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Tribofinition
petite mécanique

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

arts de la table

English translation:

(the art of) entertaining

Added to glossary by John Detre
Feb 10, 2010 06:40
14 yrs ago
12 viewers *
French term

arts de la table

French to English Other Cooking / Culinary
This is from a publisher's list of the types of books it publishes. It appears in the cooking section. Other items in the same list include "cuisine internationale," "cuisine végétarienne," "pâtes & pizzas," etc.

I know this question has been asked on KudoZ before and the answer "table arts" was accepted. I wonder, though, if there is some more general and/or common way of translating this term, something more likely to appear as a category in a publishing house's list?

Thanks in advance.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +12 the art of entertaining
5 arts de la table
4 art de la table/ table art
3 table decor
References
Glossary entries

Discussion

ambonnardot Feb 11, 2010:
I know this is late but I thought I might suggest it for future reference/ Perhaps "culinary arts" could work here.
John Detre (asker) Feb 11, 2010:
@Constantinos Thanks for your comment Constantinos. I have to admit I don't know any Greek (agree with Casca, it's Greek to me), so I'm certainly prepared to defer to your superior knowledge and accept your proof that "art de la table" can be used in Greek. I'm not sure whether this has any direct application to my own context and language pair, but I did enjoy the link to the R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book (even though I wouldn't necessarily parse it the same way you did). Thanks for your help with this, and for your always novel references.
Constantinos Faridis (X) Feb 11, 2010:
completly wrong! I prouved that even in greek is "arts de la table" sans traduction....
John Detre (asker) Feb 10, 2010:
Thanks everyone I believe the votes for Entertaining have it. True, this is a solution I might have arrived at independently had I bothered to check the dictionary, so I apologize for wasting people's time with this one, but I appreciate everyone's help.
John Detre (asker) Feb 10, 2010:
Thanks Carol You're right; ideally I should ask the client. However, they have given me a daunting list of publishing categories and sub-categories to translate, all with no context, and I already have a rather lengthy series of questions for them. So I'm trying to cut down on the number of questions for the client where I can. I think I'm going to go with Entertaining, which seems broad enough to cover all possibilities.
Carol Gullidge Feb 10, 2010:
subject of book I suggest you find out the contents of the book/s. If they are indeed about the art of decorating the table beautifully and all that goes with it (and not about entertaining, which can cover a very broad spectrum) then the standard answer (table arts) would be perfectly suitable. Tableware also covers it, but somehow sounds rather mundane - all the accoutrements - plates, glasses and cutlery, but missing the "art" element.
Karen Stokes Feb 10, 2010:
Actually yes, "entertaining" on its own in your context would work well.
John Detre (asker) Feb 10, 2010:
Thanks Karen and Philippa. No, I hadn't discarded "entertaining." Actually, that was my sense of what it meant, but I couldn't find confirmation in any of the databases and I stupidly (or let us say pessimistically) didn't check the standard dictionaries. I should have looked there first.
Karen Stokes Feb 10, 2010:
Hi John, Have you discarded "art of entertaining"? It's what the Collins Robert and Harraps Shorter suggest. Not sure it quite covers the same ground to be honest (closer to "art de recevoir"?) but maybe worth considering.

Proposed translations

+12
1 hr
Selected

the art of entertaining

This is the standard translation in my Collins, and I think it fits your context perfectly well: it refers to the art of preparing and presenting food, which I can imagine being a feasible category for a publisher. You could maybe even simply use "Entertaining", or "Home Entertaining".
Peer comment(s):
agree Jocelyne S
1 min
Thanks Jocelyne!
agree Catharine Cellier-Smart
8 mins
Thanks Catharine!
agree Evans (X) : This is fine for the context. But I would avoid "Home Entertaining" because it sounds too close to "home entertainment" which is something else altogether!
34 mins
Thanks Gilla! Yes, I think "Entertaining" on its own is probably the best solution.
agree mimi 254
48 mins
Thanks Mimi!
agree Caroline Vignard (X)
1 hr
Thanks Caroline!
agree Julie Barber
2 hrs
Thanks Julie!
agree Jean-Louis S.
3 hrs
Thanks jlsjr!
agree Chris Hall
4 hrs
Thanks Chris!
agree Lorna Coing
4 hrs
Thanks Lorna!
agree Sarah Bessioud
4 hrs
Thanks a lot!
agree Stephanie Ezrol
4 hrs
Thanks Stephanie!
agree Verginia Ophof
7 hrs
Thanks Verginia!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Philippa and everyone."
29 mins

arts de la table

tableware

dinnerware maybe
Reference:

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/home_and_garden/tableware/list.html?sort=default&hnav=4294966799

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Tableware-Dinnerware-Home-Furniture/b/43942030

Note from asker:
Thanks. This is also the answer they have on WordReference, so it definitely seems plausible. I'm just wondering whether many books about tableware are published. Can "arts de la table" have a broader meaning?
Peer comment(s):
neutral Chris Hall : It would have made more sense if you had posted "tableware" as your answer rather than the French expression.
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
54 mins

art de la table/ table art

Το Vita, λοιπόν, σας παρουσιάζει τους απλούς κανόνες της art de la table και σας υπόσχεται ότι οι καλεσμένοι σας θα θυμούνται για καιρό το ...
www.vita.gr › ΚΑΛΗ ΖΩΗ

The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book is a collection of his best work from the last 50 years (it's got kids stuff, too, which is pretty fascinating). ...
www.amazon.com/...Table-Art.../0316163066
Peer comment(s):
neutral Karen Stokes : The title in your second example is a "coffee table" "art book": this doesn't back up the phrase "table art".
3 mins
Something went wrong...
1 hr

table decor

retains the "art" connotations, so could work, if this is indeed what the book is about

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-02-10 08:36:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sapna Caterers - Table Décor
Table décor offers you a chance to get creative. The table layout is one of the most effective ways of creating a unique look and feel for your function. ...
www.sapna.co.uk/other/tables/index.cfm - Cached - Similar
Wedding Stages, Wedding Deco & Table Decoration
Wedding Stages table decor Perfect Table Decoration ... We specialise in Indian wedding stages and indian table decor service. We also provide pakistani ...
www.weddingstagesasian.co.uk/ - Cached - Similar
Heal's | Table Decor > Table Linen, Placemats, Coasters ...
Heal's is the home of modern, designer and contemporary table decor, table linen, napkins, placemats and coasters. Simple and secure online shopping with ...
www.heals.co.uk › Home › Dining Room - Cached - Similar
Bridal Express: Table decor
Posted by Camilla on 06/05/2009 in Moodboard, Table decor, ... Have guests glam up in LBDs and tuxedos in keeping with the dashing table decor. ...
www.thebridalexpress.co.uk/table-decor/ - Cached - Similar
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Reference comments

1 hr
Reference:

Glossary entries

Note from asker:
Thanks for the very useful references Jocelyne. I see this ground has been trod before, and not that long ago. (I did search KudoZ for "arts de la table" but not "art de la table." Duh.)
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Stéphanie Soudais
1 hr
Thank you, Stéphanie!
agree Jean-Louis S.
3 hrs
Thanks!
agree Chris Hall
5 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
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