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nicht einmal

English translation: not even

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:noch nicht einmal
English translation:not even
Entered by: Brie Vernier

14:51 Mar 11, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics
German term or phrase: nicht einmal
Noch hat die Show keinen Namen und doch ist sie bereits in aller Munde: Interessant ist dabei noch nicht einmal, worum es in der geplanten TV-Show gehen soll, sondern wer sie produzieren wird....
Jianming Sun
Local time: 08:53
not even
Explanation:
What is interesting about the show is not even what it will be about, but rather who will be producing it ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2006-03-11 17:53:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"not even ... but rather" is a common enough construction (http://tinyurl.com/sx5ng)

You could also write e.g. "It's not even the show's content/subject matter/premise that makes it so interesting, but rather ..."
Selected response from:

Brie Vernier
Germany
Local time: 02:53
Grading comment
Thank you all for kind help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5not so much... but
Ulrike Kraemer
4 +3not even
Brie Vernier
4see explanation
DDM
3not only
Rita Bilancio
2rephrase!
Francis Lee (X)


  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
not so much... but


Explanation:
What is interesting (about the show) is not so much what the show will be about but...

...another option

Ulrike Kraemer
Germany
Local time: 02:53
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lancashireman: The interest centres not so much on what the planned TV show will be about but who is going to produce it
3 mins
  -> That's even better than my own suggestion. Thanks, Andrew.
agree  OlafK
44 mins
neutral  Brie Vernier: dann hieße es aber m.M.n. "ist dabei weniger X als ..."
1 hr
agree  Francis Lee (X): not exactly what the German says, but (primarily for stylistic reasons) OK by me!
1 hr
agree  Diana Loos
1 hr
agree  Alison Jenner
3 hrs
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
see explanation


Explanation:
It appears to be not that interesting what is the TV Show about but rather who will be its producer...

To my mind, the construction "not...but rather" has to be used in this case. "Einmal" functions as a particle which emphasises "not".

Regards,

Dan

DDM
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
not only


Explanation:
So this isn't the only important thing, on the other hand...

Rita Bilancio
Local time: 02:53
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
rephrase!


Explanation:
Lil' Balu is right to suggest that this sentence needs a different structure in English.

- The interesting aspect/thing (here) is that this fascination has nothing to do with the content ...

- The interest/fascination in fact has nothing to do with the content and everything to do with the people producing/behind it

- ... , primarily/ostensibly due to the names of the producers; the show's content appears irrelevant.

OK, all of these need fine-tuning ...

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Note added at 1 hr (2006-03-11 16:38:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or something with "issue"

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 02:53
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
noch nicht einmal
not even


Explanation:
What is interesting about the show is not even what it will be about, but rather who will be producing it ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2006-03-11 17:53:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"not even ... but rather" is a common enough construction (http://tinyurl.com/sx5ng)

You could also write e.g. "It's not even the show's content/subject matter/premise that makes it so interesting, but rather ..."

Brie Vernier
Germany
Local time: 02:53
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thank you all for kind help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Moore (X)
8 mins
  -> Thanks, David
agree  Rachel Ward
8 mins
  -> Thanks, Rachel
neutral  Francis Lee (X): I dunno ... my first thought was: rephrase. Sounds a tad awkward IMO
1 hr
  -> So go ahead and suggest something, Francis ... I was just trying to give an idea of how it is meant
agree  Mine Somyurek (X): What's meant is: the content of the show is not interesting at all. That's why I wouldn't take the expression "not so much....but" here which would mean that the content is still a little interesting...
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Mine
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