How would we best translate this ?
WordReference has a fixed expression "il serait temps" as "It's about time", so how does these sound ?
"It's about time to find a solution ! "
"It's about time a solution is found !" (Think I like this better than the first one).
Thanks. Paul.
In the context of her searching for a solution herself, rather than coming after having had several service calls etc, I think just plain old ‘it’s time to find a solution’, as the whole passage sounds to me as if she is giving herself a call to action, rather than further procrastination or exercises in futility.
(You could go further into free translation and say ‘it’s time to get on and fix it’ - not at all direct translation, but more colloquial English, in some parts anyway).
That is the subjective aspect of translation. There is not a single right answer and even the best and most experienced translators regularly disagree !
PS I think either of the ones you suggested is fine - it depends on what you feel best fits what you hear and understand.
And if you want to sound theatrical, you'd say "It is time, a solution be found!", which would flaunt your command of the English subjunctive -- a rare and dying species.
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Test your French to the CEFR standard
Find your French level