un impensé

English translation: not yet explored

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	un impensé
English translation:	not yet explored

10:33 Jun 24, 2021

The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2021-06-28 08:54:17 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)

French to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Energy

French term or phrase: un impensé

"Le développement d'une mobilité plus durable passe-t-il nécessairement par une moindre mobilité? On appelle cela la demobilité. En fait, c'est un peu un **impensé**"

Hello, does anyone have a good translation for this? It comes from an interview about low-emission mobility and how covid-19 has affected the way we travel around.

Many thanks.

katiej KudoZ activity Questions: 45 (2 open) (4 without valid answers) (5 closed without grading) Answers: 0 United Kingdom
Local time: 07:52

not yet explored

Explanation:
As in: "a notion/something that has not yet really been explored."

Or "uncharted": "that is still pretty much uncharted."

Lots of possibilities along these lines.

Selected response from:

Philippa Smith
Local time: 08:52

Grading comment

Many thanks all. For me, this suggestion suits the context best.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +4

not yet explored

Philippa Smith

4 +1

something unthought-of

Gregory Marneffe

something that has not yet been specified

Peter Field

3 +1

unheard of

SafeTex

3 +1

an imponderable

Adrian MM.

it's up in the air

David Hollywood

something (quite) unthinkable

Mpoma

an inconceivable idea

Lisa Rosengard

something that’s not (really) been thought (much) about so far

Tony M

4 -2

(In fact, it's a bit of) an unthought

MassimoA

Summary of reference entries provided

L’impensé

Daryo

Discussion entries: 3

Answers

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

not yet explored

Explanation:
As in: "a notion/something that has not yet really been explored."

Or "uncharted": "that is still pretty much uncharted."

Lots of possibilities along these lines.

Philippa Smith
Local time: 08:52
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 49

Grading comment

Many thanks all. For me, this suggestion suits the context best.

Notes to answerer

Asker: That would work well, many thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Carol Gullidge: yes,and also like "uncharted territory"

18 mins

-> Thanks Carol! Ohh yes, I like "uncharted territory".

agree

Conor McAuley

36 mins

-> Thanks Conor!

agree

Samuël Buysschaert

2 hrs

-> Thanks Samuël!

neutral

Mpoma: I don't think this is strong enough... I think it's a case of "here be dragons" / yes, context is important: unfortunately the author may be somewhat misusing the word

2 hrs

-> I see your thinking, but to be honest for me that's too strong, based on the general discourse on mobility (I translate quite a lot of stuff in this area) and on changing habits. But it's a very fine line!

agree

James A. Walsh: Really like "uncharted territory".

1 day 3 hrs

-> Thanks James! Yes it's a good solution. :-)

neutral

Daryo: in fact "un impensé" is even one step before s.t. being "uncharted" or "yet to be explored" - no one has thought of it AT ALL, no one has yet even noticed there is something to be explored.

1 day 23 hrs

-> Not in this context.

13 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

something unthought-of

Explanation:
Hi Katiej,

The term "impensé", which is rather uncommon, refers to a topic or action nobody has ever thought about or seriously considered.

Regards,

Gregory

Gregory Marneffe
Luxembourg
Local time: 08:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

French

Notes to answerer

Asker: Yes, I saw a few references in French sources to "impensé culturel" or "impensé social" and some relating to philosophy but it didn't seem to be a very widely used term. Thank you!

1 hr confidence:

something that has not yet been specified

Explanation:
It could also be something that has not been pointed out or made clear:
'"Impensé, -ée, adj. Qui n'a pas été précisé. Nous sommes dans un monde impensé, impensable auparavant (ÉLUARD, Donner, 1939, p. 118). Emploi subst. Informulées, ces énergies glissent dans l'impensé (J.-R. BLOCH, Dest. du S., 1931, p. 191)".

Reference: http://stella.atilf.fr/

Peter Field
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:52
Native speaker of: English

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): -2

(In fact, it's a bit of) an unthought

Explanation:
The unthought refers to the fact that "developing more sustainable mobility necessarily means less mobility". That is, this situation has not been proven with certain facts.

MassimoA
Italy
Local time: 08:52
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Italian

2 hrs confidence:

something (quite) unthinkable

Explanation:
I think it's a bit stronger than the other suggestions imply.

TLFi gives, for the adjective, "« qui ne peut être saisi par la pensée » (RICHARD); 2. 1931 « incroyable, inimaginable »"

In my mind it overlaps with something like "a taboo area", which I thought of putting, but I think that involves too much interpolation.

Mpoma
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:52
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

unheard of

Explanation:
if you want an English sounding expression, what about this?

Unheard of pretty much means no one has ever said it before and by extension, no one has probably thought of it before either

I aslo like this solution as the 'un" negative prefix matches the French "im" one

SafeTex
France
Local time: 08:52
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 19

4 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

an imponderable

Explanation:
c'est un peu un impensé: it's something of an imponderable.

- and is, 'conceivably', almost a literal translation.

Example sentence(s):

''There are so many imponderables [about making the play-offs] there's no point in looking at it,' he said

Reference: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/fr/dictionnaire/anglais/impo...

Adrian MM.
Austria
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

17 hrs confidence:

it's up in the air

Explanation:
keeps the travel aspect and idiomatic

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Note added at 17 hrs (2021-06-25 03:58:33 GMT)
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up in the air

(of a plan or issue) still to be settled; unresolved
"the fate of the power station is up in the air"

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Note added at 17 hrs (2021-06-25 03:59:34 GMT)
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hits the nail on the head IMO

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Note added at 17 hrs (2021-06-25 04:00:13 GMT)
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but so many options to choose from

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Note added at 17 hrs (2021-06-25 04:05:00 GMT)
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and to be more specific: it's a bit up in the air

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Note added at 18 hrs (2021-06-25 04:54:52 GMT)
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I also like "uncharted territory" but agree it might be going too far

David Hollywood
Local time: 03:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

1 day 7 hrs confidence:

an inconceivable idea

Explanation:
An inconceivable idea is unthinkable, or without consideration. It's a question which asks whether longer lasting mobility would entail less mobility, or not. Lacking or decreasing mobility is the unthinkable issue.

Example sentence(s):

FR: Une idée inconcevable est un impensé, sans considération. C'est une question qui demande si la mobilité plus durable impliquerait de la mobilité moindre, ou non pas. La moindre mobilité est l'impensé.

Lisa Rosengard
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:52
Native speaker of: English

2 days 22 hrs confidence:

something that’s not (really) been thought (much) about so far

Explanation:
I think because it is 'un' impensé, we could usefully move the negative element to the verb part of the expression instead to make it sound more naturl in EN.
Of course, as it stands, this is still clunky and awkward, as it needs properly fitting slickly into the rest of the sentence and context; I just thought it was possibly useful to consider a different approach here...

Tony M
France
Local time: 08:52
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 348

Reference comments

1 day 23 hrs

Reference: L’impensé

Reference information:
Nom commun
Singulier Pluriel
impensé impensés
ɛ̃.pɑ̃.se
impensé ɛ̃.pɑ̃.se masculin

État de ce qui est non formulé, non pensé.
Informulées, ces énergies glissent dans l'impensé. — (J.-R. Bloch, Dest. du S., 1931)
https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/impensé

De tels instants sont comme des aperçus de l'infra-cinéma, l'invisible composant du visible, ce que nous ne voyons pas dans ce que nous voyons ou l'impensé dans ce que nous pensons voir.ll
=
Such instants are like glimpses of this infra-cinema we call Dark Matter Cinema, the invisible component of the visible, what we don't see in what we see or the unthought of what we think we see.
https://context.reverso.net/translation/french-english/impen...

le concept du 'terrorisme' est un impensé des sciences sociales
https://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=45...

L’IMPENSE SOCIAL DES RUMEURS POLITIQUES
Sur l’approche dominocentrique du phénomène et son dépassement
Article paru dans la revue Mots – Les langaes du politique, n°92, 2010
RESUME
Les rumeurs politiques sont habituellement traitées à l’écart des formes générales et familières du phénomène social de la rumeur. Cette clause d’exception théorique repose sur la conception d’un rapport au politique clivé, opposant de façon polarisée les milieux populaires (gens d’en bas) aux milieux élitaires (gens d’en haut). Les rumeurs politiques colportées dans les premiers seraient affaire de croyance, et étudiées comme telles. Alors que les élites sociales et les professionnels de la politique joueraient et se joueraient des rumeurs en stratèges. L’auteur met au jour les ressorts dominocentriques de la thèse établissant ce partage artificiel du phénomène et défend, en prenant appui sur la littérature spécialisée et des exemples de la chronique politique récente, une approche qui articule usages populaires et usages politiques des rumeurs.

L’impensé social des rumeurs politiques
Sur l’approche dominocentrique du phénomène et son dépassement
Philippe ALDRIN

La trame de la vie politique est aussi faite de rumeurs. Avec leur charroi de révélations, elles courent un temps les cafés, les dîners en ville et les rédactions, défrayent la chronique et s’accrochent parfois à la réputation des « hommes » publics comme des insignes déshonorants malgré le silence ou les démentis. Pierre Mendès France agent des « deux cents familles », les époux Pompidou intimes du sulfureux Markovic, François Mitterrand atteint dès son élection d’un mal incurable, Jacques Chirac père d’un enfant japonais caché… Ces bribes de rumeurs appartiennent autant à la mémoire de la scène politique et médiatique qu’à l’histoire sociale de l’opinion.
https://www.academia.edu/5686095/Limpensé_social_des_rumeurs...

3.
Impensé, -ée, adj.Qui n'a pas été précisé. Nous sommes dans un monde impensé, impensable auparavant (Éluard, Donner,1939, p. 118).Emploi subst. Informulées, ces énergies glissent dans l'impensé (J.-R. Bloch, Dest. du S.,1931, p. 191).
https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/impensé

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Note added at 2 days 8 mins (2021-06-26 10:42:11 GMT)
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I almost forgot ....

Checking first the real-life usage of an unusual term in the source language?

Looks like "un impensé" for a number "pro linguists" ...

Daryo
United Kingdom
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Serbian,

French
PRO pts in category: 105

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English translation: not yet explored

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