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  3. Law: Contract(s)

ad absurdum

English translation: ...would render the entire agreement practically invalid

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:...würde die ganze Vereinbarung ad absurdum geführt (legal context)
English translation:...would render the entire agreement practically invalid
Entered by: Steffen Walter

08:54 Apr 7, 2003
German to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law: Contract(s)
German term or phrase: ad absurdum
Damit würde ja die ganze Vereinbarung, die auch auf der Anlage K 2 unter Ziff. 6 nieder gelegt ist, ad absurdum geführt. Dort heißt es: "Die Veränderung der Anlageform.....
danilingua
Germany
Local time: 17:51
would render the entire agreement practically invalid
Explanation:
...would deprive the entire agreement of its (legal) basis.
...would contradict letter and spirit of the entire agreement.
...would be in sharp contradiction to the entire agreement.

Hängt sehr vom Kontext ab, welche Nuance Du betonst. (Bin mir auch nicht sicher, ob die Konstruktion mit "to deprive" nicht doch nur auf Personen angewandt werden kann).

"ad absurdum führen" wäre wörtlich(er) übersetzt "to reduce to absurdity", was hier m.E. nicht ganz passt (wenn, dann vielleicht noch "to render the agreement absurd).
Selected response from:

Steffen Walter
Germany
Local time: 17:51
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3reductio ad absurdum
Margaret Marks
4 +2to the point of absurdity
Valentín Hernández Lima
5render pointless
Maureen Holm, J.D., LL.M.
4would render the entire agreement practically invalid
Steffen Walter


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to the point of absurdity


Explanation:
Through... the agreement would be brought to the point of absurdity.

If you want to convey the Latin expression with English words, although "ad absurdum" is also used quite frequently in English.

V


Valentín Hernández Lima
Spain
Local time: 16:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 10

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Anna Bittner
47 mins
agree  Karl Apsel
2 hrs
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
reductio ad absurdum


Explanation:
If you want to keep the expression in English, I would write 'this would be a case of reductio ad absurdum'.

Margaret Marks
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 156

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Giusi Pasi: in the original there is the Latin term, then it fits well in the translation: it's good Legalese
1 hr
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: or 'reduce to absurdity"
3 hrs
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith
4 hrs
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
would render the entire agreement practically invalid


Explanation:
...would deprive the entire agreement of its (legal) basis.
...would contradict letter and spirit of the entire agreement.
...would be in sharp contradiction to the entire agreement.

Hängt sehr vom Kontext ab, welche Nuance Du betonst. (Bin mir auch nicht sicher, ob die Konstruktion mit "to deprive" nicht doch nur auf Personen angewandt werden kann).

"ad absurdum führen" wäre wörtlich(er) übersetzt "to reduce to absurdity", was hier m.E. nicht ganz passt (wenn, dann vielleicht noch "to render the agreement absurd).

Steffen Walter
Germany
Local time: 17:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 678
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
render pointless


Explanation:
This context is still a little short of what could determine whether 'pointless' or indeed 'meaningless' is the right term here.
I wouldn't get stuck on the Latin, in some imagined deference to legalese. 'A priori' happens to be household parlance in France, but would be lifeless left to stand while 'von Haus aus' is vital.

Maureen Holm, J.D., LL.M.
United States
Local time: 11:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 68
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