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Jun 15, 2011 10:55
13 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term

transcender

French to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting sculpture
After oxymorons and paroxysms, a relatively easy one:
"Chaque artiste a choisi sa couleur de prédilection qu’il ***transcende*** dans la transparence unique et la luminosité éclatante du verre."
Proposed translations (English)
4 +7 transcend
5 to transcend
4 +1 transfigures
3 make transcendental

Discussion

kashew (asker) Jun 15, 2011:
à DV Thanks for the comments. No Wärff in that bunch!
The Oxford Concise definitions of glorifying seemed to fit, so I went for it - transcending all others.
David Vaughn Jun 15, 2011:
"Is glorifying it (the colour) too over-the-top?" It's not to clear that what the (several) artists have done "beyond colour" is necessarily related to the colour. They chose a colour, but then they went through their process of transcending - which may focus more on a different element(s). Probably each artist has approached this in a different way. Whereas for me glorify would imply they concentrated only on colour.

[Is my glass artist friend Wärff in the expo by any chance? ;-)) ]

Proposed translations

+7
9 mins
Selected

transcend

I don't see any problems with this.

which he then transcends

transcend |tranˈsend|
verb [ trans. ]
be or go beyond the range or limits of (something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division) : this was an issue transcending party politics.
• surpass (a person or an achievement).
Note from asker:
I think "taking it beyond" is a nice simple-language option. Thanks D
Is glorifying it (the colour) too over-the-top?
Peer comment(s):
agree codestrata
3 mins
agree B D Finch
7 mins
agree laenai : Snap on the comment below! Faster finger first!
39 mins
agree Helen Shiner
59 mins
agree Richard George Elliott : I was tempted by Gilla's point of view but on balance I think it's this – the artist transcends the original choice of colour through the transparency and luminosity (etc.) of the glass.
1 hr
It's true it's hard to understand what transcending a colour actually means, but the grammar is clear. It can't be la couleur transcending. Perhaps transcend is simply "go beyond" just colour, which is another possible translation.
agree Yvonne Gallagher
3 hrs
agree emiledgar : transcends
6 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all - interesting argument."
15 mins

to transcend

Le verbe "to transcend" existe en anlais et a le même sens qu'en français... Tu croyais que c'était un faux ami ?

transcend [trænˈsɛnd]
vb
1. to go above or beyond (a limit, expectation, etc.), as in degree or excellence
2. (tr) to be superior to
3. (Philosophy) Philosophy Theol (esp of the Deity) to exist beyond (the material world)
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+1
18 mins

transfigures

I see your problem. I don't think it is normal in English to "transcend something into something else". Something can "transcend" intransitively however.

I would go for a word of similar meaning that can be used in this way in English, such as transfigure.
Note from asker:
I'm glad someone sees the problem.
Peer comment(s):
neutral David Vaughn : I don't read this as being "transcend something into something else" - I see the "dans" signaling the "means", not the destination. "By way of" or simply "with". Colour is transcended, by way of the art work. /// Couleur is feminine. Il = artiste.
28 mins
"il trascende"?
neutral laenai : The "dans" does not indicate that the artist is transcending the colour "into" something else. It means more "in/through the medium of, etc.", the artist transcends the colour. IMHO
30 mins
I still don't think the artist can transcend the colour, conversely the colour could transcend.
neutral Helen Shiner : With David and laenai. Go beyond something by means of something else. Transcendance by means of prayer/meditation springs to mind. I don't see it as being transcending something into something else, if so, I would have the same scruple as you. Artiste=il
52 mins
I'm still not happy with its use in this way, but I may be in a minority of one!
agree cc in nyc : I like "tranfigures" here; perhaps "transfigures through/with..."
1 hr
thanks, cc! perhaps a minority of two?
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28 mins

make transcendental

Just prefer an adjectival qualifier to using "transcender" as a transitive verb with "couleur de prédilection" as object.
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