Jun 7, 2000 00:17
24 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
Tom Funke
in eine Art Duldungsstarre verfallen
German to English
Tech/Engineering
The general context is automotive R&D. The specific sentence reads, in part: "Es kann jedoch keine Rede davon sein, dass die XYZ-Entwickler [confronted with more stringent regulations] ... in eine Art Duldungsstarre verfallen würden wie das Kaninchen angesichts der Schlange." AltaVista shows several dozen pages including this term -- from pig romance(e.g. >>Die sogenannte Duldungsstarre - Ein Duftdrüsensekret des Ebers mit erstaunlicher Wirkung, nicht nur auf weibliche Schweine>Die meisten glauben an die marktradikalen Spekulanten, wie Kinder an den Weihnachtsmann. In einer Art Duldungsstarre wird die Katastrophe durch Trägheit und Ignoranz selbst heraufbeschworen. Ich bin mit dem Freiheitsbegriff von Friedrich Engels groß geworden...>Maximizing Sow Herd Output
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
33 mins
Selected
numbness, endurance or similar
Use sth like "numb" in the figurative sense of "numb with shock/fear" etc. "Duldungsstarre" is used here in a figurate sense (a good explanation of what it means in the animal kingdom can be found at http://www.quarks.de/schweiss/k02_05.htm) but don't stick to its original meaning. Since "Duldungsstarre" has to do with pigs originally the comparison with rabbits doesn't work, strictly speaking. So, I'd consider leaving the comparison out. Translate just the feeling of not being able to do anything about things.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "MargitH hit the nail right on the head: >>"Duldungsstarre" is used here in a figurate sense. Since "Duldungsstarre" has to do with pigs originally the comparison with rabbits doesn't work, strictly speaking. So, I'd consider leaving the comparison out. Translate just the feeling of not being able to do anything about things.<< That was the right approach to create good English copy. Thank you Marge and all the others for your good answers! Tom
"
20 mins
passive acquiescence
or would you prefer something more colloquial?
27 mins
Dierk Seeburg
Native in German
Courteous professional, charter member
Native in: German (Variants: Austrian, Namibian, Platt / Nieder (Low German), Germany, South Tyrol (Italy), Saxon (Upper), Belgian, Swiss, Swabian, Bavarian, Alsatian) 
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
404
see below
oh.. oh.. oh.. (the sound of thumb and middle finger snapping) can I try? How about 'However, no one can say that once confronted with more stringent regulations the developers were going to act like deer caught in headlights.' or some such similar (gotta love alliterations) version?
Cheerio,
Dierk
Cheerio,
Dierk
27 mins
assiduous stare/gaze
assiduous in the sense of gewissenhaft, ie the rabbit knowing itis going to get bitten by the snake, knowing the stringent regulations are not going to go away...
Could use patient rigidity, but the above is I believ a standard phrase (used once every hundred years in the automative industry!).
Could use patient rigidity, but the above is I believ a standard phrase (used once every hundred years in the automative industry!).
27 mins
assiduous stare/gaze
assiduous in the sense of gewissenhaft, ie the rabbit knowing itis going to get bitten by the snake, knowing the stringent regulations are not going to go away...
Could use patient rigidity, but the above is I believ a standard phrase (used once every hundred years in the automative industry!).
Could use patient rigidity, but the above is I believ a standard phrase (used once every hundred years in the automative industry!).
32 mins
petrified / paralyzed with fear
Addendum: Really there are two meanings here. The passive acquiescence might fit the sow better, but the rabbit is more like being petrified / paralyzed with fear.
46 mins
Thanks already ... but keep it up ! :-)
I knew this would bring out all you literati out there. Remember this has to fit a bunch of intrepid design engineers, presumably with fairly high T-ratings (Testosterone). The equivalent of orthopedic surgeons among physicians.
I'll sort through all your interesting & helpful responses sometime later in the morning here in Ohio. (Some of those Web pages are hilarious; but I refuse to review any more pigfarming URLs).
I'll sort through all your interesting & helpful responses sometime later in the morning here in Ohio. (Some of those Web pages are hilarious; but I refuse to review any more pigfarming URLs).
1 hr
oops
sorry, I meant 'helpless immobility'
6 hrs
see below
how about "...lapse into a state of hypnotic paralysis/frozen tolerance..."
>>>dierk is right, deer (and rabbits) are often said to be caught in the headlights (an analogy which should appeal to your high-T group), but if I remember correctly from all the nature films I ever saw in school, the snake always fixed some poor bird with a hypnotic stare that paralyzed it.
Good luck!
>>>dierk is right, deer (and rabbits) are often said to be caught in the headlights (an analogy which should appeal to your high-T group), but if I remember correctly from all the nature films I ever saw in school, the snake always fixed some poor bird with a hypnotic stare that paralyzed it.
Good luck!
12 hrs
oops oops oops
well, Proz somehow lost my first response, to which 'oops' was a comment. what I said was that the literal meaning is 'acquiescent rigidity', but you probably don't want that, so maybe 'helpless immobility'. Or maybe rewording would help - something like 'don't know which way to turn'.
19 hrs
Nancy Schmeing
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
When saying it right matters. Reasonable
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
328
become mesmerized (or paralyzed) victims
"You can be sure that the XYZ design engineers would not become mesmerized victims like a rabbit before a snake."
Or, a bit freer:
"...engineers wouldn't stand there with their mouths open"
Or, a bit freer:
"...engineers wouldn't stand there with their mouths open"
20 hrs
Nancy Schmeing
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
When saying it right matters. Reasonable
Native in: English
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
328
become mesmerized (or paralyzed) victims
"You can be sure that the XYZ design engineers would not become mesmerized victims like a rabbit before a snake."
Or, a bit freer:
"...engineers wouldn't stand there with their mouths open"
Or, a bit freer:
"...engineers wouldn't stand there with their mouths open"
1 day 8 hrs
trancelike immobility (or passive trance)
Since the context is rabbit and snake I don't understand how pigs get into the act. The usual explanation of the rabbit's immobility in the face of a threatening snake is that it is hypnotized by the snake, i.e. in a trance. Though Starre strictly means rigidity it is here better translated as immobility.
1 day 9 hrs
Nancy Schmeing
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
When saying it right matters. Reasonable
Native in: English
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
328
nuance below
A significant part of the impact of that prose in German is the reference to the verb dulden, meaning to allow something to happen to you. The rabbit allow the snake to harm it.
1 day 10 hrs
pigs vs. rabbits & snakes
>>Since the context is rabbit and snake I don't understand how pigs get into the act.<< ... The literal answer to this question is this: >>Der Eber hat zwar keinen Achselschweiß. Dafür produziert er Androstenon im Speichel und lockt damit über Kilometer eine empfängnisbereite Sau an. Kommt sie näher verfällt sie durch das Androstenon erst in die so genannte "Duldungsstarre" und dann vefällt sie dem bedrängenden Eber.<< ---
The less literal but more meaningful answer is that rabbits and snakes are no closer to the REAL context (a situation in automotive R&D) than are pigs, or if you will, sows and boars. --- Actually, NONE of the 40 Web pages found in an AltaVista search for "duldungsstarre" came even close to relating to the general context or the specific situation. But they -- and your many good answers -- were useful in helping me understand the range of meanings behind the term and to formulate effective English copy. I just wish there were more KudoZ points to award. Thank you one and all for your kind and prompt assistance!
The less literal but more meaningful answer is that rabbits and snakes are no closer to the REAL context (a situation in automotive R&D) than are pigs, or if you will, sows and boars. --- Actually, NONE of the 40 Web pages found in an AltaVista search for "duldungsstarre" came even close to relating to the general context or the specific situation. But they -- and your many good answers -- were useful in helping me understand the range of meanings behind the term and to formulate effective English copy. I just wish there were more KudoZ points to award. Thank you one and all for your kind and prompt assistance!
Reference:
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