AllegroTrans Apr 27, 2013:

Yes indeed There are several possible variations on this formula, which is why I have not put forward a suggestion myself.

The full sentence and each of the ones before and after it would help.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 27, 2013:

Calling Asker, calling Asker Just to phrase this thing correctly, it would be helpful to have the full version of the section of the document concerned. I too have seen "signé seul" but on occasion, it has not been followed by any particular indication.

Further, in some official documents, you will find "lecture faite par X à Y". From the original context, it will be clear who is reading to whom, if to self and if aloud. It is generally, but not automatically an indication that the document was read aloud. There is also jurisprudence from the 19th century on this matter where it was taken to mean "in the presence of the parties".

We can be almost certain, but without original context, I mean, who really knows? There are variations over time and from DOM/TOM/DROM.

Cyril B. Apr 26, 2013:

translated dozens of those... 'signé seul' is always followed by something like "because the parents/witnesses could not [read/write]"

Germaine Apr 26, 2013:

Nikki, Oui! Je viens d'allumer (la terre appelle la lune!!), en lisant le commentaire de Tony. LOL Mais comme la phrase est la même, j'avoue qu'il ne m'est même pas venu à l'esprit de lire l'année! Il y a aussi qu'un haut fonctionnaire de passage au Québec m'a déjà donné la preuve que certains documents officiels ne "bougeaient pas". J'ai travaillé sur des "antiquités" - de mon point de vue! - avec lui. Mais cela dit, bien sûr, vous pourriez avoir raison. Les temps changent... parfois!

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 26, 2013:

Germaine, I did see your reference source Germaine. The point is that there are variations upon a theme.

Tony M Apr 26, 2013:

@ A/T Amazing, C! I still think it's cheaper and more reliable than mobile phones

Have a great weekend, one and all! :-)

Germaine Apr 26, 2013:

Nikki, Asker says it is an "acte de naissance haitien" which is the one I put in reference: Après lecture faite par Nous du présente acte, l'avons signé - with a space to add "with X and Y" - ou bien "seul, abandonné de tous, n'ayant pour seul témoin que cette nouvelle vie qui s'ouvre sur un monde cruel... ;-))

AllegroTrans Apr 26, 2013:

@ Tony is this a classic example of cross (English) channel telepathy???

AllegroTrans Apr 26, 2013:

And as for "reading" it's not a matter of the Registrar merely reading the certificate (why would he/she do that, he sees these things every day..) but reading it aloud to the person or persons registering the birth

Tony M Apr 26, 2013:

lecture Surely the key point here that Asker needs to know (and which arose in earlier questions) is the fact that the 'lecture' doesn't refer to the fact that the Registrar merely read the certificate before signing it — well, we'd rather hope s/he would, wouldn't we?! — but actually to the fact that it was read ALOUD for the benefit of the parents, who in many cases, certainly in the past, might well be illiterate.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 26, 2013:

@Germaine I've seen this before and there are a number of examples of it on the web. It would just be nice to have the full version of the original as there are variations on a theme from time to time.

Germaine Apr 26, 2013:

As a matter of fact, it is.

AllegroTrans Apr 26, 2013:

The "nous" is surely a "royal we" - typical formal French officialdom

Germaine Apr 26, 2013:

Nikki, You'll read the full sentence in the reference.

Germaine Apr 26, 2013:

Indeed, see: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/french_to_english/law_patents/2426...
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/french_to_english/law_patents/3853...

"Après lecture par Nous du présent acte" = "lecture faite". Rien de plus. Rien de moins.
"...et l'avons signé seul" = there was no witness. No need to add it since there's nothing to add, except, may be "duly".

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 26, 2013:

Hello, It would help if you posted the complete sentence.

Tony M Apr 26, 2013:

Glossary Did you try a term search?

It's hard to be sure just which bits are really giving you trouble here, but the ideas of 'nous', 'après lecture', and 'avoir signé' have all I think been discussed here in the past.

I feel sure if you were to try searching for those individual elements, you would probably find the help you need already in the glossary. If not, you may need to explain for us just what the problem is, so we can help you better.