French term
Clara Gomez and Marcelo Bellizzi
Professional, accurate, reliable
Native in: Spanish 
, English
Works in: English to Pohnpeian, Polish to Efik, English to Pahlavi, and 40 more.
...qui à l'origine ne semblaient pas ni l'un ni l'autre destiné à cela
The complete sentence is:
Cet evenement public réside dans le fait qu'on le doit a l'action d'un homme qui à l'origine ne semblaient pas ni l'un ni l'autre destine.
| 4 +2 | neither of which initially seemed destined for this. |
Tony M
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Dec 27, 2015 23:19: writeaway changed "Field (specific)" from "Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"
Dec 28, 2015 00:27: Yolanda Broad changed "Term asked" from "...qui à l\\\'origine ne semblaient pas ni l\\\'un ni l\\\'autre destine a cela" to "...qui à l\'origine ne semblaient pas ni l\'un ni l\'autre destine a cela"
Dec 28, 2015 00:28: Yolanda Broad changed "Term asked" from "...qui à l\'origine ne semblaient pas ni l\'un ni l\'autre destine a cela" to "...qui à l\'origine ne semblaient pas ni l\'un ni l\'autre destiné à cela"
Dec 28, 2015 04:23: Daryo changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Non-PRO (3): Tony M, erwan-l, Daryo
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Proposed translations
neither of which initially seemed destined for this.
The word 'destiné' might sometimes be translated as 'ntended for' or 'designed for', but here it seems to me that the more literal translation of 'destined' is appropriate, since it was not their original 'destiny'.
Personally, I think i'd probably want to re-write the whole sentence to provide something smoother in EN; but that is really outside the scope of this terminology forum!
Reference comments
Israel
Quality, Reliability, Experience.
Native in: English , Romanian
Works in: French to English, Hebrew to English, Romanian to English, and 3 more.
Now it makes sense - Un homme et un gorille
Las Olas art fair, Fort Lauderdale | Le Soleil de la Floride - http://is.gd/NzpY1O
| agree |
philgoddard
: Thanks for clarifying this mysterious question. It looks like the text is written for French Canadians visiting Florida.
2 hrs
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Thanks!
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| agree |
Daryo
: it certainly helps to know more about the whole story
9 hrs
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Thanks!
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Discussion
There's nothing incoherent or ungrammatical in that phrase. The verb is in the plural because there are two "destines" (whatever those might be): 'l'un' et 'l'autre'.
That said, IMHO, there is a problem in the ST, and it's pretty obvious if you look at the complete phrase: "un homme qui ... ne semblaient pas ni l'un ni l'autre destine". There's a word missing. What word? - "à". I'll let the Non-Pro voters decide where that word fits, and head for the pillows. G'nite!
If no-one's twigged by (my) breakfast time tomorrow, I'll maybe post an answer.
Has the preceding text explained what this is all about? Or are you assuming that the 2 subjects are in fact 'un homme' and 'l'action'? Please explain your own interpretation and what you yourself have come up with thus far?