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English translation: member of the extended project team
20:22 Dec 17, 2014
German to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Volunteer work
German term or phrase:der verlängerte Arm
I consider this an idiom, but in this instance it is used in the framework of volunteer work. Have crops up in the last paragraph and inspiration has run out. Anyone's brains still working?
The text is written by a former volunteer who now unofficially helps out in practical ways where he can.
Ich sehe mich nicht als Geldgeber. Ich bin vielmehr der verlängerte Arm des Projektes,
however project family is also used for various additional or new projects/products see: http://ppmblog.org/ project family
My suggestion is to either describe what he is doing (as Andrew did) or to find a term that does his selfless work justice, in other words, a nice term such as the one I suggested. Spearhead and trailblazer are too strong and would indicate a leadership role, extended arm or extension are too technical and impersonal to me and there aren't many GHits to support them for this context. The thing is, "verlängerter Arm" does define a fairly close relationship. He works tirelessly for the project, he sees himself connected to it Through his work (and money?!), he allows the project to expand its scope; now that's pretty important.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 hrs (2014-12-18 16:48:00 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
corr: allows the expansion (of the scope) of the project
Coming from the land of understatement, I wouldn't like to call myself a "pillar of support" (at least not in print!), though I might think it. So my original agreement dwindled a bit. But at least it looks like we've got it sorted now and hopefully you can sit back in your chair, relax and enjoy the rest of Christmas! Thanks again, Michael, and a happy new year!
My tone was perhaps a bit too harsh, Wendy. You’re right. Nobody will come back and say you reinterpreted the source text in this particular case as you picked a perfectly acceptable solution. After all, we all have to make good-faith efforts at interpreting a source text. Everything’s fine as long as we don’t make unreasonable assumptions or demonstrably alter the source text. I thought your line about “overestimating his importance” was a step in that direction but I am prepared to take that back at this point.
Quite so, Michael. He may or may not be a pillar of strength, I don't know. What I do know is that he is a committed supporter - to whatever extent that has an effect on the viability of the project, so I hardly think that can be considered a correction to the text.
@Wendy. No complaints about my solution being rejected but it should be rejected for the right reasons. You said this author might have been overestimating his importance. That may well be the case but it’s not our job to “correct” or second-guess the author of a source text. That could be interpreted as a slippery slope to all sorts of inappropriate changes. The only time we can “fill in the gaps” is if a source text is unclear or something was inadvertently left out. Even that may have to be preceded by a “Translator’s Note.”
Once again I'd like to thank everybody for their contributions - not just the answerers but also everyone who made comments or discussion entries. I would never have imagined that I (and you) could spend so much time on such a simple phrase! Unfortunately I couldn't use Andrew's phrase (though he hit the nail on the head) as it occurred in more or less those words two paragraphs before. Sorry Andrew. After much indecision, I went for Bernhard's "committed supporter", which is undeniably the case.
Horst Huber (X)
United States
From Bernhard's and Andrew's
22:03 Dec 18, 2014
comments, I would deduce that it is unidiomatic to say something like "my work serves to extend its reach"?
Thank you everybody for your suggestions and comments. You've given me a lot to think about and made it very difficult to allot the points. You couldn't know it Phil, but the man seems to be making quite an effort on the project's behalf, so I feel that arm's length doesn't quite do him justice. Still have today to think about it!
The point seems to be that this person is the "arm" to work a European extension of the African project. Some "extension" or "extended" should be fine, and what goes with it would depend on the actual role of this person. "Extended lever"?
Horst Huber (X)
United States
Quite so, Andrew;
03:24 Dec 18, 2014
but it might say, at least roughly, what the German intends to say. Someone whose reach goes beyond that of the team itself.
Horst, I think Wendy is looking for ways of making this sound like English.
Horst Huber (X)
United States
This person obviously
01:16 Dec 18, 2014
is invested in the project, but choses not to be seen or act in that capacity. He rather wishes to function as an extension, not as a directly authorised representative.
Many thanks everybody so far. Wasn't expecting so much response at this time and had signed off for the night! The full sentence is: Ich bin vielmehr der verlängerte Arm des Projektes, das so einen anderen Markt erschließen kann. The volunteer had worked in Africa and now helps to find marketing contacts for the project (which tries in a small way to fund itself) in Europe. Hope this helps.
But I really need to see more context before entering this as an official answer. 'Eminence grise' and 'godfather' also spring to mind. Plus we have the magnificent 'long arm of the law' to adapt.
Ich bin vielmehr der verlängerte Arm des Projektes...
Instead, I'm using my connections on behalf of the project...
Explanation: ...helping it to open up another market. (Gleaned from the additional context provided)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 hrs (2014-12-17 23:54:16 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I'm going to add this earlier suggestion from the Discussion Box too, as Ingeborg thought that something similar might fit the context: quietly working away in the background I don't think any of the suggestions featuring 'arm' are appropriate. 'At arm's length'? Why would the interviewee wish to distance himself from the project?
Lancashireman United Kingdom Local time: 08:58 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 160
Notes to answerer
Asker: Really sorry, Andrew. You were absolutely on the right track, but as I said above, a similar sentence already appeared two paragraphs earlier. Have a happy Christmas!
peer agreement (net): +1
