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Spreizung

English translation: master the social and cultural chasm dividing our country

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:der sozialen und gesellschaftlichen Spreizung unseres Landes Herr werden
English translation:master the social and cultural chasm dividing our country
Entered by: Steffen Walter

04:30 Dec 8, 2008
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Economics / Economic reforms
German term or phrase: Spreizung
Speech by politician criticising the German government's rollback of reforms already begun. After talking about the need to devote time and resources to education and research he goes on:
- wir müssen eine Integrationspolitik entwickeln, die vorbeugend und begleitend agiert statt nur wie ein nachsorgender Reparaturbetrieb, der stets zu teuer ist und nie hinreichend erfolgreich sein kann
– wir werden sonst der sozialen und gesellschaftlichen Spreizung unseres Landes nicht Herr werden können,
I understand that he is advocating a policy of prevention rather than trying to deal with problems after they occur, but I fail to see what "Spreizung" could mean in this context. In the sense of society being "pulled apart"?
Patricia Will
Australia
Local time: 23:34
master the social and cultural chasm dividing our country
Explanation:
The way I would put it:

Otherwise we will not be able to master the social and cultural chasm dividing our country.
Selected response from:

Kitty Maerz
Germany
Local time: 17:34
Grading comment
I liked a lot of the suggestions but in the end based my translation on the "chasm dividing our country"
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4splaying
Frosty
3 +1fraying of the social fabric
misterherrnau
3Otherwise we will not be able to keep abreast of the diversity
Dr.G.MD (X)
3Fragmentation
Donal Murphy-Bokern
3divide
Stephan Elkins
3master the social and cultural chasm dividing our country
Kitty Maerz
2- getting a grip on the growing disparities in our country will otherwise elude us
hazmatgerman (X)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Otherwise we will not be able to keep abreast of the diversity


Explanation:
of our social systems and our society.

An attempt

Dr.G.MD (X)
Local time: 17:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Edith Kelly: I do not think that diversity is meant here but rather the gap opening or having opened
1 hr
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
splaying


Explanation:
In view of the current (and rather heated!) political discussions, this could well be what is meant.

But it`s all much the same as the problems anywhere else: haves vs. have nots = bankers bonuses v. folks on Hartz IV, the ghettoisation of former and 3rd generation "Gastararbeiters", etc, etc.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 47 mins (2008-12-08 05:18:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oops, that should be "Gastarbeiters"!

Frosty
Local time: 17:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 11
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Fragmentation


Explanation:
Only a suggestion

Donal Murphy-Bokern
Germany
Local time: 17:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
divide


Explanation:
Along the line suggested by hatmazgerman, I would interpret "Spreizung" as Spaltung.

Accordingly, "social divide" might also work.

Stephan Elkins
United States
Local time: 17:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 6
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
- getting a grip on the growing disparities in our country will otherwise elude us


Explanation:
Australian fine-tuning and adaption to text following this indent probably required. Have tried to keep this indent intact.


hazmatgerman (X)
Local time: 17:34
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
fraying of the social fabric


Explanation:
is a common way to put this

misterherrnau
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  casper (X): well rendered, misterherrnau
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Mr. Sampat! The perennial hot topic in Austria and vicinity ...
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
master the social and cultural chasm dividing our country


Explanation:
The way I would put it:

Otherwise we will not be able to master the social and cultural chasm dividing our country.

Kitty Maerz
Germany
Local time: 17:34
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I liked a lot of the suggestions but in the end based my translation on the "chasm dividing our country"
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