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jmdm./etwas das Wort erteilen

English translation: give a voice to sth./someone

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:jmdm./etwas das Wort erteilen
English translation:give a voice to sth./someone

19:01 Feb 25, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics / media art
German term or phrase: jmdm./etwas das Wort erteilen
Hi ho,

Sentence from a piece on media art:

"Analog der häretischen Technik der Glossolalie oder der surrealistischen »écriture automatique«, beides Techniken, die durch Ausschaltung des Bewusstseins (Trance, Schlafzustände) wahlweise einer göttlichen Instanz oder dem Unbewussten *DAS WORT ERTEILEN WOLLEN*, wird in (Sprache) die menschliche Sprache von maschinensprachlichen Steuercodes und Algorithmen durchsetzt."

Suggestions?

Cheers
i8a4re
Local time: 09:36
give a voice to
Explanation:
... give a voice to either the divine or the subconscious ...
Selected response from:

NGK
United States
Local time: 02:36
Grading comment
Liked this the most. cheers
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +9give a voice to
NGK
4allow the voice of XX or XX to be heard
Armorel Young
4I think it's meant just symbolically
gangels (X)
4to give somebody the floor
Terry Moran
3leave in charge
Lars Helbig
2to allow someone to speak
Jonathan MacKerron
3 -1to give the platform to someone
Ellen Zittinger


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
leave in charge


Explanation:
Translating this as "admit to the floor" would not really fit here. I would go with something like "leave in charge."

Lars Helbig
Germany
Local time: 09:36
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
give a voice to


Explanation:
... give a voice to either the divine or the subconscious ...

NGK
United States
Local time: 02:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Liked this the most. cheers

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD: wunderbar
5 mins
  -> fast schon göttlich ;)
agree  Jonathan MacKerron: sehr schön!
7 mins
agree  Edhild: exactly
11 mins
agree  Steffen Walter: der einzige Vorschlag, der auf die im Ausgangstext genannte "göttliche Instanz" bzw. das "Unbewusste" passt
26 mins
agree  roneill: Great solution
38 mins
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith
2 hrs
agree  astauber
2 hrs
agree  Michaela Müller
2 hrs
agree  Gábor Simon
12 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
allow the voice of XX or XX to be heard


Explanation:
allow the voice of the divine or of the unconscious to be heard.

A bit freer but might suit your context.

Armorel Young
Local time: 08:36
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
I think it's meant just symbolically


Explanation:
yield the stage to some divine entity or the unconscious

gangels (X)
Local time: 01:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 11
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
to allow someone to speak


Explanation:
but not very refined I know

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Note added at 11 mins (2004-02-25 19:13:13 GMT)
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give someone the opportunity to speak

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2004-02-25 19:14:52 GMT)
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according to Duden-Collins \"to call upon someone to speak\"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2004-02-25 19:16:25 GMT)
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in your specific case perhaps \"giving others a chance to speak\"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 42 mins (2004-02-25 22:44:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"defer to\"

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
to give the platform to someone


Explanation:
to allow someone the limelight

options

Ellen Zittinger
Local time: 00:36
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  moser.ilja: to pass the floor
5 hrs
  -> never heard of your expression, in Calif. anyway
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to give somebody the floor


Explanation:
This is the phrase used in formal meetings. We should assume the writer intends it to have that resonance, so there's no need to tinker with it.

Terry Moran
France
Local time: 09:36
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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