Krimskrams

Categories: words, life, translation

Date: 20 April 2008 18:38:15

This is a post about odds and ends. You may want to stop reading now. I won't be offended. [Much].

It's funny how quite random subjects seem to come in batches. For example, the books reviewed in #10 biffed across my radar quite co-incidentally and yet had a common theme. And regular readers may remember that earlier in the week I was mumbling something about a powerpoint presentation on fire protection measures (heat-resistant doors and wotnot). No sooner had I finished it * than a completely different client asked me to translate a company's document about evacuation procedures in the event of a fire. I did wonder if I should put the two companies in touch with one another and one could sell the other their heat-resistant doors. I didn't do it.

There was one wonderful sentence in which people fleeing the fire were instructed to take "Hilflose" with them. It literally means "the helpless" and under pressure of the ever-ticking clock (as usual), I couldn't quickly think of an acceptable translation so resorted to a dictionary - thanks for nothing: it suggested "derelicts".

I don't know if the Germans find the following to be ironic in any way - but the contact name for issues to do with fire - was Ms Feuerlein - which could translate as Ms Little Fire.

On an entirely different topic I've had a few Googlers turning up looking for translations again. I'm sorry to be such a disappointment. Perhaps I should leave my contact details; I might make a fortune.

If you are still looking:
To the person wanting to know the German for "comfy chair" - it is "bequemer Sessel". The preposition (on/under/to/by etc) will change the adjectival ending. Something to ponder while you are sitting in your Sessel.

To the person who wanted to know "the book which my brother lost" - you didn't specify a language. In German it is "das Buch, das mein Bruder verloren hat".

To the person who was looking for "truthsign - wiblogs": I hope you found her eventually. I'm not clever enough to do a link but if you go to www.wibsite.com I'm sure you'll unearth her.

And finally as a PS to my series on "'Scuse my French": when the Lödgerin was here last weekend she looked at my new German slang book. I asked her a question or two on the mildness/severity of some of the words translated. We agreed that the translations of the few words we picked out at random were rather questionable in terms of register - e.g. a mild expletive in German had been translated with a much more offensive English word and vice versa. I think I shall stick to "oh fiddlesticks" - it's safer really.

*That's not entirely true, actually. I did another powerpoint presentation in between the two fire assignments - this time on a clothing company's marketing strategy. But you see what I mean? No powerpoint for ages and then two in the same week.

Oh whoops. Just noticed the time! I'm late for church. Good job it's only a 60-second walk away.... Tschüß!!