What are the French neighbours saying?
October 31, 2014 9:10 AM   Subscribe

Can anyone help me with a spot of French translation? I'm subletting in Paris and I suspect my neighbours are not keen on the idea.

They left this note: http://m.imgur.com/s4tdRp9 and I unfortunately can't even read the writing let alone translate it... Prison? Police? Any help would be appreciated.
posted by teststrip to Writing & Language (15 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: It's a complaint about Jacques's brother who's been in trouble with the police. I don't think it has anything to do with you.
posted by languagehat at 9:12 AM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Yeah, it's about Jacques's brother who got out of prison - it looks like the last line is asking if there is a police proceeding against the brother?

If this was definitely left for you, you should get someone (a mefite?) to help you write another note saying that you are sorry but you are subletting, speak very little French and don't have any information. You could offer to pass along a message to the primary tenants or to provide their contact information if that seems appropriate. (My french isn't good enough anymore or I would be glad to help.)
posted by Frowner at 9:22 AM on October 31, 2014


Response by poster: Thank you languagehat & frowner! Not for us, so I will let the tenant know. A weight off my mind after that bottle of wine on Wednesday evening...
posted by teststrip at 9:25 AM on October 31, 2014


Yeah, on a quick skim it looks more like random ranting for the world to read, not necessarily directed at you or the regular resident. But I didn't try to read it carefully....
posted by bfields at 9:29 AM on October 31, 2014


I agree it reads like somewhat unhinged ranting, but some of what I found illegible might have shed more light on it. Below is my rough translation, if it helps:


Is it normal that a new enterprise recommences such that:

-there is a [illegible] of the police (against the baudirisvue [no idea]), against enterprise in the local "BiP AE", Jacques (who works cleaning clothes [or occupies himself cleaning clothes]), has a brother who has done two years in prison. Upon leaving prison, he created a [illegible] in Jacques's space where he is now question of a gallon of tea and then a [something] for "cold food" we said, yesterday, Mr. Duerand. The occult piece where open around a game of money was demotive [?] Is there a procedure against the brother of Jacques??

Mister Madam [illegible]
posted by kaspen at 9:57 AM on October 31, 2014


It's really hard to read the handwriting, but here's my translation of the parts I thought I could make sense of, if it might provide you with a bit of context:

Is it normal that a new business opens when:

- there's a police raid (against crime) in the business at the address (illegible). Jacques (who takes care of laundry) has a brother who spent two years in prison. Mr. Durand told me yesterday that when he got out of prison, he created a closed room in Jacques' space that's a tearoom or a place for cold food. The (illegible) room where the gambling took place has been demolished. Has there been a case against Jacques' brother?

From Mr. and Mrs. Leblanc(?)"
"
posted by ohmy at 10:36 AM on October 31, 2014 [2 favorites]


"October 30 2018 [!!!]
Is it normal that a new enterprise begins again while:
-there has been a police raid ( against banditism) in the local [something] Jacques (who is engaged in the cleaning of clothing) has a brother who has done two years in prison. After he left prison he created a [something] in Jacques' space where it is now question of a tea salon and a place for getting "cold food" as I was told yesterday by Mr. Durand. The occult room in which took place a game of money was demolished. Is there any procedure against Jacques' brother? Mr. and mrs. [something]"
posted by mareli at 10:43 AM on October 31, 2014


I agree with ohmy's partial translation and I'm sure this has nothing to do with you. It also has a slightly deranged feel which is enhanced by the fact that it appears to be dated 2018.
posted by beniamino at 10:45 AM on October 31, 2014 [4 favorites]


Here's my take, building on Kaspen's version:

Is it normal that a new enterprise recommences such that:

-there is a police search (against criminal activity), against the enterprise in the local [13:8 AE?]. Jacques (who works cleaning clothes), has a brother who has done two years in prison. Upon leaving prison, he created a [illegible] in Jacques' space where there is now talk of a tearoom and then a place for "cold food," Mr. Durand told me yesterday. The secret room where the [game of money] took place was demolished. Was there a proceeding against Jacques' brother??

Mister Madame [Leblanc?]
posted by JimN2TAW at 10:51 AM on October 31, 2014


It's definitely unhinged. Any tenant (renter or owner) who knows enough about France/French to write that sort of letter, knows that this sort of complaint doesn't go through other random tenants, but through the copropriété and/or its representative in the building. You could ask whoever you're subletting from who the président de copropriété is, then speak with them about the letter. They probably know the backstory, whatever it is.

IANAPdC, but friends of mine have been président de copropriété in several buildings over the past couple of decades in France. The crazy is always present in buildings. Always. Leave it well enough alone beyond speaking with the PdC if you're really curious.
posted by fraula at 1:01 PM on October 31, 2014


Fraula, can you finish our translations?

What did the brother create in Jacques' space?

What is the weird address (local ______)?
posted by JimN2TAW at 1:05 PM on October 31, 2014


Response by poster: This is fascinating! The LeBlancs are the people who we are renting from.
posted by teststrip at 1:38 PM on October 31, 2014


I'd start looking for that secret room! Knock on walls and listen for a hollow sound, check the closets for secret passages, look for loose floorboards that can lifted to reveal a stairways going down.

And just hope that it really is a "tea room" and not an "occult room."
posted by kanewai at 2:14 PM on October 31, 2014 [3 favorites]


ohmy's translation is spot-on. Regarding this passage:

The (illegible) room where the gambling took place has been demolished.

This is "la pièce occulte" which I would translate as "the hidden room."

I am also not sure if this is supposed to be from Mr. and Mrs. Leblanc or to them.
posted by dhens at 6:18 PM on October 31, 2014


Yes! Since, OP you mentioned that you're renting from the Leblancs, I would assume that the note is addressed to them, and not written by them.
posted by ohmy at 7:30 AM on November 1, 2014


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