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voyage of decoding

English translation: I set out to decode those strange signs.

13:22 Nov 12, 2007
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music
English term or phrase: voyage of decoding
I launched out on the voyage of decoding those strange signs.

Does this phrase sound English? Or maybe it is better : I launched out on decoding..

Thank you in davance
svetlana cosquéric
France
Local time: 17:38
Selected answer:I set out to decode those strange signs.
Explanation:
"Voyage" would be obtrusive and cumbersome here; "set out" on the other hand contains within itself the metaphor of going to sea. If you absolutely must use a noun in place of "voyage", "odyssey" would do, though it's likely to be overkill.
Selected response from:

Jim Tucker (X)
United States
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your help Jim. It's true, the author wanted "voyage". I was confused with the phrase, it seemed to me awkward, but I didn't feel where.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3I set out to decode those strange signs.
Jim Tucker (X)
4voyage of decoding
Adriana Penco


  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
voyage of decoding


Explanation:
It's fine to say you launch out on a voyage. I think it means the person starts by making the voyage of decoding sounds in the first place and will go on with something else later on.
Also maybe because decoding the sounds must take a long way, just like in a voyage... It's not just decoding.

launch out : intransitive verb U.K.
Definition:
1. start afresh: to start doing something new or untried
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/Dictionary...


Adriana Penco
Local time: 12:38
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
I set out to decode those strange signs.


Explanation:
"Voyage" would be obtrusive and cumbersome here; "set out" on the other hand contains within itself the metaphor of going to sea. If you absolutely must use a noun in place of "voyage", "odyssey" would do, though it's likely to be overkill.

Jim Tucker (X)
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your help Jim. It's true, the author wanted "voyage". I was confused with the phrase, it seemed to me awkward, but I didn't feel where.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Patricia Townshend (X): I agree - I could hear it sounded wrong but couldn't think of the right phrase. This is great.
4 mins
  -> Thanks so much Patricia.
agree  NancyLynn
35 mins
  -> Thanks Nancy.
agree  Elena Aleksandrova
20 hrs
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