verbale Entgleisungen

English translation: any unguarded/ comments

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	verbale Entgleisungen
English translation:	any unguarded/ comments
Entered by:	David Williams

16:16 Jan 24, 2013

German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

German term or phrase: verbale Entgleisungen

Context:

'Bewahren Sie vor allem in hitzigen Debatten einen kühlen Kopf und lassen Sie sich zu keinen verbalen Entgleisungen oder unwahren Aussagen hinreißen.'

In employee guidelines for the use of social media.

* Sentence or paragraph where the term occurs: See above
* Document type: Employee guidelines for the use of social media
* Target audience: Employees
* Country and dialect (source): German
* Country and dialect (target): American English

David Williams KudoZ activity Questions: 1642 (4 open) (1 without valid answers) (89 closed without grading) Answers: 485 Germany
Local time: 17:09

any unguarded comments

Explanation:
Do not allow yourself to be drawn (sidetracked) into making any unguarded comments or untruthful statements.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unguarded

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2013-01-24 16:33:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As this appears in 'employee guidelines', it may well be a reference to confidentiality, i.e. not giving away company secrets or harming the brand.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2013-01-24 18:37:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

David, is there any indication in your text that this advice is proffered to employees posting on social media sites and identifying themselves as such?
I have translated similar guidelines in the past, and the chief concern of the employer was that the company should not brought into disrepute or put in a situation where it could be held liable.
The wording of this document needs to reflect these considerations.

Selected response from:

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:09

Grading comment

Many thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +7

any unguarded comments

Lancashireman

3 +2

embarrassing/tactless/inconsiderate (language)

Patrick Hubenthal

3 +1

insults / insulting language

Steffen Walter

(verbal) gaffes

NGK

3 +1

flaming

Alison MacG

don't let your tongue run away with you

polyglot45

(avoid comments) of an offensive nature

Wendy Streitparth

verbal lapses

Michael Martin, MA

4 -2

don't lose your train of thought

jccantrell

3 -1

verbal slip-ups

pj-ffm

3 -2

slip of the toungue

William Murphy

5 -4

to drop a clanger

Salih YILDIRIM

Summary of reference entries provided

Definition

Johanna Timm, PhD

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -2

don't lose your train of thought

Explanation:
How I would say it.

Of course, in conversation, I might say, my train of thought just got derailed.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2013-01-24 16:25:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Of course, this leaves off the 'verbal' but as you are talking about debates, you might not need that.

jccantrell
United States
Local time: 08:09
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 19

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

insults / insulting language

Explanation:
"... do not use insulting language ..."

The "verbal" aspect should be clear from the context.

Steffen Walter
Germany
Local time: 17:09
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 85

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

neutral

Edith Kelly: much too strong IMO

40 mins

-> I don't think so. From my German native speaker standpoint, "verbale Entgleisungen" are the equivalent of personal attacks, hence "insults" (or similar) appears to be a valid translation.

agree

philgoddard: Certainly the case in this article, which has a great headline: http://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/fdp-mann-erntet-shitstorm-fü...

1 hr

-> Yes, that's a good example.

neutral

polyglot45: for me this is "running off at the mouth", talking without thinking first, saying things best left unsaid in the heat of the moment. May not be insulting. Could be tactless or indiscreet

1 hr

-> Thank you but I do think there's a bit more to an "Entgleisung" than what you described. And there's a fine (often "blurred") line between being tactless and/or insulting (comments might qualify as either of the two but also both).

neutral

784512 (X): 2nd 'favorite' submission, but imho this needs to cover more than just insults. Insults to me are more in the mind of the speaker/easily defined than things that can be misinterpreted. So a little too strong, imho.

2 hrs

-> Yes, your example given in the discussion box is a case in point indeed.

neutral

Cilian O'Tuama: Hi Steffen - I reckon "insulting" is too restrictive here. Source text is broader than that (and IMO includes e.g. "embarrassing").

3 hrs

-> ... which is why I've agreed with Andrew's answer.

10 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

verbal slip-ups

Explanation:
I'd use something along these lines. "slips of the tongue", "verbal blunders" could work, or maybe reword and use "getting/becoming verbally derailed" (though I don't suppose that is a very common turn of phrase...)

pj-ffm
Local time: 17:09
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 2

12 mins confidence:

(verbal) gaffes

Explanation:
gaffe
/gaf/
Noun
An unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder: "an unforgivable social gaffe".
Synonyms
faux pas - blunder - mistake

https://www.google.com/search?q=gaffe&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS508US508&aq=f&oq=gaffe&aqs=chrome.0.59j0j5j0j60j62.1956&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

NGK
United States
Local time: 10:09
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Nicole Schnell

22 mins

agree

Edith Kelly: 10 classic Joe Biden verbal gaffes | Articles | Home prdaily.com/.../10_classic_Joe_Biden_verbal_ga... 16.08.2012 – The vice president is taking flak for a remark he made this week, prompting us to recall some of his finer misspea

36 mins

neutral

Steffen Walter: Too weak IMHO. "Verbale Entgleisungen" are more than just gaffes, which are limited to the "embarrassing" rather than the "attacking/insulting" aspect.

45 mins

neutral

philgoddard: Agree with Steffen - and your reference simply proves that the word "gaffe" exists in English, which we know.

1 hr

agree

BrigitteHilgner

1 hr

disagree

784512 (X): This is the wrong register for formal communication imho, and such "gaffes" may not be verbal in the way most understand it. Further, "gaffe" to me sounds like the employee will "apologize" with a little "oh, silly me!" and all is forgiven. With Steffen.

2 hrs

disagree

David Moore (X): Sorry, ntext, but I don't see you CAN make "verbal gaffes" on social media, for reasons adequately explained elsewhere.

2 hrs

-> verbal: of, relating to, or consisting of words (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbal)

disagree

CMFTrier: This seems a little too informal for the context.

1 day 20 hrs

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

embarrassing/tactless/inconsiderate (language)

Explanation:
I don't think it's necessarily as strong as "insulting," though of course it could be.

If not for the need to work in the "unwahren Aussagen," I'd probably say "Don't say something you'll regret later." But as it is:

"Don't get so carried away that you say something untrue or embarrassing."

Patrick Hubenthal
Local time: 09:09
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

19 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -2

slip of the toungue

Explanation:
don't let your tongue slip and say anything that is untrue (or that you don't mean)

suggestion..

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2013-01-24 16:37:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

should be 'tongue' in the response, obviously

William Murphy
Italy
Local time: 17:09
Native speaker of:

English

54 mins confidence:

don't let your tongue run away with you

Explanation:
however heated the debate, keep a cool head, don't let your tongue run away with you and be careful what you say

polyglot45
Native speaker of:

English,

French
PRO pts in category: 12

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): -4

to drop a clanger

Explanation:
Imho

Salih YILDIRIM
United States
Local time: 11:09
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Turkish

10 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

any unguarded comments

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:09
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 160

Grading comment

Many thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

784512 (X): Best because 1) not referring to speaking in any way 2) correct register, needs to be formal 3) also needs to encompass other kinds of comments e.g. inappropriate smileys ;-P 4) needs to range from the mildly inappropriate to the obscene, which this does.

2 hrs

agree

David Moore (X)

2 hrs

agree

Patrick Hubenthal: "Unguarded" is good.

2 hrs

agree

Steffen Walter: Yes, this is better - it covers all the bases and is formal enough for employee guidelines. I also agree with Rose's comments here and in the discussion box.

2 hrs

agree

Lirka

2 hrs

agree

Sanjay Kesharwani: Duden (7. Auflage) also says, Entgleisung = Geschmacklosigkeit, taktlose Äußerung

3 hrs

disagree

Lonnie Legg: Rose's interesting comments notwithstanding, "unguarded/unvorsichtig" doesn't match Duden's def. of Entgleisung: "Geschmacklosigkeit, taktlose Äußerung".

3 hrs

-> Thank you for taking a special interest in my contributions. http://www.proz.com/kudoz/german_to_english/journalism/52540...

agree

Cilian O'Tuama: And I reckon "unguarded" covers tactless/flippant/offensive/unüberlegt...

3 hrs

agree

Cetacea

17 hrs

3 hrs confidence:

(avoid comments) of an offensive nature

Explanation:
my two ha'pence worth

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 17:09
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 11

17 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

flaming

Explanation:
Looking at how the term is actually used in German in your particular context and comparing similar English-language material, I wonder if this term might be suitable here.

You presumably have the entire text of the guidelines. Are any of the other decent suggestions you have received so far covered there in some other way?

Bei sehr umstrittenen Diskussionsthemen kommt es in den elektronischen Diskussionsforen leicht zum sogenannten `flaming'. Mit `flaming' werden schriftliche Wutausbrüche gegen andere Person bezeichnet, bei denen aggressive Äußerungen, ungerechtfertigte Anschuldigungen und Schimpfwörter verwendet werden.

Besonders in ,Newsgroups, aber auch in anderen Bereichen des Internets, kommt es leicht zu heftigen Emotions-Eskalationen. Neue Ideen und Meinungen zu äußern bedeutet oft, in den Widerspruch von Altem zu treten. Dadurch entsteht schnell eine konfliktbelade Atmosphäre. Die Anonymität senkt zusätzlich die Hemmschwelle, andere vor den Kopf zu stoßen. Bei Newsgroups handelt es sich um eine öffentliche Darstellung mit einer anonymen Mitleserschaft im Hintergrund. Sie birgt das Risiko, vor einer prinzipiell weltweiten Öffentlichkeit bloßgestellt zu werden. Dies ruft besondere Verteidigungsmechanismen hervor. Bei der Beteiligung von mehreren Personen kann es so leicht zu einem Aufschaukeln der Gefühle kommen. Nicht unwichtig ist dabei das Tempo. Es kommt schneller zu Fehlinterpretationen und Mißverständnissen (vgl. Funke und Krüger, 1997a).
Die Gegner begraben sich unter Schimpfwörtern und ungerechtfertigten Anschuldigungen. Im Internet werden diese aggressiven Äußerungen gegen Personen als `flaming' bezeichnet. Das 'Flaming' wird auch genutzt um eine Diskussion anzuheizen oder andere Nutzer zum Spaß zu provozieren. In realweltlichen Begegnungen würden Äußerungen wohl nicht in dieser Schärfe verwandt werden. Es kommt auch zu frenetischem Jubel, der in der realen Welt als übertrieben und unangemessen empfunden würde. Die persönliche Identität des Absenders und Empfänger ist aufgelöst. Höflichkeitsformen werden ignoriert, der Sinn für Eigenverantwortung und der Respekt vor sozialen Normen geht verloren. Die Computer-vermittelte Kommunikation läßt Personen impulsiv und unberechenbar werden. Sie neigen zu extremen Entscheidungen. "Denn die Elemente, die an Kontexte und Personen erinnern, sind schwach oder fehlen, deshalb brauchen sich diejenigen, die die Entscheidungen treffen, weniger an Konventionen gebunden zu fühlen und weniger um die Konsequenzen ihrer Entscheidungen besorgt zu sein" (Sproull und Kiesler, 1991 zit. nach: Mantovani, 1994, S.159).
Boehringer (1995, S.32) stellt im Gegensatz dazu fest, daß die Computer-vermittelte Kommunikation von hoher Achtung und Respekt gegenüber abweichenden Meinungen geprägt ist, und verbale `Entgleisungen' nicht toleriert werden. Viele Nutzer empfinden 'Flames' als lästig oder sogar als Regelverstoß. Bei den Online-Kommunikationsformen ist das 'Flaming' nicht so ausgeprägt. Der scheinbar direkte Kontakt mit dem Gegenüber bildet hier wahrscheinlich eine Hemmschwelle (vgl. Kneer, 1994).
http://www.student-online.net/Publikationen/278/

Flaming
1. Be wary of “flaming” – getting involved in an online argument by making thoughtless or nasty remarks in a message. Because they are written and context-free, negative comments tend to be amplified, which means that minor insults or criticisms seem much harsher. You need to be careful when formulating online messages – it is not the same as in-person or telephone interaction.
http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/netiquette.htm

Abusive or disruptive behaviour is not allowed on BBC blogs. This includes:
Flaming: This means posting something that's angry and mean-spirited.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/moderation.shtml

Be wary of flaming. Avoid provocative language; it can be hard to judge tone in the written word.
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/dit/documents/factsheets/fsin01.pdf

Keep in mind that it is sometimes difficult to communicate the right tone online or in an e-mail message. An e-mail conversation can escalate into insult and hostility, commonly called flaming, if you hit the wrong tone. If you are participating in a discussion, think carefully about how you use humour or other writing techniques.
http://rc.lsuc.on.ca/pdf/kt/67_6370_OnlineActivitySocialMedi...

Do not abuse others even in response to abuse (Sometimes known as flaming)
http://www.sarh.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/15-item-SAR...

Gap’s social media policy a guide for other companies
Some subjects can invite a flame war. Be careful discussing things where emotions run high (e.g. politics and religion) and show respect for others’ opinions.
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/Gaps_social_media_polic...

§ 2.4 Verbale Entgleisungen (sogenannte "Flames")
Gegen die Regeln verstößt, wer Äußerungen tätigt, die obszön, vulgär oder diskriminierend sind oder andere Personen bzw. Personengruppen bedrohen, nötigen, verleumden oder beleidigen. Wir bei SSBC legen besonderen Wert auf einen freundlichen Umgangston.
§ 2.5 Persönliche Beleidigungen (personal insults)
Wie schon in Punkt 2.4 erwähnt, werden persönliche Angriffe oder Beleidigungen nicht toleriert. Bei einem Verstoß gegen diese Regel können besonders harte Strafen folgen, bis hin zur Sperrung des Users.
http://www.ssbm.org/thread.php?threadid=12&sid=138c073a59c36...

Alison MacG
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:09
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

34 mins confidence:

verbal lapses

Explanation:
Might fit here as they happen in the spur of the moment

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day11 hrs (2013-01-26 04:03:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Many of our ideas sound good in isolation until we put them in a sentence...

Here's my attempt to pull the whole sentence together:

"Keep a clear head, particularly in heated debates and avoid overstepping verbal boundaries or making less than truthful assertions."

Reference: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Verbal-Lapse-Probably-Won...

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 11:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 63

Reference comments

6 hrs peer agreement (net): +2

Reference: Definition

Reference information:
"Im übrigen ist eine "verbale Entgleisung" als ein "Sich-im-Ton-Vergreifen" zu verstehen."

http://mundmische.de/bedeutung/24501-verbale_Entgleisung

Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 90

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

verbale Entgleisungen

English translation: any unguarded/ comments

Answers

Reference comments

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

verbale Entgleisungen

English translation: any unguarded/ comments

Answers

Reference comments

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language