In this blog project on the theme of far-right politics in France and Europe, a group of Lille University masters degree students in English-French translation present a wide range of reports published in the French media in the run up to municipal and European elections. Their English versions of the articles, complete with glossaries and information notes, provide an insight into the personalities, groups and issues influencing debate and how these topics are reported in France.
On the eve of the municipal elections in France and a month before elections to the European Parliament across the continent, the French media are divided about an apparent burgeoning of support for far right groups and parties at home and abroad. Questions are being asked. Is the far right on the rise in Europe? To what extent might this be a unified movement, rather than a disparate collection of local nationalisms? Who supports them? How important are the Front National and Marine Le Pen in France and on the European scene? Are changes of focus in the public image of the FN and similar parties cosmetic or genuine?...
This blog, the third journalism translation project by students of the MéLexTra JET master’s degree in English-French translation at Lille 3 University, is aimed at readers of Mediapart English who wish to learn a little more about French media coverage of the far right in France and Europe.
Who are we?
Ten students completing their second year ‘JET’ master’s degrees (Traduction Juridique et Technique) specialising in legal and technical translation between French and English. This project is part of a module (Thème journalistique) in which French journalism is translated into English. It is overseen and edited by the module’s teacher.
Translators:
- Idriss CHAPLAIN
- Amélie CHARLON
- Charles-James GASNIER
- François JANQUIN
- Anna MAZÉ
- Jonathan ORIOL
- Sébastien ROUSSEAUX
- Joran SCHAAP
- Steffi SELLIER
- Aurélien VAUZELLE
Editor:
Sam TRAINOR
What sorts of articles are translated?
The project has two main goals. The first is to allow non-French readers to delve a little deeper into debates surrounding far right politics and groups in France and how they are reported by the press; the second is to provide readers with an idea of how the same issues at the European level are discussed in the French media, both in relation to local political concerns and as international news. 4 groups of translators focus on articles covering 4 themes: the FN in France, the FN in relation to Europe and other European far right groups, women in the far right, and French reporting and analysis of far right politics in other European countries. Articles are taken from a wide variety of local, national and international French journalistic sources, appearing in print, broadcast and online. The project seeks, in part, to give non-French readers an insight into the various political leanings of the different sections of the French media and how these correlate (or not) with their positions regarding this issue. Articles have therefore been selected from sources with a broad spectrum of political leanings.
Where can the original articles be found?
In every case, copyright and publishing details are provided in the translations: the original authors, photographers etc. are always indicated. Links are also provided to online versions of the original articles in their original publishing context, wherever possible.
What is our translation policy?
Translations are initially provided by groups of 2 or 3 students, one of which is the initial or lead translator. These are sub-edited by the editor and posted online. They then undergo a final modification by the translators. Stylistically, the translations are relatively close to the originals and there is relatively little structural or syntactic reorganisation involved. Articles are not therefore modified to suit English journalistic ‘news style’, for example. One of the key goals of the project is to give non-French readers an idea of how the issues are presented in the French media. French journalistic style is therefore preserved in the translations. For a related reason, a number of terms are left in French, with links to a glossary article being preferred to explanatory translations. These include, for example, abbreviated party names (like UMP and PS) and titles of political offices such as député.
What are the glossaries?
There are certain terms, names, abbreviations and references that recur in the articles that require a little further explanation. Instead of providing cumbersome explanatory notes within the articles themselves, glossaries are available that can be linked to directly from the articles. Alongside translations of party names, political titles, and so on, there are also short explanations of the media outlets concerned and some of the key issues.
The glossaries are maintained from previous projects:
What kind of English is used?
Mediapart being a European publication, British English spellings are used throughout as are predominantly British English grammar and vocabulary. However, the French constitution and political context being closer in some circumstances to the language culture of the United States than the United Kingdom, there are a handful of globally recognisible American English idioms that have naturally been incorporated.