Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

registre littéraire

English translation:

literary mode / genre

Added to glossary by Conor McAuley
Sep 30, 2021 14:45
2 yrs ago
40 viewers *
French term

registre littéraire

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
Hello! I am having some doubt over the meaning of the term "registre littéraire", and how to convey this in English.

Example sentences: "La France, qui a une longue et riche tradition dans ce registre littéraire..." (the works in question are "romans érotiques".

From what I can tell, it appears as though the classification is not supposed to be synonymous with "literary genres". But "literary register" feels incorrect, as this would be used to refer more to the style or formality of the language itself. I.e. "this text is in a literary register". I suppose "type/form of literature" might work, but that feels a bit too vague.

https://www.etudes-litteraires.com/registres.php
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registre_littéraire

Any help much appreciated!
Change log

Oct 14, 2021 05:38: Conor McAuley Created KOG entry

Discussion

Sara Cooper (asker) Sep 30, 2021:
Yes I tried toggling the languages and got might confused by that! "Style of literature" sounds good to me.
Conor McAuley Sep 30, 2021:
I don't think tone fits at all.

I would propose "style of literature" as an alternative to my answer.
Conor McAuley Sep 30, 2021:
If you toggle (switch languages) on that Wiki article, you get this, about TONE!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tone_(literature)

Interesting...

Proposed translations

+5
13 mins
Selected

literary mode

In literature and other artistic media, a mode is an unspecific critical term usually designating a broad but identifiable kind of literary method, mood, or manner that is not tied exclusively to a particular form or genre. Examples are the satiric mode, the ironic, the comic, the pastoral, and the didactic.

Mode (literature) - Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org

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Note added at 9 hrs (2021-09-30 23:49:34 GMT)
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To Sara: well, the obvious answer is genre, but you ruled that out, so I provided an alternative, two in fact.

Perhaps the point here is that the main purpose of the writing is not erotic, but it does contain erotic interludes.

To use a dumb example, just because a drama features a few fight scenes, that does not make it an action movie.

I remember reading Henry Miller years and years ago, supposed to be erotic, but I didn't get that. Ditto the infamous "grey" series of books (the short passages I managed to get though...I was distracted by the incredibly bad writing).

The other infamous example, Basic Instinct, ok it may considered to be erotic, but the genre is thriller. Genre is complex. I've just been marathonning the show "Barry" (highly recommended, btw), which the French categorise as comedy -- ridiculous.

But my first instinct, like Phil, was that genre is the right fit.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2021-09-30 23:59:34 GMT)
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Basically, if you don't want to use genre, mode is about your only option. Et basta!
Note from asker:
This is an interesting suggestion. I can see what you mean about it referring to different kinds of moods or purposes ("Examples are the satiric mode, the ironic, the comic, the pastoral, and the didactic" / "The term 'mode' refers more to the attitude or intention of a writer when producing a work, than to the categorisation of a finished product"). But saying that erotic fiction is a "mode of literature" sounds a bit odd to me. When I look up "literary genre" on Wiki it comes up with the following subcategories: "Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Epic, Erotic, Nonsense, Lyric, Mythopoeia, Rogue, Romance, Satire, Speculative fiction, Tragedy, Tragicomedy".
Peer comment(s):

agree Nicole Acher
52 mins
Thanks Nicole!
agree Yolanda Broad
1 hr
Thanks Yolanda!
agree Samuël Buysschaert
1 hr
Merci monsieur !
agree philgoddard : Genre is fine too.
2 hrs
Thanks Phil!
agree Lara Barnett
3 hrs
Thanks Lara!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
3 days 17 hrs

style or category of writing

The literary register has a tone (tonality) and a mode according to the category in which the written text belongs. For instance the literary genres or categories can be serious, informative, realistic or less so, while other categories can be fictional, philosophical or dramatic. The tones or tonalities of a written text can be of a standard or informative category with ordinary modes of a register of speech according to its level of formality, serious intention or less serious, less formal, perhaps amicable type of writing communication. Tones of writing can be humourous, satirical or ironic with varying intentions of what the messages in the communication aim to achieve.
Various categories or genres of writing are possible in creativity.
"The literary register of a text can also be its tonality. It's defined by the effect produced on the reader, which can be researched by an author. The literary register is linked to certain types of stylistic processes, and also to privileged themes which determine how a reader may receive a written text. Intellectual reactions or emotions can bring curiosity and artistic admiration, loyalty to a text, integration, association with a varying reaction or rejection.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registre_littéraire
"Le registre littéraire d'un texte peut être aussi sa tonalité. C'est défini oar l'effet produit par ce texte sur le lecteur: cet effet a le plus souvent été recherché par l'auteur. Le registre littéraire est lié à certains types de procédés stylistiques mais aussi à des thèmes privilégiés que déterminent la réception du texte par le lecteur. Ses réactions intellectuelles et émotionnelles peuvent relever de la curiosité mêlée d;admiration artistique, de l'adhésion au propos du texte, de l'intégration mais auusi d'une occasion complexe d'attirance et de rejet."

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Note added at 3 days 17 hrs (2021-10-04 08:41:12 GMT)
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Le registre littéraire a une tonalité et une modalité de discours, selon la catégorie ou le genre auquel appartient l'écriture. Par exemple, les genres ou les catégories littéraires peuvent être sérieux, informatifs, réalistes, mais aussi ils peuvent l'être du moins. Pourtant des autres genres ou catégories stylistes peuvent appartenir à la fiction, des textes pas réels, des textes dramatiques ou la philosophie. Les tonalités d'un texte d'écriture peuvent être aussi ordinaires, d'un niveau normal ou d'une catégorie informative, avec des modes (modalités) ordinaires d'un registre normal du discours selon son niveau de formalité. En outre il se peut être d'une intention moins sérieuse, et comme si l'écriture est moins formelle, moins sérieuse et peut-être un peu amicable. Les derniers sont des possibilités de la communication écrite. Les tonalités d'écritures peuvent être humoristiques, satiriques ou ironiques, avec des intentions variées desquelles les fins de communication visent à atteindre. Dedans la catégorie du jounalisme les tonalités et les registres de communication sont moins variés.
Peer comment(s):

agree AcornTr_US
7 days
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