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Grenzstrom

English translation: the Rhine ceased to constitute a boundary

23:38 Jan 12, 2013
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - International Org/Dev/Coop
German term or phrase: Grenzstrom
This is a social science text. Talking about the historical importance of the Rhine River (around the 5th Century AD), the text says:

"Zahlreiche Dorfgrüindungen und Christianisierung des landlichen Räumes; der Rhein verliert seine Funktion als Grenzstrom."

What precisely would Grenzstrom mean in this context?
Matt Bowlby
United States
Local time: 10:47
English translation:the Rhine ceased to constitute a boundary
Explanation:
The previous reply, "border river" is technically correct, But it sounds like hell. Why? because it reproduces in EN the noun-based DE syntax. So we forget about "losing its character as" and reformulate it more concretely using the verb cluster "to cease being". "Boundary" is vaguer than "border" so we aren't giving the impression that it's a modern border, with customs, border police, etc.
Selected response from:

Carl Stoll
Argentina
Local time: 12:47
Grading comment
Thanks for the answer. I think you and Steffen got exactly what I was looking for.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4the Rhine ceased to constitute a boundary
Carl Stoll
4the Rhine ceases to function as a limiting border to ....
Ellen Kraus
3 +1border river
Michael Martin, MA


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
der Rhein verliert seine Funktion als Grenzstrom.
the Rhine ceased to constitute a boundary


Explanation:
The previous reply, "border river" is technically correct, But it sounds like hell. Why? because it reproduces in EN the noun-based DE syntax. So we forget about "losing its character as" and reformulate it more concretely using the verb cluster "to cease being". "Boundary" is vaguer than "border" so we aren't giving the impression that it's a modern border, with customs, border police, etc.

Carl Stoll
Argentina
Local time: 12:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks for the answer. I think you and Steffen got exactly what I was looking for.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner: Much more natural!
7 hrs
agree  Steffen Walter: ... no longer constituted a boundary/lost its boundary function
7 hrs
agree  Clive Phillips
12 hrs
agree  Edith Kelly: mit Steffen
13 hrs
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the Rhine ceases to function as a limiting border to ....


Explanation:
just one more option

Ellen Kraus
Austria
Local time: 17:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
border river


Explanation:
Example from source below:
"Colonias might not be noticeable to a rafter floating down the border river, but they exist up and down the Texas side of the border."

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Note added at 54 mins (2013-01-13 00:32:53 GMT)
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Here's another one:
"I don’t think I would ever have gotten the experience of walking over the border river between France and Germany If we’d not been in search of a better hitch-hiking spot that morning."
http://closethedoorafterme.blogspot.com/2011/03/hitch-hikers...

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Note added at 14 hrs (2013-01-13 13:49:53 GMT)
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Here's your context..

"lost its role as border river"

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Note added at 14 hrs (2013-01-13 14:11:11 GMT)
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or:
"lost its role as boundary between..."

Meander The Turkish river, its history & role as boundary between East & West.
http://www.heywoodhill.com/old_books.php?pageNum_rs_books=29...

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Note added at 19 hrs (2013-01-13 19:01:21 GMT)
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Whether conjuring up images of yelling border guards or not, use of "border river" surely is part of the vocabulary when it comes to historical or political boundaries:

"The word Meuse was also a border river between the Romans and the Germans."
http://www.ukcanals.net/famous-canal-people/29-waterways-of-...

Another option that might satisfy all constituents would be..

.."no longer forms the border/boundary between" ..


    Reference: http://www.window.state.tx.us/border/ch09/ch09.html
Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 11:47
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Salih YILDIRIM
3 hrs
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