zingeving

English translation: spirituality

09:08 Nov 16, 2004
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Philosophy
Dutch term or phrase: zingeving
From the brochure of an organisation that gives training and advice on (among other things) "levenbeschouwing, religie en zingeving." Does anyone have a one-word translation for this? TIA.
Christopher Smith (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:49
English translation:spirituality
Explanation:
... is a word that springs to mind and may be of some, little or no use... :-)

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Note added at 2 hrs 21 mins (2004-11-16 11:30:22 GMT)
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Roget gives \'spirit\' as an alternative for \'meaning\'.

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Note added at 6 hrs 23 mins (2004-11-16 15:31:59 GMT)
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How about \"faith and belief systems\" as a translation for the whole lot?
Selected response from:

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 10:49
Grading comment
Thanks, everyone - some really good answers here! They will definitely go into my personal lexicon.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3spirituality
Chris Hopley
4 +1meaning
ElkeKoe
4 +1quest (or search) for meaning
Monica Sandor
3 +1significance
writeaway
4 -1interpretation, giving meaning of
Renate van den Bos
3Purpose
Francina


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
interpretation, giving meaning of


Explanation:
Van Dale N-E

Renate van den Bos
Local time: 10:49
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Monica Sandor: not in this context - would be right if it had to do with finding the meaning of a particular text, work, etc.
2 hrs
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
meaning


Explanation:
meaning of life

ElkeKoe
Local time: 10:49
Native speaker of: German

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael Beijer: maybe something like: ‘religion, meaning and belief systems’? (levenbeschouwing, religie en zingeving)
3434 days
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
significance


Explanation:
significance of life-another option.

What is the Significance of Life?
(12) What is the Significance of Life? What is the significance of life? ...
Then questions arise, "What is the significance of life? ...
www.buddhanet.net/cbp2_f12.htm

writeaway
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  moya
2 mins
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
quest (or search) for meaning


Explanation:
This term is now widely used together with the word religion ("religie en zingeving", is the title of a course at Leuven university and of a section of the catalogue of the publishers Lannoo in Belgium). It includes but is not restricted to religious philosophies of life. It could be translated as philosophy of life, or quest (or search) for meaning. I have long wished there were a one-word equivalent in English. Worldview is not quite the same nuance, though it covers roughly the same thing - a set of beliefs/values that give meaning to one's life, be it a religious or a secular one.

It is broader than any one activity such as contemplation or meditation, though some people's "zingeving" may be centred on such practices.

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Note added at 2 hrs 48 mins (2004-11-16 11:57:06 GMT)
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I see someone suggested spirituality - that too is a good all-inclusive word, but the Dutch form \"spiritualiteit\" is used quite widely but is not the one typically found in the triad \"religie-zingeving-levensbeschouwing\". However, as a one-word translation it is an option.


    Reference: http://www.lannoo.com/nl/zingevingenreligie.asp
    Reference: http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/rzl/lb/
Monica Sandor
Belgium
Local time: 10:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  seaMount: why one-word translation if this concept enfolds essentially two entities?
25 mins
  -> thanks!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
spirituality


Explanation:
... is a word that springs to mind and may be of some, little or no use... :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 21 mins (2004-11-16 11:30:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Roget gives \'spirit\' as an alternative for \'meaning\'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs 23 mins (2004-11-16 15:31:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

How about \"faith and belief systems\" as a translation for the whole lot?

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 10:49
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks, everyone - some really good answers here! They will definitely go into my personal lexicon.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Arsen Nazarian: I think this one suits best considering the context
43 mins

agree  Tina Vonhof (X): a nice catch-all term.
8 hrs

agree  Monica Sandor: I like the last optin (or could be "religion and belief systems" - more than spirituality that perhaps would not fit all belief systems
21 hrs
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Purpose


Explanation:
"Purpose" is what comes to my mind.

Francina
United States
Local time: 05:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch
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