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Glossary entry

Dutch term or phrase:

Bijl aan de wortel

English translation:

stranglehold

Aug 27, 2009 02:31
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Dutch term

Bijl aan de wortel

Dutch to English Bus/Financial Business/Commerce (general) Software Company Website
En bovenal de bijl aan de wortel van de creativiteit.

Note: This sentence followed the following sentence:
De dagelijkse regels worden veelal gezien als saai, verlammend, onoverzichtelijk of zelfs dwingend.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 stranglehold
4 +4 death knell
4 +1 strikes at the roots of
4 +1 ...and effectively suppress creativity
3 an axe at the root
4 -1 death sentence
3 cuts off at the source
3 -1 the axe at the root
2 beginning of the end

Discussion

Lianne van de Ven Aug 27, 2009:
Any reference easily to find on Biblegateway.com Matthew 3:10 (New International Version)<br><br>10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Chris Hopley Aug 27, 2009:
Grote Van Dale The Matt. 3:10 Bible quote is cited under 'bijl' in the Grote Van Dale.
Lianne van de Ven Aug 27, 2009:
Axe at the root..the best discussion in a while... I am enjoying this debate and exchange of professional opinions. <br>Ik ben duidelijk niet zo bekend met de bijbel als Chris. Gezien deze referentie moet de vertaler overwegen of dat een belangrijk element in de tekst is. In de US zijn tal van bedrijven die zich profileren met een "vis" symbool op hun auto of business card, en in sommige gevallen zelfs een bijbelse spreuk, met bron en al. Misschien moet het toch "axe at the root of the tree" zijn dan....? I may be voting for my own answer.
Chris Hopley Aug 27, 2009:
Matthew 3:10 - axe at the root [8] Breng liever vruchten voort die een nieuw leven waardig zijn, [9] en denk niet dat je bij jezelf kunt zeggen: Wij hebben Abraham als vader. Want ik zeg jullie: God kan uit deze stenen kinderen van Abraham verwekken! [10] De bijl ligt al aan de wortel van de boom: iedere boom die geen goede vrucht draagt, wordt omgehakt en in het vuur geworpen.

[8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. [9] And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. [10] The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Proposed translations

+3
1 hr
Selected

stranglehold

.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-08-27 03:58:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A stranglehold on creativity.
Note from asker:
I didn't realize this term would generate such a major discussion. It is great to see. The term 'stranglehold' seems the most feasible option for my context. Thanks so much for that - it was a tricky one!
Peer comment(s):
agree Kate Hudson (X)
3 hrs
neutral Chris Hopley : imo strangehold = to suppress or restrict rather than kill off; e.g. a monopolist has a stranglehold on the market
3 hrs
agree Lianne van de Ven : Honestly I think this is a good option, if the bible reference is not important
10 hrs
agree Verginia Ophof : vmophof
11 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for your help - this makes sense to me."
3 mins

an axe at the root

of creativity.
I am not sure if this imagery speaks in English, but it is also unusual in Dutch. The meaning is clear, though.
Peer comment(s):
agree Chris Hopley : is IMO unusual in English too, although the image is clear
12 hrs
Thanks Chris, for the reference also, of course!
disagree Terry Costin : sounds too Dutch
12 hrs
Did you read (the bible quote in) the discussioin, Terry-John? How can you then come to this conclusion?
Something went wrong...
-1
3 hrs

the axe at the root

and aboveall, the axe at the root of creativity
Peer comment(s):
disagree Terry Costin : I've never heard anyone use this in English, to me it sounds Dunglish.
7 hrs
neutral Lianne van de Ven : this answer was already given 3 minutes after the question was posted
8 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
5 hrs

death sentence

Literal translations of such phrases never work. In this case I think the Dutch suggests the threat of killing off creativity altogether.

My suggestion for the complete sentence:

And above all, the death sentence for creativity.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Terry Costin : Can't see this as being appropriate at all
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
+4
5 hrs

death knell

"A death knell for creativity."

-> "When sound was introduced, some thought it would be the death-knell of creativity in cinema"
http://creativecuppa.blogspot.com/2009/06/upcoming-event-cre...
Peer comment(s):
agree Ron Willems
1 hr
agree Terry Costin : This makes sense because an axe taken to a root would mean the end of what springs from the root. I also prefer this to the others because it is not a literal translation, though it does sound a bit harsh.
5 hrs
neutral Alexander Schleber (X) : death knell and detah sentence are pretty similar, and muich too strong IMO.
5 hrs
Een bijl aan de wortel is actually pretty heavy stuff - see Bible quote in discussion area!
agree philgoddard : This is good.
6 hrs
agree Lianne van de Ven : sounds best to me: daily routines etc etc etc are perceived as a (I would choose "a") death knell of creativity
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
5 hrs

strikes at the roots of

That is what is meant IMO.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Terry Costin : This is the van Dale option but I find van Dale often lacking and in this case I think it might lead to confusion or at least the meaning is not entirely clear because it could mean different things depending on context.
5 hrs
I think it is precisely right. Taking the axe to something does not necessarily mean killing it (death knlell / death sentence).
agree Neil Cross
6 hrs
neutral Chris Hopley : Taking an axe to the root of a tree will definitely kill it. If you leave the roots in, it may sprout new shoots.
7 hrs
Chris, you should not see that literally. "strikes at the roots of" does not mean that you take an axe to it, it simply means that the roots are endangered.
Something went wrong...
+1
6 hrs

...and effectively suppress creativity

Peer comment(s):
neutral Terry Costin : Perhaps almost correct (but is suppress the same as cutting at the root?) as far as meaning goes but in terms of literature, I find it misses the impact of the original.
4 hrs
i don't think a literal or literary translation is called for in what is basically a business context.
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : Or even kills creativity but let's axe the axe.
9 hrs
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

cuts off at the source


In Dutch the word axe is used but in English would the word feel right within the flow? To me it does not feel/sound like a natural expression.
The intention of the author is to express how creativity is cut off. Where a simple word is available expensive language ought to be avoided because language ought to be accessible - as far as possible - to everyone, where complexity is neccessary, it is already enough to deal with.
Example sentence:

And above all, cuts creativity off at the (its) source

Peer comment(s):
neutral Lianne van de Ven : I don't agree with the "simple language" idea. "Met een bijl aan de worteL" nodigt een beeldspraak uit. Het gaat hier ook om een perceptie, niet een feit. "Perceived as cutting off...?" Bovendien ben ik een liefhebber van dure taal en kostbare gedachten.
1 hr
Sorry but I find making a thing more complicated than necessary the sign of a would-be attitude, not your attitude necessarily but in general, any fool can take a thing that is quite simple and make it complicated, it takes more to keep things simple
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

beginning of the end

misschien liever wat minder letterlijk.
Something went wrong...
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