Jan 25, 2006 15:59
18 yrs ago
5 viewers *
English term
export hit
English
Marketing
Advertising / Public Relations
Conference title
This has been proposed as an English translation for the German term "Exportschlager", i.e. a tremendously succesful export product. Now, a colleague has disagreed, stating that it is not proper English. It does occur in the net (and not only in German, perhaps badly translated pages) and I'd like to ask the english native speakers out there what they think of "Export hit". Alternative suggestions are most welcome, of course. It's part of the title of a political conference and the "product" in question is 'democracy'. ("Export hit democracy") Thanks.
Responses
Responses
+7
5 mins
Jonathan MacKerron
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
top export item
perhaps?
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Note added at 5 mins (2006-01-25 16:05:31 GMT)
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or simply "top export"
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Note added at 7 mins (2006-01-25 16:06:58 GMT)
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Muret-Sanders "highly successful export, export leader "
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Note added at 5 mins (2006-01-25 16:05:31 GMT)
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or simply "top export"
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Note added at 7 mins (2006-01-25 16:06:58 GMT)
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Muret-Sanders "highly successful export, export leader "
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Can Altinbay
: I was going to suggest "Democracy - one of our top exports".
3 mins
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| agree |
Romanian Translator (X)
4 mins
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| agree |
NancyLynn
: with Can, I like the style ;-)
8 mins
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| agree |
RHELLER
: top export is good
13 mins
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| agree |
conejo
: Yeah... "export hit" is a bit confusing. When I saw the title of the question being "export hit", my first thought was, "what is that"?
1 hr
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| agree |
Dave Calderhead
: and with Can
2 hrs
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| agree |
Seema Ugrankar
8 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Good option. Thanks everyone for the great help. Especially to Richard for his comments."
+1
6 mins
Export Hit : Democracy
I think if you appose the terms, it will look right.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Romanian Translator (X)
2 mins
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| neutral |
Richard Benham
: I think this is an excellent suggestion in principle. The problem is that you would end up with two colons: "Export Hit: Democracy: Opportunities and Risks...."
54 mins
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+2
7 mins
popular/common (I would not use product but concept/philosophy)
IMO it is not appropriate. Democracy is not a product, unless you are being sarcastic. Are you?
"often or commonly exported"
"often or commonly exported"
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Richard Benham
: The metaphor of "exporting" democracy, revolution, etc., is well enough known. I think the real problem is fitting it in grammatically.
36 mins
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I'm not disputing that democracy is exported - I just have my own ideas about which terminology is appropriate - but you have the right to your opinion
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| agree |
Andrey Belousov (X)
1 hr
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thanks, Andrey :-)
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| neutral |
Kim Metzger
: I don't think you've read/understood the question, Rita.
2 hrs
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what exactly are you referring to Kim?
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| agree |
Charlie Bavington
: I think that switching the noun + qualifier round to give "a popular export" would work ok
7 hrs
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hi Charlie :-)
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+3
10 mins
David Hollywood
Native in English
&
English
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
6
export winner
"export hit" doesn't sound too bad at all ..... "export winner" is an alternative ....
Civil justice system an export winner, but reforms needed: ALRC. Australia's legal
system plays a crucial role in the nation's economy, with law and legal ...
www.alrc.gov.au/media/2000/mr0217.htm - 16k - Cached - Similar pages
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Note added at 14 mins (2006-01-25 16:14:44 GMT)
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just because "export hit" looks like a direct translation of "Exportschlager" doesn't make it wrong (even in the context of "democracy") ... the natural tendency to shy away from what looks like direct translation can often be a translator's worst enemy :)
Civil justice system an export winner, but reforms needed: ALRC. Australia's legal
system plays a crucial role in the nation's economy, with law and legal ...
www.alrc.gov.au/media/2000/mr0217.htm - 16k - Cached - Similar pages
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Note added at 14 mins (2006-01-25 16:14:44 GMT)
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just because "export hit" looks like a direct translation of "Exportschlager" doesn't make it wrong (even in the context of "democracy") ... the natural tendency to shy away from what looks like direct translation can often be a translator's worst enemy :)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
RHELLER
: I like it :-) much better than hit which already has so many uses (internet, songs)
5 mins
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thx Rita :)
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| agree |
Michael Barnett
: "export winner" is better. I wonder about "hit" being interpreted as a pun - that is, democracy succeeding as a result of bombing away the opposition.//Mike Delta: I was thinking of Afghanistan & Iraq, but I am not inviting a debate.
51 mins
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| agree |
Mike Delta
: democracy succeeding as a result of bombing away the opposition. Evidence please? 'tendency to shy away from what looks like direct translation can often be a translator's worst enemy' Spot on David.
1 hr
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1 hr
When you take drugs you get a hit
If you wish to associate you product with drugs, it seems a good choice.
I suggest that you use 'Exportschlager'.
Audi were very successful with with Durch ????? Technique'.
Exportschlager Politics = why not.
English is the Bastard son of an Italian Mother, and a German Father; with a fair smattering of other languages.
I suggest that you use 'Exportschlager'.
Audi were very successful with with Durch ????? Technique'.
Exportschlager Politics = why not.
English is the Bastard son of an Italian Mother, and a German Father; with a fair smattering of other languages.
41 mins
Richard Benham
France
France
Native in English
&
English
France
When quality counts
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English, English
A couple of observations.
This particular construction in German is a bit hard to translate into English. I once, in an exam, encountered "Augenpulver Bildschirm", and the best I could come up with was "eye strain caused by squinting at the screen".
Having looked at your "Exportschlager" question, I don't think "Export hit Democracy" is going to work. (In any case, it invites the response "Did democracy hit back?") So here is another options:
"Democracy as export hit: ...."
Some of the other suggestions would work well in place of "export hit", but there is probably no justification for deviating from the original idea if it works.
NancyLynn's idea of "Democracy: export hit" is good, except that, in the context given in the original German title, you would then have two colons. Maybe you could turn the second one into a period, but it still seems a bit clumsy.
Similarly, you could have "Export hit: democracy", but it is open to the same objection.
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Note added at 46 mins (2006-01-25 16:46:36 GMT)
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Sorry, that should be "another option"--I have a distinct recollection of deleting the "s" on "options" after I thought better of my other ideas and change "some other" to "another", but my mind must be playing tricks on me.
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-01-25 17:13:54 GMT)
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Maybe you could get around the "double colon" problem using a dash: "Democracy--Export Hit: Opportunities and Risks of Promoting Democracy abroad". Or whatever.
Having looked at your "Exportschlager" question, I don't think "Export hit Democracy" is going to work. (In any case, it invites the response "Did democracy hit back?") So here is another options:
"Democracy as export hit: ...."
Some of the other suggestions would work well in place of "export hit", but there is probably no justification for deviating from the original idea if it works.
NancyLynn's idea of "Democracy: export hit" is good, except that, in the context given in the original German title, you would then have two colons. Maybe you could turn the second one into a period, but it still seems a bit clumsy.
Similarly, you could have "Export hit: democracy", but it is open to the same objection.
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Note added at 46 mins (2006-01-25 16:46:36 GMT)
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Sorry, that should be "another option"--I have a distinct recollection of deleting the "s" on "options" after I thought better of my other ideas and change "some other" to "another", but my mind must be playing tricks on me.
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-01-25 17:13:54 GMT)
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Maybe you could get around the "double colon" problem using a dash: "Democracy--Export Hit: Opportunities and Risks of Promoting Democracy abroad". Or whatever.
4 hrs
Democracy Goes Global:
Actually I was thinking of something like 'Democracy Goes Platinum' (with reference to record sales, not Proz), but a lot of people probably wouldn't make the connection.
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