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German to English translations [PRO] Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Part of a speech on opening of an historical exhibition
German term or phrase:Schicksalsgemeinschaft
This is Swiss German. The orator is talking about the relationship between a town and a business founded there over 100 years ago. This is colloquial, the spoken word, so English would need to reflect that. I feel it needs something better than "community of fate" - which means little in English, to me at least - the closest I've come is "...with a common destiny".
The surrounding text reads: XXX und XXX – das ist eine besondere Beziehung. Ist es sogar eine Schicksalsgemeinschaft? Mir scheint es eher ein Verhältnis zu sein, das für beide Seiten fruchtbar war und ist.
Any suggestions/any Swiss German speakers out there?
1) Translation Is Our Business NY Times upstyle (Ramey and Michael correct me if I’m wrong) 2) Translation is our business British headline style (Guardian, Times, Telegraph) 3) Translation is our Business German style (Nouns deserve Caps) 4) Translation Is our Business Nouns and verbs reign supreme 5) Translation is Our Business Anything Longer Than Two Characters Qualifies For an Initial Cap
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@Michael Not sure whether you were addressing me as well: I'm talking about "sogar," which precedes the German word Jo asked for.
@Ramey Yes, a second option would be to say (and I can agree with that one!), "It was not just a marriage of convenience." But that, of course, depends - as you said - "on how freely you want to approach the text." It's far removed from the German (your statements increase "incrementally" in importance, while the German goes back and forth), even though the outcome is basically the same, IMO.
@Orla Yes, as you said further below. I'll think about the other part, but "destiny" just seems wrong. Typically, a Schicksalsgemeinschaft is one being brought together by a Schicksalsschlag. Maybe you understand what I'm trying to get at, but I think "destiny" is much broader; there isn't any "plan" - it's a "stroke/twist of fate" that got both to end up where they are now.
BTW, it's not like this sentence is going to ruin the whole story however you translate it.
So, to all of you: Enjoy your evening!
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hey Jo!
16:21 Mar 8, 2017
WHAT did you find? Please don't be put off by our discussion (bickering?). It's all in the name of accurate translating (at least I believe it is).
oa_xxx (X)
Germany
@Bjorn
16:21 Mar 8, 2017
That makes sense, and I think what I was trying to get at, too, in my last post - special relationship-destiny/fate?-not quite but fruitful for all concerned! Don't agree with Phil that "common destiny" is the exact, literal translation of Schicksalsgemeinschaft, but its one interpretation that fits in this context
came first. Whatever interpretations we attribute to EHER or anything else cannot influence the rendering of that term since they didn’t come into play UNTIL AFTER that term was first introduced. Thus, a conventional interpretation (not idiosyncratic to this situation) would have to prevail. Wouldn’t make sense to handle it differently, in my opinion.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
The 'sogar'
16:14 Mar 8, 2017
is what led to my suggestion. Could it have been a marriage of convenience? I believe it was and is more like a fortuitous fellowship.
@Ramey Actually, I didn't see the forest for the trees right now - I'll admit that right away. You and I seemed to have overlooked the word "sogar." It completely alters the meaning and I'll take back what I said about Phil's comment - he has it right. Andrew suggestion seems closest, IMO.
There's already a contrast between "besondere Beziehung" and "Schicksalsgemeinschaft" - the latter is a stronger version of the former (e.g., what I said below "[whatever] by fate").
The contrast between "Schicksalsgemeinschaft" and "fruchtbar" is that with the latter, you are toning down the former, i.e., he wouldn't call it inevitable, but it is and has been mutually beneficial.
Else, something with "fate" still seems more apt than something with "destiny." Can't seem to explain it right now.
@orla Thanks! That's all I wanted to know. Re subjective: Frankly, the German term looks a bit odd here. It doesn't sit quite right with me.
oa_xxx (X)
Germany
@Bjorn
15:57 Mar 8, 2017
Entwined/bound by fate, bound doesn't quite work for me (or chained), too rigid, imposed from above, if that makes sense, but entwined could - pretty subjective I know!
oa_xxx (X)
Germany
15:46 Mar 8, 2017
The other option is - do we share a common destiny/was it fate/written in the stars? etc. followed by ... imo it is (more,rather,simply) a relationship that is and always has been mutually beneficial (was and continues to be...for both...) - sense of contrast that way too.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
a marriage of convenience CAN be positive,
15:43 Mar 8, 2017
as I said earlier. And of course, I'M talking about the ENGLISH. This is a metaphor, attempting to get across the idea, that the relationship has (always) been fortuitous - it was NOT MERELY a random union (Schicksalsgemeinschaft), but more (EHER) of a fruitful relationship.
I know and I don't think I am. It continues with "Mir scheint es eher ein Verhältnis zu sein, das für beide Seiten fruchtbar war und ist."
You cannot tell me that any "marriage of convenience" cannot turn into a fruitful relationship (there are definitely examples to the contrary). The issue with finding the "appropriate English synonym" is that the intended meaning of the German source needs to be understood first. This is the point at which I'm getting involved usually; I'm still talking about the German; I made two suggestions (which someone could use), albeit without getting a response, but will gladly agree to any other proposal if I believe the terms are a match.
I don't like "destiny" either for some reason; I think "fate" is still the best option (although not in combination with "shaped"). A related word is "Schicksalschlag."
In my opinion, "marriage of convenience" puts too much weight on practicality ("utilitarism," if you will), while the German emphasizes the randomness of the event. It's just my opinion - not agreeing or disagreeing to any answer right now.
That's why I am posting my stuff in the d-box.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Ach, Björn!
15:17 Mar 8, 2017
you CAN'T take the term out of context - in this particular context, we are looking for an appropriate, English synonym for Schicksalsgemeinschaft, albeit without the calamitous overtones. Ad I NEVER called a hostage situation a marriage of convenience. I was referring to many couple who married after the war for more practical than emotional reasons. manomanomano
Thought about cancelling out Phil's disagreement, since I don't think that there is no negative subtext here (see below). However, "eher" like "rather" doesn't really have to indicate a contrast and your suggestion doesn't work for other reasons, IMO:
I know what the term means and I'm not going to raise the same objection as Brigitte or Michael. The issue is that marriage of convenience and "für beide Seiten" are not mutually exclusive. You got into that sort of relationship for pragmatic reasons - or fate wanted it so, which doesn't change the fact that the relationship can be "fruchtbar" later. Besides, I'd never call a bond formed by a shared experience, such as a hostage situation, a marriage of convenience...
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Frustrating!
14:54 Mar 8, 2017
The all-defining 'EHER' in the source text places the Schicksalsgemeinschaft in CONTRAST to the fruitful relationship. It is SUPPOSED to be somewhat negative.
The explanation on Wiki is actually quite accurate: "Eine Schicksalsgemeinschaft ist eine Gruppe von Personen, die einem gemeinsamen Schicksal ausgesetzt ist, z. B. einer risikobehafteten oder gefährlichen Situation.
Beispiele hierfür sind Schiffbrüchige, Geiseln oder in einem Bergwerk eingeschlossene Personen. Teilweise entsteht zwischen Geiseln und deren Geiselnehmern eine besondere Schicksalsgemeinschaft, die zu einem Stockholm-Syndrom führen kann." https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schicksalsgemeinschaft
Any objections to "entwined/bound by fate" (not sure about "chained")?
Or rephrase, as Phil and orla suggest: "Fate may have brought them together, but..."
Okay, I accept your comments, it seems that my idea of marriage of convenience (at least one party is not influenced by fate) is wrong.
oa_xxx (X)
Germany
@Brigitte
10:32 Mar 8, 2017
But your example fits marriage of convenience perfectly?!
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hi Brigitte
10:32 Mar 8, 2017
yes! That's exactly what a 'marriage of convenience' conveys (figuratively). Whether fated (thousands of examples in post-war marriages) or deliberated (planned marriages), the idea is the same as in your example.
oa_xxx (X)
Germany
10:30 Mar 8, 2017
Duden describes it as a "Gemeinschaft von Menschen, die das gleiche schwere Schicksal verbindet", whereas it often seems to be used to simply mean shared/common destiny without the "schwer" part - considering the contrast mentioned below, could something along the lines of 'fate may have thrown us together but...' (subsequent relationship has benefited all) - not too far from Ramey's marriage of convenience (perhaps born out of necessity, perhaps it even began as a marriage of convenience but ...) There have always been close ties between xxx and yyy. While fate may have thrown us together, our relationship is and has always been ... the 'eher' makes no sense otherwise.
in this context, for me, "marriage of convenience" is too deliberate. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_of_convenience "Schicksalsgemeinschaft" is different: fate brought the parties together. Since the asker does not provide any context, let me construe an example: a privately owned company is forced to leave Germany in 1934 and finds a new location just across the border, in a small Swiss town with empty covers. The town offers the company attractive conditions hoping that it (the town) might eventually benefit from this.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
These are all indications
09:46 Mar 8, 2017
of a marriage of convenience, a transferrable metaphor accenting the practicality of the union without emotional bonds. a marriage of convenience CAN be positive, but usually indicates that both parties come together out of necessity rather than out of desire. The suggestion also eliminates the 'community' issue. Now back to work.
Exactly. None of my (old) German dictionaries were more helpful either. I am trying to convey the speaker's sense of ambiguity - "distress" and "misfortune" are too pejorative here, although there is a slight negative connotation I feel.
...damit das Rad nicht wieder ganz neu erfunden werden muss. Ein Blick ins kudoz-Glossar ist, wie so oft, zu empfehlen: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/german_to_english/social_science_s... Außerdem gab es da auch schon eine Diskussion bei leo: http://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=159... Mein alter Langenscheidt meint: eine Schicksalsgemeinschaft bilden = to share a common destiny, mein alter Pons Collins schließt sich diesem Vorschlag an. Für "Schicksalsgemeinschaft" alleine bietet Langenscheidt "companions in distress", während Pons Collins "companion in misfortune" als Übersetzung für "Schicksalsgefährte" vorschlägt. Möglicherweise muss man berücksichtigen, unter welchen Umständen Stadt und Unternehmen zu einander fanden ...
Thanks for your suggestion, it helps, but in this case I think the former is intended, as it is in this town that the company was founded by 2 men defecting from another company in the late 1900s.
what is really meant here? Is it a partnership that fate brought together (unlikely) or is is it a partnership of shared interests and goals? I think it's more likely that the latter is intended.
I have a feeling that this needs rephrasing to get the intended meaning across. There is no snappy noun to replace the original.
The 'Schicksalsgemeinschaft' is not entirely positive, though. That's why the author puts it in contrast to the 'fruchtbare Verhältnis' saying it was more than just a 'Schicksalsgemeinschaft'.
Maybe something with 'necessity'? A relationship born of necessity? A relationship by fate?
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Yes, of course.
07:38 Mar 8, 2017
Just the ole turnaround turning up in the wrong place.
Explanation: 'Ich glaube, Sie werden in unserem Umfeld wenig Bürger finden, die sagen würden, das Zusammenleben mit Bayer wäre ein Kreuz. Das kann ich mir gar nicht vorstellen. Denn diese Stadt lebt ja von diesem Werk. Und das ist ein Nehmen und ein Geben, es ist eine Schicksalsgemeinschaft. Wenn es dem Werk gut geht, es ist hier in Leverkusen der größte Arbeitgeber, dann geht es auch den Bürgern in Leverkusen gut, und umgekehrt, kann man natürlich auch sagen." http://www.deutschlandradiokultur.de/die-chemie-stimmt.1001....
A marriage made in heaven? | Research | Clore Social Leadership www.cloresocialleadership.org.uk/penelope-gibbs ... individuals and umbrella bodies could strengthen Chair/Chief Executive relationships. Penelope Gibbs produced the research in collaboration with ACEVO.
AllegroTrans United Kingdom Local time: 21:15 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Explanation: Depending on how freely you want to approach the text, the image would be very clear with marriage of convenience. Of course the fortuitous fellowship could follow to underscore the contrast.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 8 hrs (2017-03-08 15:43:56 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
RANDOM UNION may also work.
Ramey Rieger (X) Germany Local time: 22:15 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 70
