This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. German to English
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Angst-Musik, Angst-Stimme, Angst-Schrift

English translation: nerve-jangling/scary + music/voice/font

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Angst-Musik, Angst-Stimme, Angst-Schrift
English translation:nerve-jangling/scary + music/voice/font
Entered by: Lancashireman

10:09 Dec 14, 2012
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Political thriller
German term or phrase: Angst-Musik, Angst-Stimme, Angst-Schrift
This is from a political thriller where a group of characters are discussing ways to use a faked media scenario to create fear in a population. It's clear enough what Angst-Musik, Angst-Stimme and Angst-Schrift mean, but I can't find a way of expressing them in English that doesn't sound horribly clunky.

The best I have at the moment is "music of fear" which sounds awful by the time you get to "lettering of fear"!

Is anybody else feeling more inspired?

Thanks!
Rachel

»Faszinierend!«, unterbrach ihn Patricia Palmer. »Wir werden emotionstechnisch Vollgas geben.« Nun
war sie in ihrem Element. »Wir machen das mit der **Angst-Musik**.« Sie summte ein paar Töne einer
dramatischen Melodie. »Und mit der **Angst-Stimme**!«
Sie sahen sich verdutzt an. Keiner hätte der zierlichen Frau diese Abgründigkeit zugetraut. Aber dafür
war sie schließlich engagiert worden.
Landlers Gesicht hellte sich auf. Er glaubte eine Seelenverwandtschaft zu erkennen. »Und mit der **Angst-
Schrift**«, fügte er hinzu. Patricia warf ihm einen vernichtenden Blick zu.
Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:43
fear-inducing
Explanation:
'Scary' is perfect for teens. An adult reader might prefer this.

fear-inducing music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi59R-caipA
fear-inducing voice: http://tinyurl.com/co5m4us
Pyes Pa is a fear inducing font family... http://littlebitheart.com/2011/12/font-friday-36-otama/

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2012-12-14 13:10:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Inspired by lirka's 'bloodcurdling' alternative, I would like to supplement this answer with two more:
nerve-jangling
spine-tingling
Selected response from:

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:43
Grading comment
Thanks Andrew - went with nerve-jangling in the end.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5scary music, scary voice, scary writing/font
Lis Liesicke
4bloodcurdling
Lirka
3 +1fear-inducing
Lancashireman
4eery music, voice and print/script
Ramey Rieger (X)
4the Music of Doom, the Voice of Doom, the Font of Doom
urbom
2nightmarish
Jonathan MacKerron


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
scary music, scary voice, scary writing/font


Explanation:
just another suggestion

Lis Liesicke
Local time: 12:43
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner
25 mins
  -> thanks Helen
agree  BrigitteHilgner
1 hr
  -> thanks Brigitte
agree  Lancashireman
1 hr
  -> thanks Andrew
agree  Lonnie Legg
4 hrs
  -> thanks Lonnie
agree  Thayenga: Sounds good. Enjoy your weekend, Lis. :)
1 day 1 min
  -> thanks Thayenga - you have a good weekend too!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
bloodcurdling


Explanation:
an alternative you may want to consider..

Lirka
Austria
Local time: 12:43
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Angst-[NOUN]
fear-inducing


Explanation:
'Scary' is perfect for teens. An adult reader might prefer this.

fear-inducing music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi59R-caipA
fear-inducing voice: http://tinyurl.com/co5m4us
Pyes Pa is a fear inducing font family... http://littlebitheart.com/2011/12/font-friday-36-otama/

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2012-12-14 13:10:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Inspired by lirka's 'bloodcurdling' alternative, I would like to supplement this answer with two more:
nerve-jangling
spine-tingling


Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:43
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 160
Grading comment
Thanks Andrew - went with nerve-jangling in the end.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  seehand
26 mins
neutral  Cilian O'Tuama: prefer scary, post grading and all // All swell in Clone. Grüße
1 day 15 hrs
  -> Hiya, Cilian. You still up or up already? It's 8.23am here in Dubai, so it must be 5.23 in Clone.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
nightmarish


Explanation:
anxiety provoking/arousing
terror inspiring

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 63
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
eery music, voice and print/script


Explanation:
It's a pity I get the email notices so LATE!

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 12:43
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 70
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the Music of Doom, the Voice of Doom, the Font of Doom


Explanation:
Is there at least a touch of irony or dark humour in this passage? I can't tell without more context, but that's the impression I get from the bit you posted in your query.

If that is the case, I'd recommend these choices (capitalised as shown!) to convey how the characters might enunciate them in the dialogue.

urbom
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Like it, but sadly doesn't quite fit the tone.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search