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Leckstrahler
NA-Schacht in S Sch Gr Stand

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

über etwas hinwegsehen

English translation:

to look beyond/past (something)

Added to glossary by iulia n.
Apr 23, 2012 18:58
12 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

über etwas hinwegsehen

German to English Art/Literary Music
I need an English equivalent for "über etwas hinwegsehen" - but with a rather positive connotation.

Context:

"Die im ehemaligen Jugoslawien angesehenen Bands, die sich auch für den Vielvölkerstaat und seine Vorzüge aussprachen, schöpfen nach wie vor aus ebendiesem jugoslawischen Liederwerk, dessen Aufgabe es – damals wie heute – war, über die ethnischen und religiösen Unterschiede hinwegzusehen."

Danke!
Proposed translations (English)
5 +2 to look beyond/past (something)
4 +5 rise/stand above/go further than
4 +1 to gloss over
2 +2 overcome/get beyond/ignore/disregard/discount
4 to bridge [ethnic and religious differences]
3 to move ahead/put the past behind
3 -1 to tolerate
References
Duden

Discussion

Ramey Rieger (X) Apr 24, 2012:
Hi British Diana! Yes, that would be my broad translation as well - brings into harmony.
But to confirm the interpretation we would need more context. Be well!
British Diana Apr 24, 2012:
interpretation? Just come to this discussion, but couldn't the "hinwegsehen" mean that the music as it were makes the most of the ethnic and religious differences by exploiting their diversity in a positive way. I'm thinking of things like putting elements of gypsy music, folk and religious songs etc into new compositions. The band literally "looks beyond" the inherent conflict potential and concentrates on the synthesis which will emerge.
Ramey Rieger (X) Apr 24, 2012:
@ Andrew of course, of course, ja, ja, ja!
and @Michael
http://www.dict.cc/?s=hinwegsehen
probably because the word has been misused in the source text! As a musician you don't look over, omit or gloss over political and/or religious differences. You either completely ignore or disregard them
(Jonathan), delve into them (no one), bridge them (Colin - but not what the source text says) or rise above them (Ramey/Orla hihi - the plagarism was unintentional, great minds..ladida).
Honestly, at the moment and without any more specifications as to WHAT kind of music, WHICH bands and HOW their political/religious function is further defined - I'm for either my suggestion or Jonathan's. Only the context can tell which is appropriate.
Michael Martin, MA Apr 24, 2012:
I understand the impetus to look for the best phrase to capture the positive connotation, as the asker requested. It's a judgment call how far you can go without "improving" the source text. I have noted we haven't put nearly as much emphasis on dictionary definitions of "hinwegsehen" as on "gloss over"
Lancashireman Apr 24, 2012:
über etwas hinwegsehen So are we all agreed that this expression in this context has exclusively positive connotations?
Colin Rowe Apr 24, 2012:
With Ramey as regards slightly negative connotation of "gloss over"
Ramey Rieger (X) Apr 24, 2012:
gloss over has, in my opinion, a slightly negative connotation, as in ignore or euphemize.

@Orla
I posted "rise above" before I read the entire discussion, this seems to me to be the most appropriate translation, although "brings into harmony" is my favourite, looser option
oa_xxx (X) Apr 24, 2012:
gloss over also means: 2. to deal with (unpleasant facts) rapidly and cursorily, or to omit them altogether from an account of something

1. (1) gloss over, skate over, smooth over, slur over, skimp over

(treat hurriedly or avoid dealing with properly)
2. whitewash, gloss over, sleek over, hush up

the problem with downplay is that it implies that they still deal with the topic rather than disregarding it completely if thats what they do, could work well if not - it fits in the sentence given.
Michael Martin, MA Apr 23, 2012:
"downplay" is not a bad idea although it usually involves a stronger sense of purpose: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/army-gen-to-retaliate-due-...
Horst Huber (X) Apr 23, 2012:
Let me quote Urdang's list for "gloss over": "mask, veil, disguise, smooth over, cover up, slick over, color, falsify, alter, doctor up."
Horst Huber (X) Apr 23, 2012:
I would have expected something like "downplay", "take lightly" or something similar?
oa_xxx (X) Apr 23, 2012:
perhaps a bit too lofty but "rise above" springs to mind or "look beyond" - a variation of one of Jonathan's suggestions below

Proposed translations

+2
7 hrs
Selected

to look beyond/past (something)

Look beyond definitely has the positive connotation of looking past something towards the future, something positive, etc. It carries the sense of magnanimity.

I'd have to disagree that "to gloss over" has a positive connotation. It has a distinct sense of "brushing something under the rug" or to "give something a cursory glance". Either way, "to gloss over" also carries the distinct connotation of covering something up (to gloss), to put a veneer of suitability on something which may be completely unsuitable.

See the following links below. I have cut and paste their very general definitions here for your ease of reference:

gloss over
vb (tr, adverb)
1. to hide under a deceptively attractive surface or appearance
2. to deal with (unpleasant facts) rapidly and cursorily, or to omit them altogether from an account of something


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2012-04-24 02:44:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Especially in the context of the religious and ethnic differences, "looking beyond/past religious and ethnic differences" carries a very positive connotation here--this action (of "looking beyond") attempts to see the bigger picture, as it were. Glossing over the differences would carry the connotation of giving a perfunctory nod to them without acknowledgement of their depth, something that "looking beyond" does not assume to do.
Reference:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gloss+over

Note from asker:
Thank you Michael! I think I will go with "look beyond", because this is what I was actually looking for! Before I thought of "see over" and "overlook" - but nothing really fit. So you suggestion is perfect!
Peer comment(s):
agree Johanna Timm, PhD : and with Orla's explanation, as pointed out by Michael
1 hr
neutral Michael Martin, MA : Agree that this best preserves a positive connotation but perhaps "orla" should get credit ?
1 hr
agree Helen Shiner
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you! I think "look beyond" fits best into my text!"
+1
12 mins

to gloss over

... differences

works in many contexts and can be used either as a critical or positive reference
Reference:

http://www.internationalpolicydigest.org/2012/03/13/arabs-russia-pat-themselves-on-back-over-syria/

Note from asker:
Thank you!
Peer comment(s):
agree Wendy Streitparth
24 mins
Thanks, Wendy!
agree Lancashireman
1 hr
neutral Horst Huber (X) : Somewhat surprised, in the usage here "gloss over" would have a distinctly negative connotation.
3 hrs
Not necessarily - especially when it comes to glossing over differences, there are plenty of examples for that: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19820315&id=k...
neutral Michael de los Reyes : I would have to agree with Horst here. Cf. my answer below: "to look beyond/past something"
7 hrs
Thanks for your input. I like it when people have strong opinions.
agree yohanss (X)
11 hrs
Thanks!
disagree Helen Shiner : Just too negative and the term essentially means to ignore by obliterating, painting over. This is inappropriate for this context in my view.
12 hrs
Can't say I completely agree but I get your point with all that input we've had
disagree Leon56 : I agree with this, it does have a negative connotation to my ear. Can someone suggest an alternative in German for 'look beyond / past' with an unambiguously positive connotation? I'm thinking along the lines of 'über etwas hinweg... ' + verb (?)
227 days
Certainly - "sich ueber Unterschiede hinwegsetzen". Much of the discussion could have been avoided if the German had been appropriately worded to begin with..
Something went wrong...
+2
11 mins

overcome/get beyond/ignore/disregard/discount

for starters

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2012-04-23 19:11:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

without paying any heed to ethinic and religious differences
Note from asker:
Thank you!
Peer comment(s):
agree Allesklar : prefer any of these to "gloss over"
7 hrs
agree Michael Martin, MA : I like "overcome"
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
1 hr

to tolerate


to tolerate religious and ethnic differences

Queen calls on Britons to tolerate ethnic differences
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1479785/Queen-calls-o...

But with time the children looked past their differences and learned to tolerate religious differences.

Pristina you could see among the people there an increasing sense of security, the indicators of recovering from the trauma of ethnic cleansing, and even some first signs of willingness to tolerate ethnic differences, ...
http://freeserb.home.xs4all.nl/news/2000/05/e-02-05-2000.htm...

Peer comment(s):
disagree Lancashireman : Sorry, this doesn't work with the (inanimate) subject of the sentence, 'Liederwerk'.
9 mins
neutral Colin Rowe : I agree with Andrew, but in your second example, the "looked past their differences" bit would fit here.
12 hrs
Thanks.
Something went wrong...
9 hrs

to move ahead/put the past behind

couple of ideas ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2012-04-24 04:40:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

let bygones be bygones

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2012-04-24 04:41:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

an idiomatic way of putting it

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2012-04-24 04:44:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and definitely conveys conciliatory tones
Something went wrong...
+5
10 hrs

rise/stand above/go further than

or even
bring into harmony
Peer comment(s):
agree franglish : rise above (the differences)
1 hr
Thank-you, franglish and happy translating
agree Helen Shiner : With franglish
2 hrs
Thanks Hellen- up, up and away!
agree Marga Shaw
3 hrs
Thank-you, Marga. Be well.
agree Michael Martin, MA : I like "rise above"
8 hrs
Thank you Michael - I kinda like to rise above things, too!
agree Johanna Timm, PhD
10 hrs
Thanks Johanna - I've heard a rumour that Spring is coming!
Something went wrong...
13 hrs

to bridge [ethnic and religious differences]

I think "bridge" could work quite well here. It certainly has the desired positive connotations.

"to bridge ethnic and religious differences" also receives a number of Google hits, while googling "to bridge ethnic differences" and "to bridge religious differences" separately receives thousands of ghits.

"Spain, Italy, Russia, Finland and Belgium each had found ways to bridge ethnic differences within their borders peacefully, the United States and NATO said in a ..."

http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&q="to bridge ethnic diff...

"Ultimately, she feels that the way to bridge religious differences is through students accepting other types of differences, such as in talent, habits ..."

http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&q="to bridge religious d...

"So, although these pilgrimages may help to bridge ethnic and religious differences and create a certain degree of 'shared' communal identity, ..."

http://books.google.de/books?id=aJRYkzl5YC4C&pg=PA85&lpg=PA8...

"Ambassador Collins convened the gathering with individuals and representatives of community groups of different backgrounds and faiths, in a groundbreaking effort to bridge ethnic and religious differences in the regional heartland of Russia."

http://www.ncsj.org/AuxPages/103000roundtable.shtml
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

1 day 16 mins
Reference:

Duden

1.über jemanden, etwas sehen, seinen Blick schweifen lassen
2.jemanden, etwas anscheinend nicht sehen
3. (etwas in den Situations- oder Gedankenzusammenhang Gehörendes) [ausdrücklich] unbeachtet und unbewertet lassen

Synonyme:

entgehen, nicht bemerken, übersehen; (landschaftlich) hinwegschauen
ausklammern, auslassen, sich ausnehmen, außer Acht/Betracht lassen, beiseitelassen, fortlassen, ignorieren, keine Notiz nehmen, mit dem Mantel der [christlichen Nächsten]liebe bedecken, sich schenken/sparen, übergehen, übersehen, überspringen, unbeachtet/unberücksichtigt lassen, zurückstellen; (gehoben) hintanstellen, hinwegblicken; (bildungssprachlich) negieren; (umgangssprachlich) unter den Tisch fallen lassen, weglassen; (norddeutsch) außen vor lassen; (landschaftlich) hinwegschauen


http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/hinwegsehen
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