Nov 19, 2014 11:07
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
Nasenprämie
German to English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
Trade union representatives are complaining about a proposed new pay scheme: "Wir wollen keine Nasenprämie, bei der das Unternehmen nach Gefügigkeit des Mitarbeiters entlohnt."
I would like to know (preferably from German native speakers) what the precise image conjured up by "Nasenprämie" is - not necessarily so that I can use the same image in my translation, but so that I can get to the bottom of exactly what the "Nasen-" element means here. (E.g. is it about "sniffing out" the people you feel like giving a bonus too?)
I would like to know (preferably from German native speakers) what the precise image conjured up by "Nasenprämie" is - not necessarily so that I can use the same image in my translation, but so that I can get to the bottom of exactly what the "Nasen-" element means here. (E.g. is it about "sniffing out" the people you feel like giving a bonus too?)
Proposed translations
(English)
3 +4 | brown-nosing bonus | Cilian O'Tuama |
3 +1 | favouritism | Lancashireman |
3 | discretionary bonus | Michael Martin, MA |
Proposed translations
+4
54 mins
Selected
brown-nosing bonus
I don't think the German has anything to do with sniffing, but simply that pro Nase = pro Kopf , and "I don’t like the way you look" = "mir gefällt deine Nase nicht"
Here it seems to be bonus based on inappropriate selection criteria, i.e. someone’s appearance or level of servility
The servility/submissiveness/obedience element (Gefügigkeit) might be covered by the "brown" above.
There’s very likely a better idiom in Eng., but this one gets the “nose” in.
Here it seems to be bonus based on inappropriate selection criteria, i.e. someone’s appearance or level of servility
The servility/submissiveness/obedience element (Gefügigkeit) might be covered by the "brown" above.
There’s very likely a better idiom in Eng., but this one gets the “nose” in.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Darin Fitzpatrick
: This was my thought as well. A German colleague confirms that it evokes, "Mir gefällt deine Nase nicht."
16 mins
|
agree |
thefastshow
: defo has a strong emphasize to favor/disadvantage by subjective standardss
1 hr
|
agree |
philgoddard
5 hrs
|
neutral |
Michael Martin, MA
: The bottom line is that the boss has to like that person. Brown-nosing might actually backfire if the boss decides a certain person won’t get the bonus because he’s being an annoying brown-noser..
18 hrs
|
agree |
Ramey Rieger (X)
: whatever
19 hrs
|
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I actually used the term "arbitrary bonus" but thanks to everyone for their comments and explanations."
+1
1 day 8 hrs
favouritism
The faecal origin and connotation of the term 'brown-nosing' makes it unsuitable for polite company.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: Mine was meant more as an explanation - this is probably more suitable as a translation, though not very colourful
16 hrs
|
2 days 5 hrs
discretionary bonus
That’s the closest one to “Nasenprämie” I was able to come up with among terms that are actually used in and around the workplace. Andrew is right in that favoritism is often part of the mix but it doesn’t hinge on defined qualities of employee conduct (brown-nosing). ‘Discretionary bonuses’ is a more discreet term than Nasenprämie but it’s hard to find an English term that is as explicit as Nasenprämie and yet tolerable to read when splattered all over the page..
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-discretionary-bonus.htm#di...
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-discretionary-bonus.htm#di...
Discussion
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/lead by the nose
(4th text block underneath the photos)
"Nasenbonus" (not only in this text) seems to refer to some arbitrary decision making.
I can't remember seeing this term prior to your question. ;-)