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German to English translations [PRO] Marketing - Marketing / Market Research
German term or phrase:begeistern
Context:
"Nach einer Studie* des Bundesverbandes XYZ ist es der Branche in den 80er Jahren gelungen, 2,5 – 3% eines jeden Jahrganges für ein eigenes (Sportartike) zu begeistern."
I'm not sure how best to put this so that it doesn't sound like the industry was persuading, cajoling or forcing people to buy their products. Also, I'm not too sure about "eines jeden Jahrganges" since this has nothing to do with school/university leavers, for example, as most owners of this type of item buy their first one by the time they have reached an average age of about 40 (but any time before that really, though not often later).
It says in the definition offered by Orla: According to a traditional rule, one persuades someone to act but convinces someone of the truth of a statement or proposition. Might I just point out that in this case my Answer "The industry persuaded 3% of the age group..." would be more correct than using "convince" !
their entry about convince is also interesting! I would have gone for age group for Jahrgang - an age group can be as wide or as narrow as you want it incl 0 - 6 mths. Doesnt really matter that altersgruppe comes up too.
oa_xxx (X)
Germany
youve probably already decided on something but
17:23 Jan 15, 2010
just thought convince or motivate might be more positive alternatives to persuade etc.
successfully convinced.. to actually buy...
the entry in the free dictionary about enthuse is quite interesting - not really to answer this question I have to admit but in general ;-) http://www.thefreedictionary.com/enthuse
what about "Lust auf ... machen"? e.g. "Die Aussteller werden präsentieren und Lust auf Sommer, Sonne, Strand und Meer machen"? How does "The exhibitors will present their wares and inspire a longing for summer, sun, sand and sea" sound?
I am trying to put this so that it doesn't sound like the industry was persuading, cajoling or forcing people to buy their products, but it is not a question of simply interesting people in their products. A LOT of people are interested, certainly more than 2.5 - 3%.
Although once "hooked", people tend to remain keen enthusiasts until an old age. OK, I'll give you a clue. It is indeed something big, costing about as much as a car (with prices ranging all the way from the cheapest new car prices to the cost of supercars).
... "of the population each year" is OK. The German sounds like nonsense anyway (unless specific age groups are mentioned earlier on in the text). I doubt that 2.3% of the 85 year-olds were persuaded to buy this thing. Apropos the "thing": can you give us a clue? Is it something big like a home sauna or a treadmill? Or is it a set of skis/a tracksuit ...?
"According to a study performed by ... the industry was able sell some 2.5 – 3% of the population each year on the idea of buying their own XYZ in the 1980s"?
I'm still not happy about the Jahrgang thing though. The average age of owners is actually 56, with the majority of first-time buyers being under 40.
I'm sure this sport appeals to at least 25 - 30% of the population, if not more. The "problem" is the cost. So, in a way, the industry managed to get 2.5 - 3% of the population to buy (although not by force, obviously). Naturally, how strong the industry's role in getting people to buy actually is is open to debate.
Explanation: to fill a person with enthusiasm/ardor
Thayenga Germany Local time: 16:40 Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 4
25 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +3
inspired
Explanation: "According to a study by the Association of XYZ * , in the 80s the industry succeeded in inspiring 2.5 - 3% of each class year of its own (sports articles?)."
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 26 mins (2010-01-14 15:19:29 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Is it Sportartikeln in brackets?
Jeanie Eldon United Kingdom Local time: 15:40 Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: No, I have just replaced the name of the organisation and the actual item in question for reasons of confidentiality.
Asker: As I mentioned above, this has nothing to do with class years.
@ TonyTK: I had the same problem, but you can certainly "inspire someone to buy".