TRADUguide - Your Guide to Translators and Translation Agencies

240 months ago

Wolfhart Willimczik (a guest user) asked this question:

This question has already been answered and rated. Therefore, no new answers can be given.

240 months ago

   wrote:

Communist plot line - VOPO

My comment:

Since a VOPO is a Volkspolizist (the people's police), and there really isn't an equivalent in English speaking countries, I would leave it as is and state (perhaps in parentheses) that they were the East German state police in the communist days.

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

240 months ago

   wrote:

STASI

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

Nice and short idea, Steve! But a Stasi-man is more like an FBI (I can't think of any other than the US who employ this kind of ...) agent, i.e. working in federal business moreless undercover; a Vopo is a regular police officer - or so it used to be - that would stop your car when you drove drunk ... ;-(

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

Didn't this strike any of you a bit odd: how can the questioned item be posted under the category 'science/non-fiction' and be added the keyword 'spy novel' at the same time?? How can anyone do a descent translation if the context info is self-contradictory? Please tell us: are you writing a novel or a history book?

240 months ago

   wrote:

The boys in blue

My comment:

is the English slang for policemen

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

That would hardly match the sense of VOPO. Better then would be 'cops' or, depending on the novel, 'the heat' or 'the pigs'.

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

If the publishing context allows it, I should even opt for translating literarily, e.g. by a pun like 'the cops of collective (abbr.'COC', as in a slightly satirical novel, if that's what's the end of it ... ;-). But still, the 'PO' from police is I think internationally understood!

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

I think, 'boys in blue', as the word is apparently sought for a (spy) novel (see keywords), would render it too ordinary a scene! In this case you will want - or even have to stress - that most peculiar situation between the people of the former DDRepublic and their 'very own policemen'! So, 'as is' might work fine!

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

That would hardly match the sense of VOPO. Better then would be 'cops' or, depending on the novel, 'the heat' or 'the pigs'.

240 months ago

   wrote:

thread

My comment:

there is no exact equivalent in English for 'Roter Faden'. You could use: "Red" Thread, I suppose or another way to say it would be: there's a recurrent 'red' theme throughout the novel.

The asker rated this answer best

240 months ago

   wrote:

thread

My comment:

there is no exact equivalent in English for 'Roter Faden'. You could use: "Red" Thread, I suppose or another way to say it would be: there's a recurrent 'red' theme throughout the novel.

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

I would leave Stalingrad 'as is', Vopos 'as is' perhaps with an explanation of 'police' if needed, and volkseigener could be translated into 'communally owned' or 'state owned.'

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

I would leave Stalingrad 'as is', Vopos 'as is' perhaps with an explanation of 'police' if needed, and volkseigener could be translated into 'communally owned' or 'state owned.'

The asker rated this answer best

240 months ago

bergerado   wrote:

folgende Vorschläge:

My comment:

1. Rote(r) Faden = 'thread' oder 'plot' (vgl. zB. ' to lose the plot' = den Faden verlieren)
2. Vopo würde ich gar nicht übersetzen, sofern es erläutert werden kann.
3. Stalingrad = 'Stalingrad' ;-)
4. Wie man "volkseigen" übersetzt, hängt davon ab; will man sachlich bleiben, dann wohl etwa mit 'collective (property)'. In einem literarischen Text wäre aber auch eine interpretierende Umschreibung denkbar ...

My references:

1. http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed&relink=on§Hdr=on&spellToler=on&search=roter+faden