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Dire que la LRA existe depuis des décennies.

English translation: (And) to think that ...

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Dire que ...
English translation:(And) to think that ...
Entered by: Bianca Jacobsohn

12:36 Oct 24, 2005
French to English translations [PRO]
Linguistics / Use of infinitive (here)
French term or phrase: Dire que la LRA existe depuis des décennies.
I'm confused about the use of the infinitive in this short sentence. Some context:

"Mais pour autant dire que la raison fondamentale est le pillage des richesses congolaises, Kampala se tait. Dire que la LRA existe depuis des décennies. Plus exactement depuis 1998 que ce group armé défi Museveni ..."

So far I've simply translated the sentence as:
"The LRA have been around for decades, since 1988 to be precise when ..."

What I'd really like is an explanation of the use of the infinitive here.

TIA!
Bianca Jacobsohn
France
Local time: 14:28
(And) to think that the LRA has been around for... !
Explanation:
A suggestion...
I have to say I don't quite understand the beginning: "Mais pour autant dire..."
Selected response from:

PFB (X)
Local time: 14:28
Grading comment
Merci Philippe :o)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7(And) to think that the LRA has been around for... !
PFB (X)
4 +5When you think that...
Pierre POUSSIN
3I think in this case it is a repetition of the "Pour autant dire"...
CMJ_Trans (X)


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
When you think that...


Explanation:
"Dire que..." is colloquial in French.

Pierre POUSSIN
France
Local time: 14:28
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  PFB (X): -;)
1 min
  -> Thanks! When you hear what you hear and when you see what you see you can't help thinking what you think!
agree  df49f (X)
25 mins
  -> Merci!
agree  Calou: ;o)
37 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  DocteurPC: yes, that's it
43 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  sporran
3 hrs
  -> Merci!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
Dire que la LRA existe depuis des décennies.
(And) to think that the LRA has been around for... !


Explanation:
A suggestion...
I have to say I don't quite understand the beginning: "Mais pour autant dire..."

PFB (X)
Local time: 14:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Merci Philippe :o)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sandra C.
7 mins
  -> Merci Sandra
agree  df49f (X)
24 mins
  -> Merci df49f
agree  Calou: oui, aussi
38 mins
  -> Merci Calou
agree  DocteurPC: another acceptable version
43 mins
  -> Merci DocteurPC
agree  Georges Tocco
54 mins
  -> Merci Georges
agree  sporran
3 hrs
  -> Merci sporran
agree  Nick Lingris
12 hrs
  -> Thanks Nick
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
I think in this case it is a repetition of the "Pour autant dire"...


Explanation:
it has just been telescoped for reasons of style.

They might just as well say that it had been around for ever



CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 14:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32
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