auparavant…"
Or is it the seasonal change in the hills' appearance?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | Austere power /(or Severe power) |
Lara Barnett
|
| 2 +3 | forbidding power, brooding presence |
chris collister
|
| 3 | Merciless/ pitiless/ cruel/ ruthless fury |
Andrew Bramhall
|
Change log
May 30, 2012 11:12: Lara Barnett Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
53 mins
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
www.lingocraft.co.uk
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, Singaporean, UK, South African, British, Scottish) 
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, Romanian to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Selected
Austere power /(or Severe power)
In my idea have tried to remain close to the original and not to veer too far away from the more generic type words that are used. I don't think it is a good idea to be too creative, but I think for some reason "austere" works better than severe - though using it would still be a plausible option.
I think it is quite a bold statement, and both examples I have included actually come from newspaper headlines. i.e. this collocation could have quite an impact.
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Note added at 54 mins (2012-05-23 15:03:50 GMT)
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"stern power"
As an afterthought, maybe "stern power" would work better than "sever power"
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Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:29:49 GMT)
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I think strength might contain the wrong idea. I had the feeling that "force" here was being used in the sense of "power". IMO it is the connotative difference in meaning between "strength" and "power" that makes the collocation with "austere" work. With the use of "chargées" and a vision being described, I see more word connection here with "power" - hope you know what I mean by this.
I also think it rings better using "power".
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Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:35:46 GMT)
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I see this in terms of the idea "powerful vision" seeing as it is describing a piece of art - I would say this is a more common expression than "powerful strength"
"Albert Herbert: Artist of POWERFUL vsion"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/albert-herbert-...
I think it is quite a bold statement, and both examples I have included actually come from newspaper headlines. i.e. this collocation could have quite an impact.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 54 mins (2012-05-23 15:03:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"stern power"
As an afterthought, maybe "stern power" would work better than "sever power"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:29:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think strength might contain the wrong idea. I had the feeling that "force" here was being used in the sense of "power". IMO it is the connotative difference in meaning between "strength" and "power" that makes the collocation with "austere" work. With the use of "chargées" and a vision being described, I see more word connection here with "power" - hope you know what I mean by this.
I also think it rings better using "power".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2012-05-24 12:35:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I see this in terms of the idea "powerful vision" seeing as it is describing a piece of art - I would say this is a more common expression than "powerful strength"
"Albert Herbert: Artist of POWERFUL vsion"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/albert-herbert-...
Example sentence:
"Bresson's `Pickpocket' retains its austere power"
"Austere power in Symphony"
Reference:
Note from asker:
| Hi; I'm still hestitating (fortunately time allows): I want to use "austere", yes, but how do you reckon "strength" instead of "power" as the noun? |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to all."
7 mins
Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Flair and accuracy tailored to your text
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Merciless/ pitiless/ cruel/ ruthless fury
"Sous la protection d’une puissante vigne centenaire, l’étroite terrasse renouvelle ma perception du paysage… Collines silencieuses, toujours plus lointaines, chargées aujourd’hui d’une ***force sévère*** que je ne percevais pas quelques mois auparavant
Under the protection of a hundred year old vine, the narrow terrace reaffirms my perception of the countryside; muffled hills, always appearing further away ( than they actually are), and possessed of a merciless fury that I hadn't noticed some months previously...
Under the protection of a hundred year old vine, the narrow terrace reaffirms my perception of the countryside; muffled hills, always appearing further away ( than they actually are), and possessed of a merciless fury that I hadn't noticed some months previously...
+3
10 mins
chris collister
France
France
Native in English
Works in field
France
precision engineer, precision translator
Native in: English
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
47
forbidding power, brooding presence
As you say, hard to tell, but it seems he is impressed by the brooding power of the landscape. The great Don McCullin's (g)lowering Somerset landscapes are imbued with such "brooding presence"...
I'd say this is just one of a multitude of interpretations. Bonne chance.
I'd say this is just one of a multitude of interpretations. Bonne chance.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
DLyons
: Yes, something of that sort!
24 mins
|
| agree |
S Kelly
1 hr
|
| agree |
EirTranslations
1 hr
|
| neutral |
Andrew Bramhall
: wouldn't that more likely be poder inquietante, una presencia amenazadora,siniestra, or similar,though?
3 hrs
|
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