Sep 25, 2007 22:27
16 yrs ago
German term
kann eventuell
German to English
Tech/Engineering
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
"Dieser Vorgang darf NIEMALS unterbrochen werden. Findet trotzdem eine Unterbrechung statt, kann der Vorgang evtl. wiederholt werden."
Does "kann eventuell" mean here that it may be possible to repeat the process, or simply that the process can be repeated?
Does "kann eventuell" mean here that it may be possible to repeat the process, or simply that the process can be repeated?
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +10 | can be repeated | Paul Cohen |
3 +4 | can possibly | Assem Mazloum |
3 | may | Anne Schulz |
Proposed translations
+10
1 hr
Selected
can be repeated
Your second idea is correct. It simply means that the process can be repeated.
Okay, but what is "eventuell" doing there in the first place, you ask? IMO, the word 'eventuell' here expresses the idea of "if necessary" or "if required" - in other words, "notfalls". Literally, the German means this: "However, if an interruption does occur, the process can be repeated, if necessary." As you can see, the concept is hard to work into an English sentence without it sounding stilted. It's actually superfluous information. If you repeat the process, then it only stands to reason that this is a "necessary" step! Just drop the "eventuell" and say that the process can be repeated. That will convey the message.
Okay, but what is "eventuell" doing there in the first place, you ask? IMO, the word 'eventuell' here expresses the idea of "if necessary" or "if required" - in other words, "notfalls". Literally, the German means this: "However, if an interruption does occur, the process can be repeated, if necessary." As you can see, the concept is hard to work into an English sentence without it sounding stilted. It's actually superfluous information. If you repeat the process, then it only stands to reason that this is a "necessary" step! Just drop the "eventuell" and say that the process can be repeated. That will convey the message.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+4
5 mins
can possibly
the procedure can possibly be repeated
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Sibylle Gray
1 min
|
danke Sibyll
|
|
agree |
Dr. Fred Thomson
17 mins
|
Danke Herr Fred
|
|
agree |
Stefanie Reinhold
1 hr
|
Danke Stefani
|
|
agree |
Vanja R B
6 hrs
|
Danke Vanja
|
13 hrs
may
Without further context, I am not sure about the meaning of "kann" in your sentence, but I think you could easily reproduce the ambiguity in English by using "may be repeated".
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Paul Cohen
: So, your suggestion is to add a bit of ambiguity? / It says "kann" - not "könnte" in the German.
12 mins
|
Well, how do you know from this phrase, as it stands, the one and only interpretation of "kann" (and of "evtl." = falls erforderlich, by the way) ?
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