Jan 22, 2006 21:27
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
dans la nuit du 3 au 4
French to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
I know there has been a similar question already asked, but nevertheless slightly different. I'm not fully convinced of the answer chosen anyway, and so I would like to throw it out there again :-)
This is not on an official certificate, just general conversation about when someone died:
"dans la nuit du 3 au 4".
We don't know the exact time of death - could be before or after midnight. It doesn't sound like natural English to me to say, so-and-so died on the night of the 3rd to the 4th. I would be inclined to say he died on the night of the 3rd (even if he died after midnight and thus technically on the 4th - as I said, this is NOT an official certificate, but general conversation).
Interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
TIA
Mara
This is not on an official certificate, just general conversation about when someone died:
"dans la nuit du 3 au 4".
We don't know the exact time of death - could be before or after midnight. It doesn't sound like natural English to me to say, so-and-so died on the night of the 3rd to the 4th. I would be inclined to say he died on the night of the 3rd (even if he died after midnight and thus technically on the 4th - as I said, this is NOT an official certificate, but general conversation).
Interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
TIA
Mara
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
14 mins
William [Bill] Gray
Norway
Norway
Native in English
Norway
Working with words
Native in: English 
Works in: English, Norwegian to English, Danish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
on/during the night of the 3rd
I clearly see your dilemma. We could possibly say: "he died in the night between the 3rd and 4th", but it does sound a little unusual.
The complication is that in English time, we tend to be very preise about the new day beginning immediately after midnight, thus technically giving us a new date (as opposed to our Norwegian cousins here who talk about 2am as "in the night"!).
I think the best solution is what you yourself have suggested: "on/during" can be used as prepositions, but not "in", I think. "In the night" assumes not other qualifying time elements.
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Note added at 15 mins (2006-01-22 21:42:13 GMT)
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Apologies to other answerers. I took so long to compose my message that I have said similar things to others!
The complication is that in English time, we tend to be very preise about the new day beginning immediately after midnight, thus technically giving us a new date (as opposed to our Norwegian cousins here who talk about 2am as "in the night"!).
I think the best solution is what you yourself have suggested: "on/during" can be used as prepositions, but not "in", I think. "In the night" assumes not other qualifying time elements.
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Note added at 15 mins (2006-01-22 21:42:13 GMT)
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Apologies to other answerers. I took so long to compose my message that I have said similar things to others!
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: ""On" the night of the 3rd sounds most natural to me, thanks for confirming my thoughts! Rachel's comments on TV/radio guides were most helpful as well. "
8 mins
Karine Gentil
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
accurate and precise, Delivered on time
Native in: English
Works in: English to Haitian-Creole, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
between dusk of the 3rd and dawn of the 4th
You can also say sometime during the evening of the 3rd
+11
11 mins
Clare Macnamara
Native in English
Specializes in field
Fast, efficient and intuitive.
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English
during the night of the 3rd
My take. It's obvious that at some stage that leaks into the morning of the 4th, so I don't think it needs to be said.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Peter Shortall
3 mins
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Thanks, Peter!
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| agree |
Jana Cole (X)
: I think this option is better than mine.
3 mins
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Nice of you, Jana!
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| agree |
Charlie Bavington
: Certainly in terms of equivalence of what people (Fr vs UK, in my experience) actually SAY to refer to this period of time, this is right IMO. This is one case where Fr is clearer than Eng (unlike, say "cette nuit" where the reverse applies!)
18 mins
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Thanks, Charlie!
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| agree |
Rachel Ward
: TV/radio guides work on the basis that the 4th starts at 6.00am and programmes before that are on the night of the 3rd.
31 mins
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Thanks, Rachel!
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| agree |
Tony M
48 mins
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Thanks, Dusty!
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| agree |
RHELLER
: couldn't be clearer :-)
57 mins
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Thanks, Rita! ;)
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| agree |
Enza Longo
3 hrs
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Thanks, Enza!
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| agree |
sporran
3 hrs
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Thanks, sporran!
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| agree |
Kathryn Strachecky
10 hrs
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Thanks, Kathryn!
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| agree |
Theodora OB
: this is the right one!
11 hrs
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Thanks, Theodora!
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| agree |
Anna Kiff
12 hrs
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Thanks, Anna!
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+1
13 mins
on the 3rd, overnight
I think it just means that the person died overnight. Since the speaker has said "du 3 au 4" I think the concept of overnight should be included in the translation if possible.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tamara Salvio
: I would just reverse the order... "died overnight on the 3rd". From web source: "indicating possibly that he died overnight on the 10th..." www.oswild.org/hobnob/family/john/aussie-gowers.html
23 hrs
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+1
17 mins
during the night between the 3rd and the 4th.
Just a suggestion....
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kate Hudson (X)
21 mins
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thanks Kate
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+1
23 mins
in the early hours of the 4th
e.g. in the early hours of 4 January....
It's sometimes written in this way.
It's sometimes written in this way.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
sarahl (X)
8 mins
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Thanks sarahl
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1 hr
enowtakuem
Native in French
&
English
©Publication-quality Niveau-publication
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US) 
, French (Variants: Standard-France, Standard-France)
Works in: French to English, English to French, English, and 1 more.
on the night from the 3rd to the 4th
structurally similar to source phrase
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-01-22 23:34:55 GMT)
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The source phrase emphasise night over whatever date it was. Lets take for granted that it wasn't known whether it was before or after midnight, will the translation add a meaning which is not there in the first place.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-01-22 23:34:55 GMT)
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The source phrase emphasise night over whatever date it was. Lets take for granted that it wasn't known whether it was before or after midnight, will the translation add a meaning which is not there in the first place.
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