Kaufmannssprache

English translation: language of commerce

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kaufmannssprache
English translation:language of commerce
Entered by: silfilla

12:58 Jun 13, 2005
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics
German term or phrase: Kaufmannssprache
Es geht um einen sprachwissenschaftlichen Artikel zum Thema Sprachpurismus:

"Im deutschen Sprachraum wurde die sogenannte Sprachverderbnis in der Kaufmannssprache erbittert bekämpft".

merchants' language?
Michaela Blaha
Local time: 14:19
language of commerce [and business]
Explanation:
perhaps better suited to the time :-)
Selected response from:

silfilla
Local time: 09:19
Grading comment
I ended up using "language of commerce", though I found this decision quite difficult to make! Thanks to all of you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5Business (or commercial) parlance
Textklick
4 +2business jargon
IanW (X)
4 +2language of commerce [and business]
silfilla
4 +1language of trade
Rachel Ward
4commercial language
Monika Leit
3the language of tradesmen
Lancashireman
3commercial usage
Ken Cox
3business language
Fabio Descalzi


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
business jargon


Explanation:
I'd say "business jargon"

IanW (X)
Local time: 14:19
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ellen Zittinger
4 hrs

agree  Sonia Soros
19 hrs
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
language of commerce [and business]


Explanation:
perhaps better suited to the time :-)

silfilla
Local time: 09:19
Works in field
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
I ended up using "language of commerce", though I found this decision quite difficult to make! Thanks to all of you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ian M-H (X): language of commerce
1 hr
  -> thanks, Ian ;-)

agree  severn (X): language of commerce
3 hrs
  -> thanks, severn
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the language of tradesmen


Explanation:
Nowadays ‘tradesmen’ are people like plumbers, electricians and builders. In the early 1900’s this would have been taken to refer to people who ‘traded’.

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:19
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
language of trade


Explanation:
To avoid confusion over "tradesmen"?

Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:19
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bjørn Anthun: Most neutral, since it would fit well into the context of the early 1900s, and is also used these days.
8 hrs
  -> Thanks, :o)
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Business (or commercial) parlance


Explanation:
I have used this before.

Please don't use 'merchant's language'. It does not sound very English.

Textklick
Local time: 13:19
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ian M-H (X): commercial parlance
9 mins
  -> Thanks Ian

agree  Lancashireman: 'parlance' sounds great for the historical context
24 mins
  -> Thanks Andrew

agree  IanW (X): With you on "merchant's language" too, regardless of when the text is set
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Kaufmann ;-)

agree  writeaway: nice going TK
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Writeaway

agree  Deborah Shannon: 'parlance' avoids undue repetition of 'language' in that sentence, too.
18 hrs
  -> Thanks Deborah.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
commercial language


Explanation:
würde ich sagen

Monika Leit
Local time: 14:19
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
commercial usage


Explanation:
I don't see what's wrong with 'business language' w.r.t 1900 or so, but an alternative would be 'commercial usage'(of the language). Apparently then as now, businessmen and merchants were more interested in results than linguistic purity.

Ken Cox
Local time: 14:19
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
business language


Explanation:
.

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Note added at 3 mins (2005-06-13 13:01:36 GMT)
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at least, this is easier to find than \"merchant\'s language\" (which in turn appears to have more connections with seamen\'s language than with any salesperson\'s language)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 39 mins (2005-06-13 16:38:03 GMT)
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Well, if the text is of 1900, then I agree with LittleBalu: merchant\'s language would do.

Fabio Descalzi
Uruguay
Local time: 10:19
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Lancashireman: If the text is *from* Shakespeare’s time, then ‘merchant’s language’ would do.
8 hrs
  -> Yes, Andrew; I've just read Michaela's late remark, so your comment is OK ;)
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