Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
absoluten Linien
English translation:
people who've made up their minds
Added to glossary by
Dr Andrew Read
Jan 18, 2004 12:23
20 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
Germany
Translations that don't sound translated
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Swedish to English, English, and 3 more.
bereits absoluten Linien
German to English
Art/Literary
story set during WWII
hello everyone ... i’m having a difficult time understanding the gist of this paragraph ... especially the *bereits absoluten Linien*
am thankful for all help!!
The count, and the doctor are discussing whether or not the front will come to where they are (Königsberg). The doctor is certain, the count, however, thinks it's all hogwash and says the following:
"Unsere Generäle werden zwischen radikalen politischen and wohl bereits absoluten Linien unterscehiden können. Das Beharren von vermeintlichen Betonköpfen in der Generalität wird kein Bestand haben. Wer so agiert, der nimmt weder den militärischen Sachverstand der Fachleute in der Truppe ernst noch den Rat von außen, der möchte allein mit dem Tageserfolg eines hastig zusammengeschusterten Konzepts politisch punkten."
am thankful for all help!!
The count, and the doctor are discussing whether or not the front will come to where they are (Königsberg). The doctor is certain, the count, however, thinks it's all hogwash and says the following:
"Unsere Generäle werden zwischen radikalen politischen and wohl bereits absoluten Linien unterscehiden können. Das Beharren von vermeintlichen Betonköpfen in der Generalität wird kein Bestand haben. Wer so agiert, der nimmt weder den militärischen Sachverstand der Fachleute in der Truppe ernst noch den Rat von außen, der möchte allein mit dem Tageserfolg eines hastig zusammengeschusterten Konzepts politisch punkten."
Proposed translations
8 hrs
Dr Andrew Read
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Style – accuracy – customer focus
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
295
Selected
people who've as good as made up their mind already
Methinks this sentence needs rearranging a little more to get over the connotations. eg:
"Our generals will be able to tell the difference between people with radical (political) views and those who've as good as [=wohl] already made up their minds."
If this is totally wrong, it's because I haven't seen the preceding context, so forgive me!
Alternatively, I wonder if "absolut" implies "reactionary" (as opposed to "radical"), but couldn't be sure w/o context.
"Our generals will be able to tell the difference between people with radical (political) views and those who've as good as [=wohl] already made up their minds."
If this is totally wrong, it's because I haven't seen the preceding context, so forgive me!
Alternatively, I wonder if "absolut" implies "reactionary" (as opposed to "radical"), but couldn't be sure w/o context.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks everyone ... i'm going to have to ask the author if she might mean reactionary here ... i'm not quite sure even though i've got more context ... thanks again!! gz"
1 hr
Melanie Nassar
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
dedicated, prompt, accurate
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English, English to German, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
1911
"presumably already firm (final) positions"
I think this is the contrast that the original text needs to radical political positions
10 hrs
Ellen Zittinger
Native in German
&
English
Educator/Realtor/Securities Rep/Agent
Native in: English , German
Works in: English to German, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
287
will be able to differentiate between.....
and the existant (already-in-place) political straight-shooters,
the present/existing middle-of-the-roaders
the present/existing middle-of-the-roaders
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