Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
In einem durchschnittlichen Haushalt westlicher Prägung
English translation:
An average household with a western lifestyle
Added to glossary by
Susan Madden
May 9, 2006 13:12
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
Ireland
Professional IT & business translations
Native in: English (Variants: US, British, Irish, UK) 
Works in: German to English
In einem durchschnittlichen Haushalt westlicher Prägung
German to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
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In einem durchschnittlichen Haushalt westlicher Prägung, also etwa bei 60 bis 70 Prozent der Bevölkerung, existieren heute konservativ geschätzt, im Schnitt um die 10.000 Gegenstände.
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This is a dissertation on the German clothing industry, and this section outlines how people are gradually "down-sizing". Does it mean "in the average Western household"? If it does, why would this only be 60 to 70 percent of the population in Germany? Although, it is not clear from the piece if this particular paragraph refers to Germany only or Europe or the whole world. I guess I'm misinterpreting Praegung - thanks for your advice.
In einem durchschnittlichen Haushalt westlicher Prägung, also etwa bei 60 bis 70 Prozent der Bevölkerung, existieren heute konservativ geschätzt, im Schnitt um die 10.000 Gegenstände.
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This is a dissertation on the German clothing industry, and this section outlines how people are gradually "down-sizing". Does it mean "in the average Western household"? If it does, why would this only be 60 to 70 percent of the population in Germany? Although, it is not clear from the piece if this particular paragraph refers to Germany only or Europe or the whole world. I guess I'm misinterpreting Praegung - thanks for your advice.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
26 mins
Henry Schroeder
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
20 years of experience, certified, ATA
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
An ordinary/average household with a Western orientation/life-style
An ordinary/average household with a Western orientation/life-style, i.e. roughly 60 to 79 percent of the population, is conservatively estimated to have 10,000 objects (on average) in our time.
I think you need to be careful here. Your sentence does not say “average Western household”, but rather “average household with a Western orientation” or something like that. A very religious Hindu or Turkish family with 2 kids in Gymnasium, a husband working in a bank and a wife teaching, is probably an “average Western family”, but maybe not one with a “Western orientation”. Perhaps, for example, they are opposed to the Konsumgesellschaft or don’t let their children talk with members of the other sex.
I think you need to be careful here. Your sentence does not say “average Western household”, but rather “average household with a Western orientation” or something like that. A very religious Hindu or Turkish family with 2 kids in Gymnasium, a husband working in a bank and a wife teaching, is probably an “average Western family”, but maybe not one with a “Western orientation”. Perhaps, for example, they are opposed to the Konsumgesellschaft or don’t let their children talk with members of the other sex.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Lancashireman
: ‘western lifestyle’. (Not ‘orientation’ or even ‘occidentation’ in this context)
26 mins
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Andrew, you don't capitalize "western" in the UK, do you? I noticed that Amorel also didn't capitalize it. Is that American? Look how little I know. Embarrassing. Live a hundred years, learn a hundred years (сто лет жить, сто лет учить), as Mayakovsky s
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| agree |
sylvie malich (X)
: I agree with you. Perhaps average Western cultured/influenced household.
27 mins
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| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
: with Andrew: "western lifestyle" (a "Western" lifestyle would be something rather different, involving stetsons and cowboy boots)
1 hr
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| agree |
Olga Cartlidge
: I agree with Andrew about ‘western lifestyle’ and with ...Mayakovsky :-))
1 hr
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| agree |
Maureen Millington-Brodie
5 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to all who had a look at this, lots of food for thought! I have gone with Henry's suggestion - an average household with a western lifestyle."
+5
13 mins
average Western household
I think you are right on the mark with your translation. The 60-70% simply means that there are maybe 15-20% very poor households (not average) as well as 15-20% very rich (also not average). Don't worry about "Praegung"...it's just a pompous (or some may say elegant) way of expressing just what you said: the average Western household.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
BirgitBerlin
: Not "poor". Of other cultural background.
4 mins
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OK. Agree. Harald:-)
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| agree |
Rebecca Garber
: with Birgit
7 mins
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| agree |
MMUlr
52 mins
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| agree |
Olga Cartlidge
1 hr
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| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: warum denn in die Ferne schweifen... this is the seemingly obvious meaning? ..."Das Glueck liegt doch so nah..."
5 hrs
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9 mins
In an average occidental household
...
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Note added at 22 mins (2006-05-09 13:34:48 GMT)
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Prägung as characteristics. The 60% to 70% could take into account the influx of foreigners with different clothing customs
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Note added at 22 mins (2006-05-09 13:34:48 GMT)
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Prägung as characteristics. The 60% to 70% could take into account the influx of foreigners with different clothing customs
+1
25 mins
in the average western-type household
I think there's a significant difference between a "western" and a "western-type" household (and it's the difference which "Prägung" is pointing towards, since Prägung in effect means type). A western household would simply be a household in the western world, whereas a western-type household would be one where the members live a western lifestyle, irrespective of where they live geographically. The people in Germany who don't fall into the "western-type" category will be those from, for example, Muslim or African backgrounds who have a different attitude to possessions.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
: a good option
2 hrs
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Discussion