nástroj k přetváření poměrů

10:29 Dec 16, 2009
Czech to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Religion / sociology of religion, Czechoslovakia
Czech term or phrase: nástroj k přetváření poměrů
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
myska
Local time: 11:07


Summary of answers provided
4a tool to change a system
Michaela Bordessoule
3 +1a system reforming instrument
Jana Bedanova
4a vehicle for change of relations
Hannah Geiger (X)
3a way of reforming relationships
Scott Evan Andrews
3into an instrument of transforming attitudes
Maria Chmelarova
3tool for transforming [social/class] conditions
Pavel Slama


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a way of reforming relationships


Explanation:
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 :) )

Example sentence(s):
  • Theoretiku, [...] do you want to turn your thinking into a way of reforming relationshps?“
Scott Evan Andrews
United States
Local time: 12:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Pavel Slama: not private relationships
1410 days
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The asker has declined this answer

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a tool to change a system


Explanation:
Word "poměřů" in this meaning is a class system, I think.

Michaela Bordessoule
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:07
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
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The asker has declined this answer

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
into an instrument of transforming attitudes


Explanation:
Th. ...do you want to turn your way of thinking into an instrument of transforming attitudes?

as I'd say

Maria Chmelarova
Local time: 07:07
Native speaker of: Slovak
PRO pts in category: 7
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The asker has declined this answer

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a system reforming instrument


Explanation:
"Theorist, would you like to turn your thinking into a system reforming instrument? Then you should..."

Jana Bedanova
Czech Republic
Local time: 12:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Czech
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sarka Rubkova
1 day 12 hrs
  -> diky
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The asker has declined this answer

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a vehicle for change of relations


Explanation:
I thought that this "poetic" term might fit the sentence....

Hannah Geiger (X)
United States
Local time: 07:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 19
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The asker has declined this answer

1410 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
tool for transforming [social/class] conditions


Explanation:
x

Pavel Slama
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:07
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
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