Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Irrfahrten
English translation:
vicissitudes of a life in exile
Added to glossary by
British Diana
Jun 28, 2013 18:05
10 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
Irrfahrten
German to English
Other
History
Wording on a memorial plaque for DPs in WW2
I would like to translate this inscription on a Memorial Plaque as accurately as possible : "1945 - 1949/ Im Lager Seligenstadt lebten 1200 Litauer./ Allmächtiger Gott, wir flehen zu dir um Schutz und Segen auf unseren Irrfahrten fern der Heimat./Hier hielten sich Litauer auf, die Gott und ihr Vaterland über alles liebten./ Ehre ihrem Andenken 7. Jan. 1993."
The plaque is displayed on some buildings which now belong to the Breeding Station of a plant breeding company and which were once a camp for Displaced Persons. Apart from the "sich aufhalten" (which I am thinking of using "stay" for), I am having trouble with "Irrfahrten". Is the sentence in which this word occurs a reference to a prayer used by the DPs or is it a newer wish expressed by those who put the plaque there in 1993? Did the "Irrfahrten" take place before, during or after the DPs' time in the camp? All this affects the choice of English translation.
The plaque is displayed on some buildings which now belong to the Breeding Station of a plant breeding company and which were once a camp for Displaced Persons. Apart from the "sich aufhalten" (which I am thinking of using "stay" for), I am having trouble with "Irrfahrten". Is the sentence in which this word occurs a reference to a prayer used by the DPs or is it a newer wish expressed by those who put the plaque there in 1993? Did the "Irrfahrten" take place before, during or after the DPs' time in the camp? All this affects the choice of English translation.
Proposed translations
(English)
3 +4 | vicissitudes of a life in exile | Helen Shiner |
4 +2 | wanderings | Allan Wier |
3 +3 | odysseys | David Hollywood |
4 | Wanderings | Edwin Miles |
3 | vicissitudinous journey | Michael Martin, MA |
Change log
Jun 29, 2013 15:12: Helen Shiner changed "Field (write-in)" from "Wording on a memorial plague for DPs in WW2" to "Wording on a memorial plaque for DPs in WW2"
Proposed translations
+4
18 hrs
Selected
vicissitudes of a life in exile
Please see my discussion entries for my argument and suggestions. I really would suggest that you don't go for 'wandering' because of its very powerful resonance with the then anti-Semitic trope of the wandering Jew. Whilst as a figure in culture and literature/art the wandering Jew has sometimes been conceived of as sympathetic, he is based ultimately on a figure said to have mocked Christ on the Cross. I don't know if these Lithuanians were Jews or not, but at the time of their corralling, this trope would have had major currency, not least due to Nazi politics.
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Note added at 18 hrs (2013-06-29 12:39:45 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eternal_Jew_(1940_film)
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Note added at 18 hrs (2013-06-29 12:44:37 GMT)
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Makes a change to be having a better summer than DE!
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Note added at 18 hrs (2013-06-29 12:39:45 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eternal_Jew_(1940_film)
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Note added at 18 hrs (2013-06-29 12:44:37 GMT)
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Makes a change to be having a better summer than DE!
Note from asker:
Thank you Helen! (in DE it's raining, 16 Celsius) |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
mill2
1 hr
|
Thanks, mill2
|
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agree |
oa_xxx (X)
15 hrs
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Thanks, orla
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agree |
David Moore (X)
20 hrs
|
Thanks, David
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agree |
Lancashireman
: Too many tropes and memes on this site already
21 hrs
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Can cope with the odd trope but memes ...?!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, Helen. I think this reproduces the randomness of the Irrfahrten as well as the slightly emotional tone of the entreaty. "
+2
11 mins
wanderings
I don't believe it is possible to know whether the sentence in question is a prayer the DPs recited or comes from the authors of the plaque in their honor. The impression I get is "wanderings" in general.
Reference:
Note from asker:
Thank you, Allan! |
11 mins
Wanderings
I think this captures the tone of the plaque rather well.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Edwin! |
+3
4 mins
odysseys
I would say
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Note added at 7 mins (2013-06-28 18:13:07 GMT)
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od·ys·sey (d-s)
n. pl. od·ys·seys
1. An extended adventurous voyage or trip.
2. An intellectual or spiritual quest: an odyssey of discovery.
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Note added at 8 mins (2013-06-28 18:13:55 GMT)
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http://www.thefreedictionary.com/odysseys
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Note added at 12 mins (2013-06-28 18:17:53 GMT)
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welcome Diana and I like your mindset :)
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Note added at 13 mins (2013-06-28 18:18:42 GMT)
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just a comment nothing more :)
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Note added at 7 mins (2013-06-28 18:13:07 GMT)
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od·ys·sey (d-s)
n. pl. od·ys·seys
1. An extended adventurous voyage or trip.
2. An intellectual or spiritual quest: an odyssey of discovery.
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Note added at 8 mins (2013-06-28 18:13:55 GMT)
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http://www.thefreedictionary.com/odysseys
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Note added at 12 mins (2013-06-28 18:17:53 GMT)
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welcome Diana and I like your mindset :)
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Note added at 13 mins (2013-06-28 18:18:42 GMT)
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just a comment nothing more :)
Note from asker:
Thank you, David! |
Don't these definitions make an odyssey sound too deliberate - the DPs didn't set out on an adventure or quest surely? |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Lancashireman
: But singular only. Asker seems to be under the mistaken impression that Odysseus was deliberately taking the long route home, via all the sirens and such. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey
5 hrs
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thanks Andrew and we'll see
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agree |
Johanna Timm, PhD
: yes, with "odyssey". http://tiny.cc/wmggzw;
1 day 1 hr
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danke Johanna and greetings from Bs. As. :)
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agree |
thefastshow
2 days 14 hrs
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1 day 6 hrs
vicissitudinous journey
Works best as singular, I think.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Michael! |
Discussion
'Visitors report here' would be a statement of fact (Subject + predicate).
That makes clear that they were driven from their homes.