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le deuil du futur

English translation: like a "break with the future"/left with what might have been

07:56 May 26, 2009
French to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Philosophy
French term or phrase: le deuil du futur
This is from an interview with a company philosopher talking about what happens when a company gets a new director:

L'arrivée d'un nouveau dirigeant, c'est forcément une rupture par rapport à ce futur qui était imaginé, donc il y a forcément cette perte et c'est très douloureux le deuil du futur.

Thanks!
Ysabel812
English translation:like a "break with the future"/left with what might have been
Explanation:
As in a break with the past. Other possibilities might be hopes and plans going out the window. The term is usually associated with the death of a child; so could say "like losing a baby", if that's not too insensitive.
Selected response from:

John Peterson
Local time: 06:22
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5like a "break with the future"/left with what might have been
John Peterson
4 +3mourning the future
Muriel FINETIN
3kissing goodbye to the future as one imagined it
polyglot45


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
like a "break with the future"/left with what might have been


Explanation:
As in a break with the past. Other possibilities might be hopes and plans going out the window. The term is usually associated with the death of a child; so could say "like losing a baby", if that's not too insensitive.

John Peterson
Local time: 06:22
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: "mourning what might have been"
0 min
  -> thanks - mourning sounds good
agree  Tony M: Yes, I like Nikki's suggestion best of all.
9 mins
  -> thanks
agree  Irene McClure: With Nikki's phrase - perhaps it merits a seperate entry?
13 mins
  -> thanks - why not?
agree  Melissa McMahon: also like "mourning what might have been" - or "letting go of what might have been"
3 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  French Foodie: I also like "mourning what might have been"
3 hrs
  -> thanks
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
mourning the future


Explanation:
"mourning the future" is commonly used...

Muriel FINETIN
France
Local time: 07:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: Yes, it is — but I can't help thinking that implies 'mourning what is going to happen', whereas in this context, it seems to be 'mourning the anticipated future (that is now NOT going to happen)' / Sure — with those additions!
4 mins
  -> Thank you for your comment, Tony. One may still say "mourning the future they would never have" or "morning the future they lost" :)
agree  roisin56: exactly, or like Tony M remarks 'mourning an imagined/envisaged future'
28 mins
  -> Yes, indeed.
agree  Helen Shiner
30 mins
  -> Thank you, Helen.
agree  Julie Barber: I think this is fine and don't think you need to make the English clearer than the initial French
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Julie.
neutral  Gabrielle Leyden: sometimes you DO have to state in English what the French intimates. "Mourning a still-born future" or "mourning what might have been" gets across what is meant.
3 days 12 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
kissing goodbye to the future as one imagined it


Explanation:
accepting that things ain't goin' to be as you thought
letting one's illusions go as regards the future (and how it will pan out)

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
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