Feb 25 14:33
2 mos ago
46 viewers *
German term
Germany
www.pauladie.com/translation
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Catalan to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
ein Ringen um den nachgezeichneten Alp
German to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
Hello there,
This is taken from an introduction to an art exhibition, written by a philosopher. I'm rather unclear and can't make it make sense. Context:
Das Bild der Wehrlosigkeit und der Grausamkeit, die sich doch lieben, wiederholt sich in „XXX“. Es sind Tiefengänge in das Selbst, ein Ringen um den nachgezeichneten Alp. Verwundbares wird zerquetscht, Zärtlichkeit werden ausgemerzt, Erinnerungen durchbohrt.
My attempt:
The image of defencelessness and cruelty, which nevertheless love each other, is repeated in “XXX”. They are deep dives into the self, a struggle with an envisioned nightmare. Vulnerable things are crushed, tenderness is eradicated, memories are pierced.
Any suggestions appreciated.
This is taken from an introduction to an art exhibition, written by a philosopher. I'm rather unclear and can't make it make sense. Context:
Das Bild der Wehrlosigkeit und der Grausamkeit, die sich doch lieben, wiederholt sich in „XXX“. Es sind Tiefengänge in das Selbst, ein Ringen um den nachgezeichneten Alp. Verwundbares wird zerquetscht, Zärtlichkeit werden ausgemerzt, Erinnerungen durchbohrt.
My attempt:
The image of defencelessness and cruelty, which nevertheless love each other, is repeated in “XXX”. They are deep dives into the self, a struggle with an envisioned nightmare. Vulnerable things are crushed, tenderness is eradicated, memories are pierced.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Proposed translations
1 day 7 hrs
Alexandra Timms
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
DE/NL-EN marketing specialist
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
Works in: German to English, Dutch to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
a struggle with the revisited nightmare
Here's my interpretation if that helps:
The image of defencelessness and cruelty, which nevertheless complement each other, is repeated in “XXX”. It is a deep dive into the self, a struggle with the revisited nightmare. All things vulnerable are crushed, tenderness is obliterated, memories are infiltrated.
I think more context might be needed regarding "nachzeichnen", but you would tend to "revisit" a nightmare imo.
The image of defencelessness and cruelty, which nevertheless complement each other, is repeated in “XXX”. It is a deep dive into the self, a struggle with the revisited nightmare. All things vulnerable are crushed, tenderness is obliterated, memories are infiltrated.
I think more context might be needed regarding "nachzeichnen", but you would tend to "revisit" a nightmare imo.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs
Adrian MM.
Austria
Austria
Native in English
Austria
Retd.T&I, Barrister & Austro-Advokat
Native in: English (Variants: British, Scottish)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 5 more.
a wrestling bout with the recreated nightmare; a grappling with the nightmare, as retraced
consider atrociousness for Grausamkeit.
Alp is ambiguous for an Alptraum or a Swiss-Alpine pasture / pinnacle, so Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Austria as the source Alpen/vor/land vernacular would change the meaning from a WWE metaphor or figure of speech to a 'fight to reach the top'.
nachzeichnen: also retrace. Entry 3, Langenscheidt EnZ. WB DEU/ENG : trace
Alp is ambiguous for an Alptraum or a Swiss-Alpine pasture / pinnacle, so Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Austria as the source Alpen/vor/land vernacular would change the meaning from a WWE metaphor or figure of speech to a 'fight to reach the top'.
nachzeichnen: also retrace. Entry 3, Langenscheidt EnZ. WB DEU/ENG : trace
Reference:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/poetry-literature/583638-nachzeichnen.html
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/other/389889-alpe-as-in-taeschalpe.html
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Björn Vrooman
: Alp, in the sense of Alm, would've required "die" (not "den") in this context so it's not ambiguous. I think "nachgezeichnet" may have to be interpreted more literally; but we're missing context for that so recreate could work.
1 hr
|
18 hrs
Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Flair and accuracy tailored to your text
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Embroiled in the revisited nightmare
The leitmotif of defencelessness and cruelty, nonetheless bedfellows, is repeated in XXX. There are deep incursions into the Self, coming to terms with the nightmare revisited,.....
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Note added at 22 hrs (2024-02-26 13:29:56 GMT)
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@Asker: colour to me is better than insipid blandness and colourlessness, and these sorts of abstract texts allow this form of expression;
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Note added at 22 hrs (2024-02-26 13:29:56 GMT)
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@Asker: colour to me is better than insipid blandness and colourlessness, and these sorts of abstract texts allow this form of expression;
Note from asker:
| Is it the role of the translator to search for synonyms or to state what it there? I think this adds a little too much colour which isn't necessarily in the source text. |
| Is Leitmotiv an appropriate translation for Bild, when German has the former itself? Translation is a balance of adding and subtracting, but I think this is too far. |
Discussion