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German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Multi-media theatre performance
German term or phrase:aus dem Horizont
Greetings! Same text, same paragraph. I realize that 'Horizont' refers to our mental/emotional/intellectual capactiy to understand a concept...and now?
Context: Die Geschichte dieser Blocks verstehen wir aus dem Horizont einer uns gemeinsamen - universellen - Geschichte der Fortschrittsmoderne, ob nun in der sozialistischen und der hart-kapitalistischen US-amerikanischen Variante oder in wohlstandsstaatlichen Varianten des europäischen Nordens.
My attempt: We view the emergence of these blocks within our horizon; our understanding of our common - universal - neo-progressive history, be it of the socialist, hardcore-capitalist US American variety or of the North European national prosperity sort.
Usually, when there are two or more answers that I would very much like to give points to, I look at the leaders table give the points to the colleague furthest down the list. This was an excellent and enlightening discussion, and I thank you all for your, as always, professional input.
"I didn't say it was simple or basic." - To be fair, I didn't say that either (thus, "as...as it may").
Sociology was my field of studies, so I think I know what you're trying to say. While I don't agree with Michael's "awareness," I think he has a point when he says "If that's all the author wanted to convey, there are simpler ways of doing that in German." Word use is much more important in sociology than, say, in chemistry because of the discipline's theoretical foundation (rooted in culture and linguistics as opposed to formulas and rules).
"My point was to steer Ramey away from a poetic interpretation." Don't disagree. I apologize if I wasn't clear enough. I did say I'd leave the suggestions up to you and Paul. I'm curious, though, what verb you'd use together with "viewpoint," since you can hardly repeat "view" again.
Also curious what you both think about "through the lense of."
I didn't say it was simple or basic. I said 'fairly basic'. Thank you, however, for demonstrating with all your examples, the term's use in so many prosaic contexts. I translate sociological and other academic texts frequently, where it occurs with great regularity. The author is writing here at that sort of level. Within that context, yes, fairly basic. I'm sure it occurs often in journalistic contexts, too. My point was to steer Ramey away from a poetic interpretation, as Paul had also tried to do.
"und diskutierten das Thema 'Konstruktion von Raum' einmal historisch–analytisch, zum anderen aus dem Erfahrungshorizont einer auf neue und experimentelle Konstruktionen gerichteten eigenen Praxis." http://www.habitat-design.tu-berlin.de/fileadmin/f26/downloa...
I'll leave the suggestions up to you and Paul (especially whether it makes a difference if you replace "Horizont" by "Erfahrungshorizont"; not fond of "perspective"), but this actually isn't as basic or simple as it may sound, IMO.
We view these blocks from the perspective of our common - universal - neo-progressive history, be it of the socialist variety, of the free-market capitalist US American variety or of the North European welfare state sort.
I also find it a poetic rendering of what is a fairly basic German phrase. Poetry is your forte, Ramey, but I'm really sorry to have to agree with Paul, that it is a mistranslation here. Echoing Paul with the aim of helping you ...
I don't think we talk about viewing things from a personal or collective horizon. It sounds poetic and perhaps paradoxical in English to use the word this way, and I don't think that's the author's intention. In that sense, (groan), it borders on a mistranslation, in my opinion.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
ASKER
Dear Everyone
06:32 Aug 31, 2016
I thank you all for the strong support. I know some of you will groan, but from my experience with this author and these texts, I have come to the following final translation: We view these blocks from the horizon of our experience, from our common - universal - neo-progressive history, be it of the socialist variety, of the free-market capitalist US American variety or of the North European welfare state sort.
Second meaning in the Duden comes closest (I think you alluded to it in your question): "geistiger Bereich, den jemand überblickt und in dem er ein Urteilsvermögen besitzt" http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Horizont
One synonym: Blickfeld
It looks to me as if this could be short for "Erfahrungshorizont" here (which makes sense, considering the subsequent "gemeinsamen Geschichte"). In short: Similar experiences because of a shared history have us see certain things in the same light - doesn't matter whether you're from Berlin or Boston.
I think I'm having one of those days where everything sounds odd and inappropriate. My dyslexia is creating one typing error after the other, and I'm going nowhere at top speed. Thanks for the pointer. I'm going to sleep on it - tomorrow HAS to be better.
'aus' here means 'from', as we have all suggested. I think the term 'awareness' is taking you away from the meaning.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
ASKER
awareness
15:36 Aug 30, 2016
We understand these blocks WITH the awareness of our common - universal - neo-progressive history... the preposition AUS has been driving me nuts. What say you (all)?
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
13 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +3
from the perspective
Explanation: "We view these blocks from the perspective of a common, universal ... "
Paul Cohen Greenland Local time: 13:19 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 26
Grading comment
I've put all suggestions in the glossary. Thank you!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes, Paul, I though of perspective. Let's see what the community thinks sounds better. Thank you!