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(Re-)Translation quiz

Discussion in 'Free Fire Zone' started by KnightMove, Jan 20, 2004.

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  1. KnightMove

    KnightMove Ace

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    I think this forum can use each little bit of revival, so a new try, a new quiz... asking for translations, or re-translations (what happens if a term is translated to another language, then literally retranslated), or non-obviously comprehensible phrases.

    To start of with a not so difficult example (native German speakers, please keep out):

    The literal meaning of this German term is about "(I wish) Welfare to...", but it is seldom translated into English, if so, completely different. What is it?
     
    KnightMove, Jan 20, 2004
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  2. DUCE

    DUCE Member

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    not sure if this is true...but I might as well take a shot at it...

    ich wünsche, Wohlfahrt...

    I'm probably horribly wrong on that...ah well, lets see how much of a fool I can make of myself today!

    DUCE
     
    DUCE, Jan 20, 2004
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  3. KnightMove

    KnightMove Ace

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    Your re-translation of the phrase is correct, but this is not what I meant.

    It is a one-word, very well-known expression (to each single reader of this forum and most humans overall). If I say "welfare", this is kinda 'weak' translation, but AFAIK there is no better word in English. The German word means about "perfect well-being, all in flawless order, absence of any harm whatsoever".
     
    KnightMove, Jan 20, 2004
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  4. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    Gesundheit?
     
    PzJgr, Jan 20, 2004
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  5. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    How about?

    Mein Deutsch ist veri schlecht! ANd i do so admit it too.
     
    C.Evans, Jan 20, 2004
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  6. KnightMove

    KnightMove Ace

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    Heh, it's easier than you all think.

    Hint: The word is mostly used with someone/something to address: "(I wish) Welfare to (someone/something)."
     
    KnightMove, Jan 20, 2004
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  7. Deep Web Diver

    Deep Web Diver Member

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    Touching all World War Two bases, I used an internet translation website to translate this from:

    English to German
    German to Chinese
    Chinese to Romanian
    Romanian to Norwegian
    Norwegian to Japanese
    Japanese to Russian
    Russian to Danish
    Danish to Serbo-Croatian
    Serbo-Croatian to French
    French to Urdu
    Urdu to Spanish
    Spanish to Hindi
    Hindi to English

    The correct answer is 42.

    [ 21. January 2004, 01:31 AM: Message edited by: Ahab ]
     
    Deep Web Diver, Jan 21, 2004
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    Otto likes this.
  8. KnightMove

    KnightMove Ace

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    I appreciate good humor! :cool:
     
    KnightMove, Jan 21, 2004
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  9. KnightMove

    KnightMove Ace

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    See, again a riddle whose difficulty I had miscalculated. The answer is plain and simple:

    Heil (Hitler/the Kaiser/the country...)!


    New try: This is an English literature and movie quote. Translated to German and literally retranslated, it reads:

    My... treasssure!

    What is it? [​IMG]
     
    KnightMove, Jan 21, 2004
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  10. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    :D Mein Herz? [​IMG]
     
    C.Evans, Jan 22, 2004
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  11. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

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    auch du Lieber !
     
    Erich, Jan 22, 2004
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  12. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

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    Mein Schatzie, mein Schatzie ! ......... sorry just playing around KM
     
    Erich, Jan 22, 2004
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  13. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Anyone know this one?

    Ich Habe Mein Herz im Heidelberg!

    I love that song. The singer sounds like Dieter Hille of U 181 fame. :D [​IMG]
     
    C.Evans, Jan 22, 2004
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  14. KnightMove

    KnightMove Ace

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    Nice one guys. [​IMG]

    But well, is the question really clear? You need to find an English (literature and movie quote), which, translated to German and literally retranslated, would be "My treasure!" (with a somewhat affected pronounciation). So what's the English quote, and which character in which (currently hyped) story uses it?

    (It seems I am most certainly wrong classifying my questions as easy or difficult... I would have bet this one is easy.) [​IMG]
     
    KnightMove, Jan 22, 2004
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  15. Christian Ankerstjerne

    Christian Ankerstjerne Member

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    'My Precious' by Gollum/Smeagel from LOTR?
     
    Christian Ankerstjerne, Jan 22, 2004
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  16. KnightMove

    KnightMove Ace

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    Yezz! Your turn, Christian. [​IMG]
     
    KnightMove, Jan 22, 2004
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  17. Christian Ankerstjerne

    Christian Ankerstjerne Member

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    Okay.

    This word is, when traslated from English into German, and then translated into English, would be 'false', however its English opposite is 'right'.

    What is the word in English (and German)?
     
    Christian Ankerstjerne, Jan 22, 2004
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  18. jpatterson

    jpatterson Member

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    Nichts (not)

    Later
     
    jpatterson, Jan 22, 2004
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  19. Christian Ankerstjerne

    Christian Ankerstjerne Member

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    Nope...

    A hint - it is the direct opposite of 'right'...
     
    Christian Ankerstjerne, Jan 23, 2004
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  20. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    Lechkts
     
    PzJgr, Jan 23, 2004
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