Translation - French-English - Groupe lancé par un anonyme (Chercheur d'Emploi)...

The word "unbridged" isn't right here. Maybe completely necessary, or required.

"Excellente idée ce groupe, faisons avancer le schmilblick* ensemble!" fut mon commentaire d’entrée et d'encouragement à cette initiative née d'un vrai malaise." I understand it more like :...was my first(as first reaction) and encouraging comment to this initiative born out of a real disconfort (but maybe disconfort can be replaced too.)
*and the last words of the texts: because it's absolutely/strictly as a whole(made of one piece, it can't be divided and it can be used only as a whole).

This doesn't make sense.. how does its being a whole make it possible for it (le schmilblick*) to be used for/serve everything..

"intégral" means complete as far as I know and in English how else could be expressed this word: full, integral...

Oh, it's about the Swiss army knife as an object, as whole I guess.

Integral also means *necessary*, i.e, <fundamental, essential> in English. To say that something is completely complete (rigoureusement intégral) is redundant, but to say completely necessary or essential makes sense here.

It certainly is an unusual paragraph.

Yes, true, it would fit better integral as "necessary", "indispensable" object this Swiss knife. I didn't know that it has this meaning too...

Hello,

A few suggestions:
1. To me, the word 'started' brings a little confusion. In order to avoid that, I would replace "group started by" with "group initiated by";
2. "my comment was an input and encouragement to this initiative" I think it's rather "...together!" was my opening comment and an encouragement for this initiative...";
3. Suggestion for: "...are not anonymous" = "...are not unknown;
4. The following sentence: "His proposal to professionalise this basic concept and mine to drive development are well founded." should be a little changed in order to evoid confusion regarding the '...and mine to...". My suggestion:
"Our proposals, his to professionalise this basic concept and mine to drive...";
5. To "come to see" I would add an "it" (...come and see it...);
6. "thanks to you it becomes a..." = I think a continous should be used: "thanks to you it is becoming a..";
7. "go on" = I would rather use "carry on"/"continue" ("go on" shows more of an actual action and not an abstract action - in my opinion :P);
8. "it is strictly a whole" = "...it is carefully made to be a complete version."

Theres nothing wrong with "1. started".
2-7. All good suggestions
8. not "version", this word in no way matches the French word, and "carefully" is not a translation of anything in the original text.

*faire avancer le Schmilblick* does not in any way refer to the Swiss knife thing. It is an nonsensical 'argot' expression for an action that purports to tackle a problem without really contributing to its solution . The word *Schmilblick* was coined by a radio comic and has originally been used by an incrowd who liked to show off their knowledge of the programme. As it has become more widely known, it is now also used as just another synomym for le truc/le machin/la chose. [Pierre Dac's definition, mentioned in the last sentence, wasn't meant to make sense!]
The nearest thing to "faire avancer le Schmilblick" that I can imagine in English would be "to get things going" though that expression lacks the slightly ironic quality of the French original.
For my translation into Dutch I was fortunate in that we have a word that covers the French expression well (and has a similar history) and I am really curious to see if anybody will come forward with an English equivalent.

For *faire avancer le Schmilblick* I'm thinking of "to pay lip service to this shtick or gimmick". I just made this up, but it gets a similar idea across.

> "to pay lip service to this shtick or gimmick"
I am afraid that won't do, though it is a fair description by a third party of what is being done by someone who would say "on van faire avancer le S."
I think I have not been clear enough.
The essence of *le Schmilblick* and its related expressions is that the word has deliberately been made up in a nonsensical way. It was used originally by a circle of initiated people to dissimulate that they were speaking nonsense. They would, for example, be engaged in light and freewheeling conversation, while feigning to be speaking about something highly important or to be performing an important task (the *Schmilblick*). In a remark to my Dutch translation, I have put it this way: *epibreren* est un mot capable de traduire le sens de l'expression "faire avancer le Schmilblick", y compris cette connotation d'une gentille moquerie par les initiés d'un sérail informé.
Although the 'in crowd' aspect has somewhat abated as the expression became more widely known, it can still be used to refer to one's activities in a half-joking, jesting way.

Even tough I am keen on finding an English (and Portuguese, German, Afrikaans) equivalent of French "faire avancer le Schmilblick" and Dutch "epibreren", I realize that this is perhaps not an appropriate place to discuss the matter, as Nechama has indicated that he/she doesn't need a translation of *Schmilblick*.
I only stepped in with my remark as there seemed to be a lingering impression that a 'sensible' translation of the last sentence was called for, or that *le Schmilblick* was referring to the Swiss army knife".
As to 8: I think that 'can be used for everything because it is strictly integral', even if it is nonsense (or rather because of that!) renders the source text well.

Gbernsdorff, how about we call this important task "first-class shtick"

Yes, shtick in the sense of a little comedy act goes a long way. I see no need for 'first class', I think 'let's do our shtick'or 'let's do our little shtick' would be better.
It lacks the nonsensical etymology of the French and Dutch expressions. Also it is a novel use of the word, and far from having acquired the status of a set expression that the Dutch and French counterparts now enjoy. But we can't have everything, can we? It is as near a translation of 'faire avancer le Schmilblick' that I can imagine. However, I am not a native speaker.
Yet, again, as Nechama isn't asking for a translation of *Schmilblick*, I feel that this subject could perhaps better be brought up in the Forum.
Guido

Hi, guys

Since in the remarks of the request is stated that there's no need for a translation of the word, I think it should stay the way it is.
About the last line ...could we put it as: "all-purpose"?

CC: itsatrap100 Freya Tzicu-Sem

In my opinion, it's OK "all-purpose".

I've refrained from voting on this translation, so I'm just putting my little sticky notes here.

"All-purpose" is fine with me too