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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

how to translate 'man' from German into English

English translation:

use passive form

Added to glossary by Yorkshireman
Oct 10, 2014 10:48
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

how to translate 'man' from German into English

Non-PRO Homework / test German to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Wann uebersetzt man "man" ins Englische mit "you" oder "one", wie z.B. im folgenden Satz (Teil eines wissenschafltichen Texts).

Man nimmt eine Schar Probanden, gibt ihnen eine amüsante Aufgabe – Puzzeln zum Beispiel – und misst, wie lange sie sich dieser aus freien Stücken widmen. In einer zweiten Phase belohnt man die Probanden für die mit Puzzeln verbrachte Zeit.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +8 Suggested solution below
5 +3 one, you
4 +3 one
Change log

Oct 10, 2014 14:36: writeaway changed "Field" from "Science" to "Other" , "Field (specific)" from "Science (general)" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"

Oct 10, 2014 18:57: franglish changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Oct 17, 2014 09:25: Yorkshireman Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): Ramey Rieger (X), Johanna Timm, PhD, franglish

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Discussion

Michele Fauble Oct 10, 2014:
Passives As the "rule" says, "Passives are to be avoided".
Ramey Rieger (X) Oct 10, 2014:
@writeaway and Merry You're right, it's not a pro question. Simply vote non-pro, we're already two and it only takes three.
As to the suggestions, they are ALL correct, when properly applied.
Yorkshireman Oct 10, 2014:
Passives One doesn't know why, but even Word seems to dislikes passives.

Maybe I personally reject "one" outright as a consequence of my "oop north" origins.

Talkin' posh nivver did fahnd much joy wi' Tykes - wi allus sez them as talks thet way is nobbut puttin' et on.

It even stays passive in dialect:

"In't second bit, them as av tekken part 'll all get summat fer't tahm thi spent wit' t'puzzles."
Horst Huber (X) Oct 10, 2014:
It boils down to either shifting to the imperative, or to the passive, as in Yorkshireman's proposal. Hereabouts most editors are negative about using the passives, as if that entire resource of the English language should be done away with (up with which one should not put).
writeaway Oct 10, 2014:
Agree with Merry Foxworth This shouldn't be classified as a pro question.
BrigitteHilgner Oct 10, 2014:
With Ramey Rieger Take a group of people/participants/candidates ...
In a second phase, reward them ...
Ramey Rieger (X) Oct 10, 2014:
@Merry I don't find it exotic either, and quite common as you say. But often, the 'man' in German can be replaced with a pronoun or 'you' once the subject has been established.
Merry Foxworth Oct 10, 2014:
not a professional level This expression, one or you, is common usage in everyday English. As a native English speaker, I do not find that it sounds "translated".
Merry Foxworth Oct 10, 2014:
not professional level This expression should be classified as non-professional.
Ramey Rieger (X) Oct 10, 2014:
The first 'man' can easily be eliminated, 'Take a group of subjects and give them with an entertaining task, a puzzle for example, and measure......
The second 'man' is then 'them' or 'they' as the subject is determined. In the second phase, (they are rewarded/compensated/) or (reward/compensate) them for the time they.....
Yorkshireman Oct 10, 2014:
Rephrase II Something like this:

In a second phase, the test candidates are rewarded for the time they spent on the puzzles.
Sabine Akabayov, PhD Oct 10, 2014:
rephrase I would rephrase to avoid the use of "one" or "you". Depending on the context of course (which is missing here). Using "one" often sounds very "translated" and doesn't flow very well in my opinion.

Proposed translations

+8
34 mins
Selected

Suggested solution below

Avoid translating it verbatim and try something like this:

In a second phase, the test candidates are rewarded for the time they spent on the puzzles.
Peer comment(s):
agree Maja_K
0 min
THX
agree Coqueiro
1 min
My thanks
agree Lancashireman : Y-man is to be rewarded with the points.
20 mins
Ta!
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : Yes, and what about the first 'man'?// Of course I agree with my own suggestion.
28 mins
No problem - "Take a group of ......" - now agree - after all, it was your suggestion!
agree Sebastian Witte
43 mins
Thanks Sebastian
agree Melanie Meyer
1 hr
Merci Melanie
agree Usch Pilz : Yes, please!
1 day 3 hrs
Thanks Usch
agree Rebecca Garber : passive is correct in this context. There is nothing wrong with passive voice except for Strunk and White's personal prejudices.
1 day 4 hrs
An active thank you for a passive solution :-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks for your suggestions!"
+3
54 mins

one

denotes an unspecified individual(s) as in:
One tends to get tired when exercising (instead of you, which we use in English, but that can be misinterpreted).
Peer comment(s):
agree Lancashireman : Queen's English: One takes one's corgis for a walk in the palace grounds.
1 min
neutral Yorkshireman : A bit posh! One does indeed, but one doesn't tend to say it that way any more does one, daaahling.
1 hr
agree Katarina Peters : with Andrew. Posh or not that's the correct translation. As in the French "on".
2 hrs
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : One shouldn't hesitate to speak one's mind.
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
+3
2 hrs

one, you

Ich bin mit den Vorschlaegen meiner Kollegen einverstanden. In technischen oder Fachtexten wie in Ihrem Beispiel soll man es entweder mit "one" uebersetzen oder den Satz umbauen, in der alltaglichen Umgangssprache kann es jedoch mit "you" uebersetzt werden.
Peer comment(s):
agree Nils Andersson : Yes, this is tricky stuff.
21 mins
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : I couldn't leave you with merely one agree.
4 hrs
agree Lancashireman : with Nils and Ramey
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
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