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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

stellvertretend für

English translation:

To illustrate

Added to glossary by Paul Cohen
Nov 10, 2009 12:11
14 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

stellvertretend für... gebe ich hier ... wieder

German to English Bus/Financial Management business literature
"Stellvertretend für die allgemeine Meinung gebe ich hier eine Meldung des [Name Zeitung] vom [Datum] wieder, in der [Name Person] zitiert wird."

(Danach folgt natürlich das Zitat.)
Proposed translations (English)
4 To illustrate...
4 +5 s.u.
3 +1 to quote (from) a newspaper article which represents/expresses public opinion
3 Lending a voice to...
3 s.u.
3 As a reflection of common opinion..
3 On behalf of ... I state that ...
Change log

Nov 13, 2009 16:27: Paul Cohen Created KOG entry

Discussion

David Williams Nov 10, 2009:
Sounds excellent to me!
Michél Dallaserra Nov 10, 2009:
Or rather: "The following passage from a newspaper article which was published ... and in which XY is cited can be seen as representative of the public opinion prevalent/held at that time: QUOTE
Michél Dallaserra Nov 10, 2009:
How about this: "The following newspaper article ... citing XY can be seen as representative of the public opinion held at that time:
Jutta Scherer (asker) Nov 10, 2009:
This is what I've come up with so far: .......... public opinion prevailing at the time, I will cite a [name of newspaper] article, dated xxxxx, in which [person and position] is quoted as saying:
Michél Dallaserra Nov 10, 2009:
Thank you, Jutta. So I think it is the newspaper article referred to which is said to have represented public opinion at that time rather than the person citing it (see my answer belo).
Jutta Scherer (asker) Nov 10, 2009:
"Stellvertretend für" ... is the tricky part. I wonder if there's a set phrase for that, as there is in German.
Sorry, I just realized I could/should make the context a lot clearer: The author refers to the fact that over many years, the U.S. public (and even economists) refused to believe that a recession was indeed a possibility.
So the "allgemeine Meinung" he is referring to here is a thing of the past.
Helen Shiner Nov 10, 2009:
Hi Jutta which bit are you having problems with? Knowing that would help us to help you.

Proposed translations

4 hrs
Selected

To illustrate...

To illustrate the prevailing public opinion at the time, I cite a [name of newspaper] article, dated xxxxx, in which [person and position] is quoted as saying: ...

I would instinctively use a verb to translate stellvertretend. In my opinion, 'to illustrate' indicates that the quote cited here is insightful and exemplifies the prevailing public opinion at the time, i.e., it is one of many opinions voiced. I think that is about as close as you will come to expressing stellvertretend.

Note from asker:
Thanks, Paul! Sounds good
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks everyone for the enlightening discussion. I selected Paul's answer because it is appropriate in tone and fits nicely with the flow of the text"
16 mins

Lending a voice to...

Without any more info, the sentence could be something like:

Voicing public opinion/Lending a voice to public opinion, I would like to publish/post/draw attention to a story by (newspaper)...
Note from asker:
Danke, Monika! Der Anfang stimmt noch nicht ganz (von der Bedeutung her), aber das ist so ungefähr die Satzstruktur, die mir vorschwebt - denn hier kann man das Zitat der Person gut anschließen.
Something went wrong...
41 mins

s.u.

Just as a reminder of what the public thought (at that time) I cite...
or
Just to remind you of what the public thought/beliebed I ...

Vielleicht wäre das eine Möglichkeit
Something went wrong...
+5
28 mins

s.u.

Here I cite an article from the XX dated YY, which is representative of the generally held opinion. In it ZZ is quoted as saying: ...


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Note added at 29 mins (2009-11-10 12:41:02 GMT)
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or public opinion if it is indeed that and not an opinion held by a group of scientists, say.

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Note added at 30 mins (2009-11-10 12:42:07 GMT)
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Or it might be 'Here I reproduce an article from ..... (if the whole article is reprinted).

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Note added at 42 mins (2009-11-10 12:54:35 GMT)
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Not easy to do in English, since it is not great stylistically to start a sentence in that way.

But how about 'As an example of the opinion that was widely held at the time, I reproduce ......

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Note added at 47 mins (2009-11-10 12:59:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As an example of public opinion prevailing at the time, I cite from XX

You should not use the future tense here - so I will cite is wrong, and I cite is better, otherwise it sounds as if the author will cite later on in the book/article.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Helen! I am looking for a way to put the "stellvertretend" up front, as that would make for a nicer flow.
Peer comment(s):
agree TonyTK : Yes - you've covered most of the bases here, I think.
27 mins
Thanks
agree David Williams : Precisely! UI think the final iteration is more or less the best you're likely to get!
1 hr
Thanks, David
agree seehand : I like "As an example ..." best
2 hrs
Thanks, seehand
agree Nicole Backhaus
3 hrs
Thanks, Nicole
agree Rolf Keiser
5 hrs
Thanks, Goldcoaster
Something went wrong...
+1
22 mins

to quote (from) a newspaper article which represents/expresses public opinion

I think it is the newspaper article which represents public opinion rather than the person citing (from) it.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 48 Min. (2009-11-10 13:00:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The following newspaper article ... citing XY can be seen as representative of the public opinion held at that time:

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 58 Min. (2009-11-10 13:10:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"The following passage from a newspaper article which was published ... and in which XY is cited can be seen as representative of the public opinion prevalent/held at that time: [QUOTE]
Note from asker:
Danke, Michél! Der Einstieg gefällt mir, nur habe ich das Problem, dass ich ja anschließend noch das Zitat der Person anfügen muss.
Peer comment(s):
agree David Williams : Yes, you could say "To quote a newspaper article which represented/expressed public opinion at the time:"
1 hr
Something went wrong...
1 hr

As a reflection of common opinion..

It doesn't seem clear whether the article itself is reproduced or just the quote. So this may or may not work.
Something went wrong...
16 mins

On behalf of ... I state that ...

Or: "I (hereby) declare, on behalf of ... that ..."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2009-11-10 12:29:52 GMT)
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i.e.

"On behalf of the general public, allow me to quote [Name Zeitung] dated [Datum], who cites [Name Person]:"

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Note added at 19 mins (2009-11-10 12:30:58 GMT)
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No, sorry, make that:

"On behalf of the general public, allow me to quote [Name], who cites [Name Person]:"

or:

"On behalf of the general public, allow me to quote [Name Zeitung] of [Datum], which cites [Name Person]:"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2009-11-10 12:41:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In that case (given the discussion above), I'd suggest:

"Allow me to quote [Newspaper] of [date], which reflected the general/public opinion at the time (very) accurately:"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-10 14:08:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

OK, I see. Why not simply translate "Stellvertretend für" as "As an example of..." in that case?
Note from asker:
Thanks, David! "Stellvertretend für" means something else here, though: The author wants to express that he chose the newspaper article as one of many possible examples of what everybody thought
Something went wrong...
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