Categories: words, translation
Date: 31 March 2009 15:07:09
I am currently working on a job with a colleague. I am quaking in my boots because he will be proofreading my work before submitting it to his client. I am translating an area I am not really that comfortable with and I feel sure I'm making tons of mistakes.
But the real reason I am in utter awe of him is that he is truly bi-lingual, whereas I am merely "relatively fluent". There is a huge difference - he can write equally authoritatively in both English and German as he has been educated and has lived for extensive periods in both cultures. I would never dare translate into German for fear of making some horrendous howler without even noticing.
He sent me an email earlier - in English - but at one point used a German phrase. He wrote in brackets what a relief it was to be able to use both his languages with someone who understands. There are times when German can express something much more concisely and succinctly or colourfully than English and such phrases sometimes come to mind - leaving one looking like a gibbering idiot when in conversation because one is desperately trying to think of another way of expressing oneself.
In this particular case, however, although I understood the meaning of the phrase he used, I hadn't seen it before. I decided to look it up to find out the "official" translation. Nowhere, gentle reader, could I find a translation. So, is this a very unusual phrase, or has he perhaps mixed up two idioms to make a new one, or what?
Such is my awe of him, I don't feel at liberty to ask!