grammar confusion

English translation: Satzkonstruktion

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:grammar confusion
English translation:Satzkonstruktion

17:19 Feb 13, 2015
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2015-02-17 11:54:09 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy / Theater performance
German term or phrase: grammar confusion
Abgesang......zu schlagen
I understand this to be a swansong or a farewell. I'm having trouble with the sentence, as I feel a verb is missing.
So far, I have tried:
The heart of the performance is the farewell/swansong which with performance narratives blasts a hole in reality.
But why ZU schlagen? What am I missing here??

Die Performance verbindet die Frage der Schuldenökonomie mit Lazzaratos Auseinandersetzung mit Marcel Duchamp. Aus beiden schallt der Ruf: Hört auf zu Arbeiten! Lass es sein! Ihr müsst nichts tun! Im Zentrum der Performance steht der Abgesang, mittels performativer Erzählungen ein Loch in die Realität zu schlagen. Die neoliberal-Zugerichtetheit des Subjekts kann nur zerschlagen werden, indem wir uns der in den Körper eingeschriebenen Schuldfrage verweigern.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 08:17
Satzkonstruktion
Explanation:
"Ein Loch in die Realität zu schlagen" = die Realität nicht so stehen lassen, ihr ein Stück entreißen.
Im Abgesang wird durch die performativen Erzählungen ein Loch in die Realität geschlagen.
Selected response from:

Silke Walter
Germany
Local time: 08:17
Grading comment
MANY, MANY THANKS! My final translation leaves no doubt about what the finale does. I cannot say that I fully understand the construction of the sentence, it's new to me, so I'm looking forward to learning!
'The heart of the performance is the farewell b
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6Satzkonstruktion
Silke Walter
2see sentence below
gangels (X)
Summary of reference entries provided
zu
Erik Freitag

Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Satzkonstruktion


Explanation:
"Ein Loch in die Realität zu schlagen" = die Realität nicht so stehen lassen, ihr ein Stück entreißen.
Im Abgesang wird durch die performativen Erzählungen ein Loch in die Realität geschlagen.

Silke Walter
Germany
Local time: 08:17
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
MANY, MANY THANKS! My final translation leaves no doubt about what the finale does. I cannot say that I fully understand the construction of the sentence, it's new to me, so I'm looking forward to learning!
'The heart of the performance is the farewell b
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Silke!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Erik Freitag
12 mins

agree  Helen Shiner: I think I read it as its purpose or existence being to do that.
16 mins

agree  Donald Jacobson
37 mins

agree  Horst Huber (X)
1 hr

agree  franglish: with Helen
1 hr

agree  Edwin Miles
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
see sentence below


Explanation:
At the heart of the performance can be found the endeavor to transfigure reality by way of representative narratives.
(i.e. turning reality into a distant abstraction).
Abgesang is the 'tenor' of the whole thought complex, with endeavor getting the idea across.

I think that's the meaning, if not a literal translation. Sounds a bit more elegiac than 'poking holes'.

gangels (X)
Local time: 00:17
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


3 mins peer agreement (net): +4
Reference: zu

Reference information:
The sentence is well-formed. You can read as as being elliptical for:

"Im Zentrum der Performance steht der Abgesang, [der darin besteht,] mittels performativer Erzählungen ein Loch in die Realität zu schlagen."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 Min. (2015-02-13 17:23:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"read it as being"

Erik Freitag
Germany
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Note to reference poster
Asker: AHA! Then my translation is not so very wide of the mark. You're a champ, Erik, thank you!


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Helen Shiner: or der mittels .... schlägt./Or rather its purpose is to do that.
4 mins
  -> Yes, that's a lot better.
agree  Hans-Jochen Trost
49 mins
agree  Edwin Miles
5 hrs
agree  Peter Keegan
2 days 1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search