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English translation: examines the tension between..
15:57 Oct 12, 2017
German to English translations [Non-PRO] Social Sciences - History
German term or phrase:Spannungsverhältnis
Die Struktur politischer Macht ist ein klassisches Thema der historischen Mittelalterforschung. Dabei wird unter anderem das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen autokratischer, historiographisch überhöhter Herrschaft auf der einen Seite und einer in der Gemeinschaft der Eliten verankerten Herrschaftspraxis untersucht
I see there was already an entry for this word, but it is a different context. Linguee.com offers tension, but I don't think that fits either. Would just relationship work?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 27 mins (2017-10-12 16:25:01 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Here's a working translation of your sentence. See for yourself whether that makes sense:
"Among several things, what is being examined here is the tension between autocratic rule exalted in historiography and the exercise of power rooted in the bonds between the elites."
I don't really like it for this purpose. My first thought would be a branching out into two veins. The other meaning of dichotomy is the division of a (perfect) whole into complementary parts (Yin Yang). Seems too harmonious. I'm contemplating "dialectic," suggested by Björn https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectical_materialism
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Antinomy An expression in law and logic to indicate that two authorities, laws, or propositions are inconsistent with each other. See: inconsistency, opposition, paradox ANTINOMY. A term used in the civil law to signify the real or apparent contradiction between two laws or two decisions. Merl. Repert. h.t. Vide Conflict of Laws.
A deliberate/non-literal translation of Spannungsverhältnis is "contrariness." http://orgprints.org/9548/ Regionalvermarktung und Bio-Produkte: Spannungsverhältnis oder sinnvolle Ergänzung? [Regional marketing and organic products: Contrariness or reasonable completion?]
RE side note: I don't think you should omit written/writing. In German: "Historiographie bezeichnet die schriftliche Darstellung historischer Ereignisse, die entweder vor der Herausbildung der modernen Geschichtswissenschaft im 19. Jahrhundert entstanden sind oder den Kriterien der Wissenschaftlichkeit nicht genügen." https://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Historiographie
But I don't see anything wrong with "historical writing." Take Britannica, for example: "The slightest familiarity with historical writing shows that historians believe that they are explaining past events." https://www.britannica.com/topic/historiography/Methodology-...
In essence, it's simpler in German. I'm not saying a sociological meaning is used; I'm saying the author--as happens quite often--is tripping over his own words.
Unless there's something I'm missing, I have to assume that this sentence is stylistically awkward; not sure he's contrasting the glorification of autocrats with the rule of oligarchs, if you know what I mean. But I can't tell from the snippet.
I'm pretty certain a sociological meaning isn't being used. This is about power, so the voltage or amplitude ratio makes more sense IMO. I think "power dynamic" isn't terrible. Similar to what someone proposed in the Answers.
Et tu, Brute? I think "exaggerated in (written) history" makes more sense. The juxtaposition with "Praxis" makes me think that this is the real importance of this sentence. But I could have it all wrong.
This here's crucial: "it isn't clear to me what is actually being related"
That's the trouble with this word. I can't really make out what he wants to say here either.
Side note (just my 2 cents):
While "historiography" is OK, it seems to have only one meaning in German and two in English; I'd suggest a simple "historical writing."
Second, "exalted" is ambivalent, IMO (take a look at your Bible at home); I'd prefer "extol" or much clearer: "glorified." Why don't you just call it what it is. He says "überhöht."
Based on the ENS books I read in university (sociology), I'm not very comfortable with a 1:1 translation, which may sound overly complicated.
But I can see how this might not be the best choice, I was thinking of this NY Times article: "Well-established oligarchic republics have scarcely ever made war on one another. [...] For example, in Germany more than seventy autonomous Hanseatic city-republics maintained absolute peace among themselves for three and a half centuries, even as they battled every neighboring autocrat." http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/w/weart-war.html
Interesting read. Less "florid," but I think OK would be "competing/competition." I wouldn't say "vying for attention" because they were the dominant forms of government; that may sound odd.
"Struggle" is too interpersonal. "Struggle for dominance" fits perfectly IMO. The relation between the idea of autocratic rule and that of rule by the elites is the relation between two sides of a prism. They aren't fighting each other. They could be fighting each other for space. Let's say that the two ideologies are two voices speaking at the same time. The "volume ratio" might be of interest. Maybe they are "vying for attention." We also are dealing with the theoretical (historiographically inflated) vs. actual (Herrschaftspraxis), so it isn't clear to me what is actually being related. In any case, the suggestions above would work.
Got another suggestion fitting the context: "The fierce struggle between autocratic tyranny and oligarchic disorder, which went on in intermittent fashion during the whole of his reign, cannot be here described in detail, but the chief incidents may be mentioned." https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:EB1911_-_Volume_23.djvu/...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 27 mins (2017-10-12 16:25:01 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Here's a working translation of your sentence. See for yourself whether that makes sense:
"Among several things, what is being examined here is the tension between autocratic rule exalted in historiography and the exercise of power rooted in the bonds between the elites."
Michael Martin, MA United States Local time: 10:40 Specializes in field Native speaker of: German, English PRO pts in category: 74
Grading comment
Danke!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Ok. That's what I had while I was waiting for responses to this, so I'll stick with that. Thanks for the vote of confidence :)
Asker: Thanks @Michael! I really like the exalted in historiography, I was having issues formulating that part well too.
This strained relationship is not so much one of tension but rather of disconnect or disjuncture, i.e. the two versions of reality are at odds with each other.
Lancashireman United Kingdom Local time: 15:40 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 252
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 18 hrs (2017-10-13 10:47:56 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
However, the relata in your relation (if you want to call it that) are not people. "Dynamic" by itself might work. It's not really the same as "relationship." http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dynamic 1. An interactive system or process, especially one involving competing or conflicting forces: "The traditional nineteenth-century dynamic between the sexes had begun to erode" (Jean Zimmerman).
Steffen Walter Germany Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 58
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peer agreement (net): +2
