Dec 16, 2009 10:29
14 yrs ago
Czech term
nástroj k přetváření poměrů
Czech to English
Social Sciences
Religion
sociology of religion, Czechoslovakia
Dear colleagues,
once again, I have encountered a phrase during my translation, on which I would like to know your opinion. It is taken from another article on sociology of religion that I am currently translating. The phrase is an excerpt from a text by famous Ivan Sviták that is cited in this article. The whole citation is as follows:
"Theoretiku, [...] chceš ze svého myšlení udělat nástroj k přetváření poměrů?“ Pak musíš „vymanit theorii z poplatnosti propagandě. Proces vymanění ze subjektivismu osob i tříd je vždy dramatickým procesem srážek idealisovaného myšlení s vědou, jež je již svou povahou nepřátelská všem ilusím, demaskujíc je.“
It is quite a challenging citation to translate and I am afraid that I am not much of a philosopher ... thus I struggle to understand what the author meant by "nástroj k přetváření poměrů". The word "poměr" can have many meanings in Czech and one needs to be able to understand in what sense it was used here to be able to choose the right one. It would help if one could view the rest of the text by Ivan Sviták on the internet however, this is unfortunately not possible thus I am hoping that some of you might be familiar with his work and thus able to interpret the sentence correctly.
Thank you ever so much for your help with this, I really appreciate it!!!
Myska
once again, I have encountered a phrase during my translation, on which I would like to know your opinion. It is taken from another article on sociology of religion that I am currently translating. The phrase is an excerpt from a text by famous Ivan Sviták that is cited in this article. The whole citation is as follows:
"Theoretiku, [...] chceš ze svého myšlení udělat nástroj k přetváření poměrů?“ Pak musíš „vymanit theorii z poplatnosti propagandě. Proces vymanění ze subjektivismu osob i tříd je vždy dramatickým procesem srážek idealisovaného myšlení s vědou, jež je již svou povahou nepřátelská všem ilusím, demaskujíc je.“
It is quite a challenging citation to translate and I am afraid that I am not much of a philosopher ... thus I struggle to understand what the author meant by "nástroj k přetváření poměrů". The word "poměr" can have many meanings in Czech and one needs to be able to understand in what sense it was used here to be able to choose the right one. It would help if one could view the rest of the text by Ivan Sviták on the internet however, this is unfortunately not possible thus I am hoping that some of you might be familiar with his work and thus able to interpret the sentence correctly.
Thank you ever so much for your help with this, I really appreciate it!!!
Myska
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
1 hr
a way of reforming relationships
Declined
I can understand why you're pulling your hair out with this one...I'm not Czech, so I'm at a natural disadvantage in truly grasping it, but I think my suggestion captures what this person meant...
...it does beg the need for a bit more context, but my gut instinct here pushes me past the ambiguity ( and I get in trouble for that sometimes too :) )
...it does beg the need for a bit more context, but my gut instinct here pushes me past the ambiguity ( and I get in trouble for that sometimes too :) )
Example sentence:
Theoretiku, [...] do you want to turn your thinking into a way of reforming relationshps?“
1 hr
a tool to change a system
Declined
Word "poměřů" in this meaning is a class system, I think.
4 hrs
into an instrument of transforming attitudes
Declined
Th. ...do you want to turn your way of thinking into an instrument of transforming attitudes?
as I'd say
as I'd say
+1
9 hrs
a system reforming instrument
Declined
"Theorist, would you like to turn your thinking into a system reforming instrument? Then you should..."
9 hrs
a vehicle for change of relations
Declined
I thought that this "poetic" term might fit the sentence....
1410 days
tool for transforming [social/class] conditions
x
Discussion
This is in fact an opening paragraph to the rest of the article - not very encouraging for a translator :o)
Nevertheless, the issue I would like to raise here is the following. I have been tempted to translate it as "an instrument for transformation of circumstances"... what would you think about that? You see, the word "poměry" can in its plural form also mean "circumstances, conditions, situation" as my Fronek's dictionary puts it.
I will look forward to your opinion.