Chocolate
So you probably already know that I consumer more than my per capita of those Dove chocolates. You know, the ones with the messages written on the inside of the wrapper. I'd been out of them for almost a month (tragic) and I just restocked. Except the ones in Canada, in addition to coming in packages about a quarter of the size of the packages in the US, have the messages written in both English & French.
This has been doubly entertaining (which also means I've been enjoying twice as many chocolates as usual, yum) as I get to try my translating skills on the French version. It always is interesting to me how other people translate things, for example:
"Enjoy retail therapy"
"Ne sous-estimez jamais les bienfaits du magasinage"
Now, aside from the debatable advice this piece of chocolate is giving me, how in the world does a three word phrase turn into an entire sentence when you change it to French. Is that the fault of the translator or is that the fault of the French? If you gave me the French sentence I would translate it into: "Never underestimate the benefits of shopping." (I'm cheating on magasinage, I have no idea what that word actually means.) And I would say, where's the "pas?" isn't it supposed to go ne-verb-pas? They're going to write an entire sentence yet are too lazy to finish the negation.
I've also noticed that the phrases are different too. My last chocolate told me to "wear matching underwear."
Speaking of chocolate, I have discovered chocolate covered banana chips. Um, delicious. I got a bag when I stopped into Nutters, the little local health food store.
When I grow up I am going to have a health food store. Except when you walk in it's actually going to be a chocolaterie. With maybe some organic raspberries for color.
I wonder what advice that unopened Dove chocolate over there has for me...
This has been doubly entertaining (which also means I've been enjoying twice as many chocolates as usual, yum) as I get to try my translating skills on the French version. It always is interesting to me how other people translate things, for example:
"Enjoy retail therapy"
"Ne sous-estimez jamais les bienfaits du magasinage"
Now, aside from the debatable advice this piece of chocolate is giving me, how in the world does a three word phrase turn into an entire sentence when you change it to French. Is that the fault of the translator or is that the fault of the French? If you gave me the French sentence I would translate it into: "Never underestimate the benefits of shopping." (I'm cheating on magasinage, I have no idea what that word actually means.) And I would say, where's the "pas?" isn't it supposed to go ne-verb-pas? They're going to write an entire sentence yet are too lazy to finish the negation.
I've also noticed that the phrases are different too. My last chocolate told me to "wear matching underwear."
Speaking of chocolate, I have discovered chocolate covered banana chips. Um, delicious. I got a bag when I stopped into Nutters, the little local health food store.
When I grow up I am going to have a health food store. Except when you walk in it's actually going to be a chocolaterie. With maybe some organic raspberries for color.
I wonder what advice that unopened Dove chocolate over there has for me...
posted by LAV at 12:59
8 Comments:
ne-verb-pas = not
ne-verb-jamais = never
"Magasinage" might translate roughly to "store patronage"? At least something to do with a store.
Not sure if you had any french classes but here goes the high-school level explanation. In the "ne verb pas" part, jamais (never) replaces the pas for that part of the negative. Same thing happens with rien (nothing) as in "je ne sais rien." (I know nothing).
While I don't know the literal translation of "magasinage", magasin is a store or shop, hence your translation as shopping is probably spot on.
My favorite is putting google translate to the test w/ Strandburg's Swedish facebook updates. Can be pretty comical sometimes.
Dammit. Brayt beat me by 5 minutes on this comment. I'm sitting right next to him and we weren't talking about it. That's ok -- I beat him to the finish line today.
Those guys are right about the ne-jamais thing.
regarding the magasinage word, it's the "We French speaking Canada-Quebec people need to have a French version of every word" translation of shopping. In France we just say shopping.
And the translation is probably a longer sentence because there is no such concept as "retail therapy" in France, thus no phrase for it. I'm hoping it stays that way.
Laura, as your grandmother who was also a teacher of French, I am proud of all your skiing buddies who are springing to your aid in conquering the intricacies of the language! And I love the new word "magasinage" since it creates in my mind a beautiful vision of the Galéries Lafayette in Paris.
I work with DOVE Chocolate and know first hand how delicious each message is! Since you're such a fan, I wanted to let you know about Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter Promises. They are silky smooth and can be found at any mass food or drug store!
For the latest and greatest from the brand be sure to visit us at www.dovechocolate.com or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dove_chocolate
Thanks!
Jessica
The DOVE Chocolate Team
Twitter: Dove_Chocolate
Brayt & Marshall- you guys are brilliant! How has nobody ever told me that factoid before?
and Marshall- I totally rely on you to translate strandberg's updates for me, although you've dropped the ball on that lately.
MtnMums- I didn't realize "retail therapy" was a phrase in Americanese either, at first I thought THAT was the bad translation :)
Jessica- Obviously, I am already quite familiar with the pb version of doves. Although I try everything my standby remains the dark choc version with almonds.
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