Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
le chef d’orchestre
English translation:
driving force
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2012-05-13 10:54:07 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
May 10, 2012 08:28
12 yrs ago
15 viewers *
French term
Christina Fonthes (X)
le chef d’orchestre
French to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
l’Exposition « Un ciel, un monde – Cerfs-volants »
This requires some creativity as a literal translation doesn't work,
here is the context:
Vice-président de la Fédération Internationale de cerf-volant et organisateur des Rencontres Internationales de Berk-sur-mer, Gérard Clément possède une collection rare de plus de 500 pièces, constituée depuis plus de 20 ans. Il est le chef d’orchestre de la Maison du cerf-volant à Paris et transmet sa passion en organisant des ateliers et des expositions en France et en Europe. Il est également l’auteur de plusieurs ouvrages sur le sujet
the Maison du cerf-volant is a sort of specialist kite shop, here is the link: http://www.lamaisonducerfvolant.com/Cerf-volant.asp?pid=1,0,...
Many thanks in advance
here is the context:
Vice-président de la Fédération Internationale de cerf-volant et organisateur des Rencontres Internationales de Berk-sur-mer, Gérard Clément possède une collection rare de plus de 500 pièces, constituée depuis plus de 20 ans. Il est le chef d’orchestre de la Maison du cerf-volant à Paris et transmet sa passion en organisant des ateliers et des expositions en France et en Europe. Il est également l’auteur de plusieurs ouvrages sur le sujet
the Maison du cerf-volant is a sort of specialist kite shop, here is the link: http://www.lamaisonducerfvolant.com/Cerf-volant.asp?pid=1,0,...
Many thanks in advance
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+6
1 hr
Selected
driving force
*
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2012-05-10 10:27:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.heritage.com/articles/2012/05/07/dexter_leader/ne...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2012-05-10 10:27:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.heritage.com/articles/2012/05/07/dexter_leader/ne...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Colin Rowe
: I guess I have to agree, since I suggested it in my note!
31 mins
|
| agree |
writeaway
: would be the idiomatic English equivalent. tant pis
42 mins
|
| neutral |
Benjamin Hall
: Good idea although I think that "driving force" doesn't really convey the sense of organisation that "chef d'orchestre" conveys. To me, it conveys more a sense of energy/motivation.
1 hr
|
|
Agreed, something could be added: inspiration and driving force for ex.
|
|
| agree |
Timothy Rake
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: Yes, although it seems a little OTT and does lack the organisational side of things.
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Lara Barnett
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: mabe add "and brains" for the organisational part?
5 hrs
|
| neutral |
Sian Cooper
: It's correct but... not satisying. Still trying to come up with something closer to original imagery. Maestro?
11 hrs
|
|
Sergeant major? (as kites are a bit military) ;-)
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
4 mins
Ringmaster
There's just no way you can call him the 'conductor' but the idea has a certain flourish, that 'ringmaster' could well reflect - while in French he would control his wild world of kites with a conductor's baton, why not have him cracking the whip in english :-)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Benjamin Hall
: I think that it's important to keep the original meaning (chef d'orchestre) which inspires technique, composition and coordination. He must have many roles at once.
9 mins
|
+3
4 mins
Cécile Gaultier
Native in French
ENFR legal expert - sworn interpreter
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French
He runs
Changing the noun into a verb? "He runs the..."
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Benjamin Hall
: Good idea, although "runs" seems a little "flat" compared to what a "chef d'orchestre" would do :)
10 mins
|
|
I agree with you. But the idea of a verb instead of a noun is good I think. And you suggested a few and some of them fit fine. Thank you!
|
|
| agree |
philgoddard
: I'm not convinced by any of the other answers. Sometimes you have to sacrifice colour in favour of readability.
5 hrs
|
| agree |
mimi 254
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
6 hrs
|
7 mins
Salih YILDIRIM
United States
United States
Works in field
United States
Meticulous, scrupulous, curious work!
Native in: Turkish (Variant: Standard-İstanbul ) 
Works in: Turkish to English, English to Turkish, French to Turkish, and 1 more.
The conductor
Imho
7 mins
Kiwiland Bear
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand
Translation with excellence
Native in: Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, French to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
mastermind
In the sense of moving force behind something.
+2
10 mins
Benjamin Hall
France
France
Native in French
&
English
France
★★★★ Quality on time
Native in: French , English
Works in: French to English, English to French
He orchestrates
It keeps the original meaning.
Synonyms:
arrange, blend, compose, concert, coordinate, harmonize, integrate, manage, present, put together, score, set up, symphonize, synthesize, unify
Synonyms:
arrange, blend, compose, concert, coordinate, harmonize, integrate, manage, present, put together, score, set up, symphonize, synthesize, unify
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Rowena Fuller (X)
: Yes, but I can't help associating the word 'devious' with someone who 'orchestrates' perhaps an unfortunate memory ...
19 mins
|
| agree |
Virginie Baron
: I like very much this answer
1 hr
|
| agree |
jeannoz
: It reflects very well the original nuance of "chef d'orchestre".
2 hrs
|
| neutral |
Colin Rowe
: With Rowsie. It does seem to collate particularly well with things like scheme, plot, villain, evil, 9/11 ...
2 hrs
|
| neutral |
writeaway
: a chef d'orchestre doesn't orchestrate/and you have changed the structure. the French is a noun, afaik.
2 hrs
|
|
No a "chef d'orchestre" doesn't orchestrate, but "to orchestrate" can mean to organise something in the manner of a chef d'orchestre. There is the nuance. Also, can't the structure be changed in order to convey a meaning?
|
|
| disagree |
mimi 254
: with w/w
5 hrs
|
|
with w/w?
|
|
| neutral |
Lara Barnett
: I think this is a clever idea but it just misses because a "chef d'orchestre" is not technically an orchestrator. I realise the term can also mean to "organise something", so could work, but is a bit risky.
6 hrs
|
| neutral |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: It would be lovely if it did work, and I have seen your posts in the discussion section. That's just it though; orchestration, outside of a musical context has connotations conivence etc. Too good to be true, unfortunately!
9 hrs
|
| agree |
Thomas Miles
: Worthy of consideration.
3280 days
|
+2
29 mins
Colin Rowe
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Works in field
Germany
Par Excellence Translations
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
the man who pulls all the strings
:-)
the kite strings, naturally!
Alternatively:
"He pulls all the strings..."
"He is the driving force behind..."
the kite strings, naturally!
Alternatively:
"He pulls all the strings..."
"He is the driving force behind..."
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
writeaway
: cute but why not-it's about kites. the prob is that the French isn't using any play on words .......
7 mins
|
|
This could indeed be useful for precisely that reason – if there is a play on words elsewhere in the translation, that is impossible to render for some reason, this might compensate.
|
|
| agree |
AC @ KILTEDf (X)
: In French, describing someone as being "le chef d'orchestre" of the company he effectively runs or manages is a rather strong metaphorical (and lovely!) way to say it, so I think your suggestion is equally strong (and pretty)! So nice one Colin! :-)
1 hr
|
|
Many thanks!
|
|
| disagree |
Benjamin Hall
: "pulling the strings" often has "secret" connotations. "I'd like to know who's pulling the strings in that organization".
1 hr
|
|
So, rather like "orchestrate", then...
|
|
| agree |
Lara Barnett
6 hrs
|
|
Thanks!
|
|
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: agree to "driving force behind"
6 hrs
|
|
Aha! Someone finally found it! Many thanks!
|
37 mins
MartinPorto
Portugal
Portugal
Native in English
Portugal
Total Respect for Confidentiality
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Portuguese to English
The Brains - or - The Boss
Loads of choice here!
1 hr
he pilots
trying to keep things up in the air...
1 hr
Alison MacG
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Patents and related material specialist
Native in: English (Variants: Scottish, UK, British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Swedish to English, and 4 more.
chief orchestrator/orchestrator-in-chief
I wonder if you might get away with this?
As an aisde, according to this quote from the man himself, it's actually the wind that's in control:
Pendant une semaine, la ville vit au gré des conditions atmosphériques. « Le vent est le chef d'orchestre », confirme le directeur artistique Gérard Clément.
http://berck.ville.orange.fr/cgi/ensemble_diaporama.php?port...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2012-05-10 10:01:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
typo - aside
As an aisde, according to this quote from the man himself, it's actually the wind that's in control:
Pendant une semaine, la ville vit au gré des conditions atmosphériques. « Le vent est le chef d'orchestre », confirme le directeur artistique Gérard Clément.
http://berck.ville.orange.fr/cgi/ensemble_diaporama.php?port...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2012-05-10 10:01:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
typo - aside
2 hrs
owner
On peut aussi dire "owner".
3 hrs
Katarina Peters
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian , English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
orchestra leader
suggestion
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
writeaway
: what orchestra? this is about kites......./I do if they make sense in the context
3 hrs
|
|
Please ask the author...but I guess you don't believe in metaphors...
|
6 hrs
the manager
suggestion
6 hrs
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Native in English
Psychologist, Court-certified legal
Native in: English
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
head up, leads, in his capacity as head of...
Play around with the word order and the natural harmony will rise above it all! ;-)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2012-05-10 18:31:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Whatever the final choice is here, I think there is nothing extravagantly poetic about the choice of "chef d'orchestre" which is used fairly often in journalistic French. In keeping with the spirit of the original, the register of the English should not be overly flowery or dramatic either.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2012-05-10 18:31:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Whatever the final choice is here, I think there is nothing extravagantly poetic about the choice of "chef d'orchestre" which is used fairly often in journalistic French. In keeping with the spirit of the original, the register of the English should not be overly flowery or dramatic either.
1 day 3 hrs
the creative energy
Perhaps the original "chef d'orchestre" is not a metaphor well suited to the context; after all, an orchestra is a complex arrangement requiring enormous skill and competence to manage; one can't really compare that to running an online store...
I think kashew's "driving force" retains the figurative element, but is perhaps more suited to a large organization/corporation. Does "creative energy" convey the sense of "being the brains behind the operation" that the original seems to intend?
I think kashew's "driving force" retains the figurative element, but is perhaps more suited to a large organization/corporation. Does "creative energy" convey the sense of "being the brains behind the operation" that the original seems to intend?
Discussion