I'm Impressed...

[rcraigharman at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 22598

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Sheryll Townsend <s_ings at y...> wrote:
> 
> Did you know in PS (Cdn vers., p. 7) Uncle Vernon picks out his
> most 'boring' tie to wear to work, but in the French version they
> use the word 'sinistre'. No two ways about it, that only translates
> as sinister. Strange choice of words on that translation.

Well, if you're going to continue your translation comparison, you
might want to invest in a good dictionary, e.g. le Petit Larousse,
which has most of the meanings of a word.

You'll find that "sinistre" is not an inept a choice as you think.

I quote:

sinistre adj. (lat. sinister, gauche)
1. De mauvais augure, qui présage le maheur.  /Bruit sinistre/
2. Qui fait naitre l'effroi, sombre, inquiétant.  /Regard sinistre/
3. Triste et ennuyeux.  /Réunion sinistre/


In English:
"sinistre" adj. (lat. sinister, left)
1. Foretelling a bad event, that which predicts sadness.  E.g.,
"Bruit sinistre"
2. That which engenders fear, somber, worrisome.  E.g., "Regard
sinistre"
3. Somber and boring.  E.g. "Réunion sinistre"


Now, we can argue over the exact range of meaning in English for
"triste" (sad/somber/obscure/dull/vile/mediocre) and "ennuyeux"
(boring/tedious/annoying), but I think their intersection at
"sinistre" would seem to cover Uncle Vernon's boring tie.

....Craig