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la belle bleue

English translation: the Mediterranean

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:la belle bleue
English translation:the Mediterranean
Entered by: Noni Gilbert Riley

14:35 Sep 1, 2013
French to English translations [PRO]
Geography
French term or phrase: la belle bleue
I can't figure out what "la belle bleue" is referring to here. Obviously the sea, but the way it is being used here has me thinking it is perhaps referring to the bay of Toulon, or the Toulon harbor? Could it be referring to some other location, maybe something more to do with Porquerolles? Maybe I'm reading it wrong, and it just means "the sea"? I'm leaning towards "harbor" but would appreciate any input because I'm not finding much evidence to support my own theory.

Here is the source text, about a 17th century shipwreck, you can google the article if you need more context than this:

"« La Lune coula comme un bloc de marbre »

On lui refuse pourtant le droit d'accoster, sous prétexte qu'elle pourrait amener la peste dans la ville. Il est donné l'ordre au navire et au millier d'hommes du régiment de Picardie à son bord de se mettre en quarantaine sur l'île de Porquerolles. Qu'importe si le bateau prend l'eau de toute part : un expert envoyé sur le pont déclare que « La Lune » peut encore faire le tour du monde ! Mais alors que le navire avait traversé « la belle bleue » sans encombre, un dernier coup de mer a raison de sa structure. Selon le témoignage du Duc de Beaufort, cousin du roi qui croise le navire en rentrant d'Alger, «La Lune coula comme un bloc de marbre». Plus de 900 hommes périrent noyés. Et la centaine de rescapés qui serait parvenue à regagner Port-Cros y serait morte de faim. Selon les historiens, il n'y aurait eu, en tout, qu'une vingtaine de survivants."

Some of my research (but not finding much else in this direction)

http://chretiens.republicains.perso.neuf.fr/politique/profes...
"Si cette nostalgie remonte à la mémoire de quelquesu
ns, c'est aussi parce que la Marine
américaine a quitté la Sardaigne et sa base de sousmari
ns de La Maddalena en 2008. Et dès
qu'il s'agit d'entretien lourd, les bateaux noirs doive
nt faire l'allerretour entre la Belle bleue et
leurs ports américains. Pas très pratique. Surtout quand
on sait que les infrastructures
toulonnaises pourraient rendre ce genre de service aux
enfants de l'oncle Sam"
Lori Cirefice
France
Local time: 10:12
the Mediterranean
Explanation:
My suggestion seems to have some fundament....

"Nom vernaculaire et familier en France de la mer Méditerranée; c'est évidement la couleur de l'eau de mer mais aussi la chaleur qui se dégage de cette mer qui lui a offert ce sobriquet."

http://www.aquaportail.com/definition-8056-belle-bleue.html
Selected response from:

Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 10:12
Grading comment
thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6the Mediterranean
Noni Gilbert Riley
4 +1the sea
AJojic
5 -1Atlantic Ocean
Salih YILDIRIM
4the azure sea
Debora Blake
5 -2Atlantic Ocean
Salih YILDIRIM


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the sea


Explanation:
It is similar to the English expression "the deep blue sea."

AJojic
United States
Local time: 04:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jean-Claude Gouin
1 hr
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -2
Atlantic Ocean


Explanation:
I believe that the Author has meant to illustrate the sinking event in a poetic way when describing the Atlantic Ocean.

Salih YILDIRIM
United States
Local time: 04:12
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Kim Metzger: What makes you think it's about the Atlantic?
34 mins
disagree  B D Finch: No, it is the Mediterranean that the French refer to as la grande/belle bleue.
19 hrs
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Atlantic Ocean


Explanation:
I believe that the Author has meant to illustrate the sinking event in a poetic way when describing the Atlantic Ocean.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2013-09-01 15:03:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry for dublication due to my internet's poor performance.

Salih YILDIRIM
United States
Local time: 04:12
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Kim Metzger: What makes you think it's about the Atlantic?
34 mins
neutral  Noni Gilbert Riley: No reason why you should get your disagrees duplicated too!: Delete the post.
1 day 15 mins
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the azure sea


Explanation:
Before sinking near Toulon, the ship would have sailed through the region of France called the "Côte d'Azur". By using "the azure sea", you conserve the color reference of the original text.



Debora Blake
France
Local time: 10:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  B D Finch: The source text is not making a specific colour reference, but I think the use of "la belle bleue" rather than "la grande bleu" does allow some poetic licence. Perhaps, the "blue Mediterranean"?
18 hrs
  -> The source text does contain a color reference. "...le navire avait traversé " la belle BLEUE "..." Although you may argue that "bleue" is used as a noun designating the Med. Sea, simply translating it as such loses the imagery.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
the Mediterranean


Explanation:
My suggestion seems to have some fundament....

"Nom vernaculaire et familier en France de la mer Méditerranée; c'est évidement la couleur de l'eau de mer mais aussi la chaleur qui se dégage de cette mer qui lui a offert ce sobriquet."

http://www.aquaportail.com/definition-8056-belle-bleue.html

Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 10:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  JaneD: Yes, the ship had sailed from Algeria, and sank in the Med, so it must be.
32 mins
  -> Thanks Jane
agree  Daryo: "La traversée de la belle bleue" http://www.startin-sport.com/thierry-corbalan-traverse-medit...
8 hrs
  -> Thanks Daryo
agree  Sheri P
9 hrs
  -> Thanks Sheri
agree  GILLES MEUNIER
13 hrs
  -> Thanks GILOU
agree  Evans (X): Yes, I've come across its use with this exact meaning a number of times
14 hrs
  -> Hi Gilla - and thanks.
agree  B D Finch
18 hrs
  -> Thank you!
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