3

It is from Jules Verne's Navire au large.

Ce port, l'ancien Oetylos d'Homère, est situé dans l’une de ces trois profondes indentations qui decoupent, sur la mer Ionienne et sur la mer Égée, cette feuille de platane, à laquelle on a très justement comparé la Grèce méridionale.

I translate the following in this way - this port, ancient Otelus of Omir, is situated on one if the three deep indentations which are divided by Ionian sea and Aegean sea, this land (not sure), which is very similar to souther Greece.

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
6

He is making a comparison between Greece shape, and a specific tree leaf (in this case the "Platane" i.e.: "Plane tree"). The construction of his sentence is quite intricate. To help you read it, here's a split of the different statements it contains:

  • Ce port est situe dans l’une de ces trois profondes indentations des côtes de la Grèce méridionale.
  • Ce port est l’ancien Oetylos d’Homere.
  • Ces indentations découpent (dessinent), sur la mer Ionienne et sur la mer Égée, une feuille de platane.
  • La Grèce méridionale est très justement comparée à une feuille de platane.

It translates to:

This port, the ancient Oitylo of Homer, is located in one of the three deep indentations that trace, on the Ionian and Aegean seas, the plane tree leaf to which southern Greece has justly been compared.

It feels even heavier in English than in French.

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    Nice analysis, but for the final translation, I would say: This port, the ancient Oitylo of Homer, is located in one of the three deep indentations that trace on the Ionian and Aegean seas the plane tree leaf to which southern Greece has justly been compared.
    – Luke Sawczak ♦
    Commented Aug 20, 2018 at 16:12
  • Thank you Luke Sawczak, for the better translation.
    – Pierre
    Commented Aug 21, 2018 at 12:06
1

With a restitution of traditional language forms (I'm not at all aware of this apparently new way of writing Homer in English, I've never found any other form than "Homer") and a little inspiration from the preceding I come up with the translation below.

Ce port, l’ancien Œtylos d’Homère, est situé dans l’une de ces trois profondes indentations qui découpent, sur la mer Ionienne et sur la mer Égée, cette feuille de platane, à laquelle on a très justement comparé la Grèce méridionale.

This port, Homer's ancient Oitylo is situated on one of the three deep indentations that the Ionian and Aegean seas carve out of the land in the shape of a plane tree leaf, a shape to which is rightly compared Southern Greece.

Improve this answer
2
  • I like your translating the two seas as doing the “découpage” (instead of the indentations), as it avoids (without changing the meaning at all, imo) the arguable heaviness caused by the use of commas to offset the arguably nonessential phrase naming the two seas. I would, however, dare to suggest that “… indentations that the Ionian and Aegean seas carve out [from/of the land] in the shape of a plane tree leaf, which shape is rightly/aptly compared to Southern Greece.” might capture better than “trace out” what Mr. Verne might have meant by “découper.” cc: @THEGreatGatsby
    – Papa Poule
    Commented Aug 20, 2018 at 19:58
  • @ Papa Poule I agree fully, it's a more graphic term.
    – LPH
    Commented Aug 20, 2018 at 20:09

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.