To play chess well, you must be able to:
- visualize
- memorize
- recognize patterns
- use logic
- plan ahead
- accept the consequences of your actions
Aren’t chess players a lot like freelance translators?
In both my Canadian and French families, we play chess. I lose more than I win, but I attempt to put up a good fight.
We play in English and French. But being bilingual in the language of chess doesn’t really matter unless you like to read about chess (like me). And no matter what language a chess player speaks, he’s sure to understand “checkmate”!
Nevertheless, English speakers who play in French should take note of the following terms:
- A queen is a dame (not a reine).
- A bishop is a fou (not an évêque).
- A rook is a tour (not a château).
If you’re a chess nut, you might like this:
| ENGLISH | FRENCH | YOUR LANGUAGE |
| blitz | blitz | |
| check | échec | |
| checkmate | échec et mat | |
| chessboard | échiquier | |
| clock | pendule | |
| double attack | double attaque | |
| draw | nulle | |
| en passant | en passant | |
| endgame | finale | |
| exchange | échange | |
| file | colonne | |
| isolated pawn | pion isolé | |
| king | roi | |
| kingside castling | petit roque | |
| knight | cavalier | |
| middlegame | milieu de partie | |
| opening | ouverture | |
| pawn | pion | |
| pinning | clouage | |
| promote | promouvoir | |
| queen | dame | |
| queenside castling | grand roque | |
| rank | rangée | |
| resign | abandonner | |
| rook | tour | |
| scholar’s mate | mat du berger | |
| stalemate | pat |
If you know the language of chess, you can add more terms in your language to the above list (even if you’re not Magnus Carlsen). Get in touch via the comments, and I’ll fill in another column of this glossary.
Your turn!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting post. I’m surprised that many of the French terms for chess pieces are so similar to the German ones. The Germans also say Dame, and Turm for tour (rook). Even échec sounds similar: Schach.
Thank you, EP. Very interesting!
LOVE IT! My kids love chess – in French and English and will suck this right up! Great – thanks for sharing!
Glad to be of help, Eve.
One thing to add: if you pick up older English chess books (or older Spanish chess books, for that matter), instead of using algebraic notation (e.g. 1. e2-e4), they use the descriptive notation (the same move would be 1 – P – K4 in an old English chess book – or 1. P4R in an old Spanish book).
It takes a while to get accustomed to descriptive notation if you are used to algebraic, because instead of being always from the same point of view, descriptive notation alternates between the White and Black point of view (1. … e7-e5 translates to 1…. P – K4) .
Riccardo, I only know algebraic notation, and it does seem simpler. What I find amazing is that some chess players can play blind chess; they just hear what moves their opponents make, thanks to this notation system, and can play out a whole game without having to see the pieces. If you had a look at the video of Magnus Carlsen, you’ll see him playing blind chess—with several people at once!
And I thought I was the only translator interested in Chess! Great post, Catherine.
You might want to check my post on some analogies between Translation and Chess:
http://thetranslationgenotype.com/2011/11/02/a-deeply-thought-metaphor/
Best,
Yes, we do “gain insight from each and every game” and could potentially read hundreds books on the subject. I really enjoyed your post, thanks.