s'il survient un échec

English translation: even when proved wrong

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:s'il survient un échec
English translation:even when proved wrong
Entered by: L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen

15:15 Aug 3, 2009
French to English translations [PRO]
Science - Esoteric practices
French term or phrase: s'il survient un échec
The authors talks here about how 'proof' does not work necessarily convincing; to give one example: farmers a few decades ago knew long before scientists that meteorites existed. Even with many farmers telling the same story, and even when the rock were brought to the scientists, they were still ignored.

To give a part of the text:

-

Celui qui demande une preuve, si on la lui donne, en voudra une deuxième, puis encore et toujours une autre, car c'est sa tournure d'esprit.

Puis, celui qui a eu une preuve, qui même en a eu dix, s'il survient un échec, sortira souvent furieux, en claquant la porte.

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My question here is:
this can be interpreted as two mainly things: (very freely translated)
-> with all the actual proof they seen, if one thing fails, they leave the room
-> with all the proof they seen, if they find themselves in a position where they can no longer ignore it (as in 'checkmate'), they will leave the room with slamming door

Given the sentence itself, the latter seems more plausible, anyway, I'm looking for suggestion to best represent the author's intention.
Andy Tolle
Belgium
Local time: 17:13
even when proved wrong
Explanation:
you could try something like... Even so, having received a proof, or maybe even ten, when proved wrong, he will often leave furiously, banging the door behind him.
Puis, celui qui a eu une preuve, qui même en a eu dix, s'il survient un échec, sortira souvent furieux, en claquant la porte.
Selected response from:

L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
South Africa
Local time: 17:13
Grading comment
I ended up translating the text in the context that polyglot45 stated in the discussion.

Since I can't reward him, points go to the runner-up. My gratitude however, goes to each one of you.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4in the event of a failure
jmleger
4in the event of defeat
Rahdne Zola (X)
4if all the evidence is stacked against them
philgoddard
3and should that fail to work (to convince)
MatthewLaSon
3even when proved wrong
L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
in the event of a failure


Explanation:
Non Impediti Ratione Cogitationis

It should be the motto all all in esoteric practices

jmleger
Local time: 10:13
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
in the event of defeat


Explanation:
You could use defeat or failure, depending on which you think best fits the context. (Also, be careful with the verb tense of "to see" - it should be either "saw" or "did/have seen".)

Rahdne Zola (X)
United States
Local time: 11:13
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
and should that fail to work (to convince)


Explanation:
Hello,

He will get furious, if after presenting all this evidence (even 10 pieces of evidence), the other person is not convinced.

I hope this helps.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 11:13
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
if all the evidence is stacked against them


Explanation:
I don't think a literal translation (failure or defeat) works here.

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
s\'il survient un échec
even when proved wrong


Explanation:
you could try something like... Even so, having received a proof, or maybe even ten, when proved wrong, he will often leave furiously, banging the door behind him.
Puis, celui qui a eu une preuve, qui même en a eu dix, s'il survient un échec, sortira souvent furieux, en claquant la porte.


L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
South Africa
Local time: 17:13
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 7
Grading comment
I ended up translating the text in the context that polyglot45 stated in the discussion.

Since I can't reward him, points go to the runner-up. My gratitude however, goes to each one of you.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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