Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase

Subject: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: GUEST,Santa's little helper
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 10:27 AM

I'm a Mudcat member, but I'm creating this thread as a GUEST because I want to make a Christmas present for a friend who looks at the Forum occasionally, so I need to be a little bit secretive at the moment.

For this present, I need to have a phrase translated from English into French. Don't worry, it's not anything mean or derogatory, just the name of something. If you can help me, please post your name to this thread and I will send you a PM (Private Message) with the phrase for you to translate. Thank you in advance!

Santa's Little Helper

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 10:38 AM

There are quite a few people round here who could do it. I'm one, though a little rusty these days.

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Mark Clark
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 11:06 AM

Try AltaVista's Babel Fish site. They do a reasonable job of translating between several languages.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: GUEST,Santa's little helper
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 12:02 PM

OK Malcolm, if you're willing to give it a go, I'll PM you! Thanks.

Mark, thank you for the suggestion, but I don't trust Babel Fish for common phrases that may not translate literally. For example, I tried to have it translate "thank you very much" into Spanish and got "gracias mucho" instead of the proper "muchas gracias" (reason: "muchas gracias" literally means "many thanks"). And asking for a Spanish translation of "Who are you?" got me a three-word phrase in three different tenses!

So, I think it's safer to ask people who know the language and its idioms and idiosyncrasies, in order to make sure the French version of the phrase in question will be accurate. As Malcolm says, there are several people here who are up to the task – Canadian 'catters and maybe others too. If anyone else cares to take a stab at this, please sign up!

Santa's Little Helper

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: simon-pierre
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 12:13 PM

French is my first language, PM me if you still need help.

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 12:57 PM

Je parle francais comme Joe Clark....

sad, but all too true...

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: simon-pierre
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 01:11 PM

Joe Who?

:-)

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 01:13 PM

Yer a lucky lucky man sp!!

LOL!!!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Mrrzy
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 01:57 PM

Moi aussi! MP-ez moi! (See, I can even conjugate PM in French, and be polite too!) Especially since, if I recall aright, simon-pierre is actually Québécois, hee hee!

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: GUEST,Santa's little helper
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 03:35 PM

Mrrzy: You're an Aussie? Here I thought you were an American – –

Oh! It's French! ;^)

This is why I need help! PMs will be going out as soon as I can get the computer to cooperate. Thanks, everyone!

Santa's Little Helper

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Kim C
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 03:41 PM

I know a little, probably not as much as Simon-Pierre or Mrrzy.............

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: GUEST,French Guest
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 03:42 PM

Hello Santa's little helper

I am French and would be pleased to help you, if you still need a translation.

A bientôt

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 04:13 PM

Santa's Helper--I believe aussi means also.

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Helen
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 04:39 PM

Mrrzy, are you saying that Simon-Pierre is a 'cute' Quebecois?

Helen

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: simon-pierre
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 04:51 PM

That's not what I read, but if you want...

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: GUEST,Santa's little helper
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 05:18 PM

To French Guest: Thank you for joining in with the offers of help! Unfortunately, here on the thread I dare not type the phrase I need translated, because if my friend happens to read it the surprise will be spoiled! This is also the reason I have "logged out" of my Mudcat membership temporarily, so my name will not be seen here.

I can contact you privately only if you are a Mudcat member. If you would like to become a member, please click on "Membership" at the very top of this page, fill out the form and follow the instructions. Then post here again so that the heading of your post will include your new Mudcat nickname, and I will send you a Private Message. Thanks!

PM's have gone out to Malcolm Douglas, simon-pierre, Mrrzy and Kim C.

Clinton Hammond, Sorcha and Helen: do you want a PM about this? Please tell me, if so.

Thanks again to all,
S.L. Helper :–)

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: simon-pierre
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 05:40 PM

response sent

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: mooman
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 05:50 PM

PM me also if you need to...we live in Belgium and are reasonably comfortable with French.

mooman

Subject: RE: Help: Speak French? Pls translate phrase
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 06:03 PM

Je pense que simon-pierre a ces choses 'all sewn up' :0)

Noreen
qui parle bien le franglais