Text 1 - Koblenz

Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Text 1 plus some English stuff
page
contents
2
3
4-5
German text
Model translation with highlighted points
Selected language notes from the class:
- your twin duty as translators
- reported speech in German and English
Matching English articles (highlighted)
6 onwards
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Text 1
Translate the following newspaper text into English
Tip 1: When translating German news texts, you should always refer to several matching articles (MAs) on
the same subject from an English news source. Links to news websites can be found on the T1 website. You
might start with Google News, click on UK or US headlines, depending on whether it's a US or a UK story
or whether you write British or American English. Then type in key words (e.g. “Miss California” “Carrie
Prejean”) into the search window. If you need more research, you can look at individual websites (Fox News
or Perez Hilton’s website in this text, for example).
The MAs will help you with the specific topic terminology (see the colour highlighting in the German text)
and more general journalese phrasing – in particular, notice how indirect (reported) speech is written in
the English texts. And careful internet research will give you the actual original English words that have
been translated into German as quotes in the text below.
Tip 2: You will also need all the reference books we looked at in the first T1 class. But please remember:
bilingual dictionaries are best used only as a starting point for the right English translation. If you are
not 100% sure of the precise meaning of the English words given or how to use them correctly, check them
in your monolingual dictionary or your MAs.
Tip 3: When translating, keep telling yourself: my translation should be as close as possible to the German
text in meaning, and as close as possible to natural-sounding English (or journalese) in language. So be
careful with tricky bits like "wurde nur ganz knapp Zweite”.
Always write your translation on a computer and bring a complete print-out to class next week
together with the highlighted matching English texts you have used to help you.
Wie die Homo-Ehe die Miss-USA-Wahl entschied
[do not translate the parts in brackets and italics]
[Das Spannendste an einer Miss-Wahl ist nicht die Krönung der Siegerin, sondern die Befragung der
Kandidatinnen beim Wettbewerb davor. Dann trifft beim Zuschauer Fremdscham auf die stille Hoffnung,
dass sich all die Vorurteile bestätigen mögen – und die meist blonden Damen etwas besonders Dummes
sagen. Schon oft passierten nahezu unbeschreibliche Blamagen. Und auch bei der Wahl zur Miss USA 2009
in Las Vegas gab es einen kleinen Skandal.]
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, wurde nur ganz knapp Zweite, ist aber davon überzeugt, eigentlich
den Sieg verdient zu haben. [Genauso wie die luxuriöse Wohnung in New York, ein gigantisches Gehalt und
ein Stipendium an einer Filmhochschule. Immerhin gab es bei den äußerlichen Qualitäten der beiden
Konkurrentinnen keine großen Unterschiede: beide sind groß, blond, blauäugig.]
Prejeans Meinung nach habe sie die Wahl nur verloren, weil sie sich gegen die Homo-Ehe
ausgesprochen habe. Als der schwule Moderator sie fragte, was sie davon halte, dass Vermont als
vierter US-Bundesstaat die Ehe Homosexueller legalisiert habe, antwortete sie mit den Worten: "Ich
glaube, dass es eine Ehe nur zwischen Mann und Frau geben sollte. Ich möchte niemanden
beleidigen, aber so bin ich erzogen worden."
Tatsächlich scheint die Vermutung Prejeans zu stimmen: So äußerte sich die Jurorin Alicia Jacobs
entsetzt von der Antwort der Kandidatin: „Mit jedem Wort ihrer Antwort sah ich die Krone ein
Stückchen weiter von ihrem Kopf fliegen.“
Auch der homosexuelle Prominenten-Blogger Perez Hilton, sagt, er sei „geschockt“. Er hält den
Vorfall gar für den skandalösesten, seit Schönheitsköniginnen gewählt werden: „Das ist die
schlimmste Antwort in der Geschichte der Misswahlen. Sie hat nicht verloren, weil sie nicht an die
Homo-Ehe glaubt. Sie hat verloren, weil sie eine dumme Schlampe ist!“
Prejean steht trotz der Kritik zu ihren Worten und bezeichnete sich selbst in einem Interview mit
dem TV-Sender "Fox News" als "Gewinnerin": „Vielleicht waren meine Worte wenig diplomatisch.
Aber gerade bei dieser Frage ging es nicht darum, politisch korrekt zu antworten – es ging
darum, biblisch korrekt zu antworten.“ [Die Welt, 22 April 2009]
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
highlighted points: punctuation and spelling, vocabulary, grammar and syntax
How same-sex/gay marriage decided Miss USA contest
How Same-Sex/Gay Marriage Decided Miss USA Pageant (AmE)
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was a very close runner-up/ came a very
close second/ came a neck-and-neck second/ came second by a hair’s
breadth but she is convinced that she in fact/actually deserved to win/
deserves the crown. In Prejean’s opinion, she only lost the contest/
competition because she spoke out against same-sex marriage. When the gay
host [factual error] /a gay judge asked her what she thought about Vermont
being the fourth state/ about the fact that Vermont was the fourth US state to
have legalised/~ized(AmE) same-sex marriage, she answered by saying: “I
believe a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No
offence/offense(AmE) to anyone out there, but that’s how I was raised.”
[original quote]
Prejean’s assumption actually seems to be correct: judge/Judge(AmE) Alicia
Jacobs, for example, said she was appalled/stunned/horrified by the
contestant’s answer: “As she continued to speak, I saw the crown move further
and further away from her.” [original quote]
Gay celebrity blogger Perez Hilton also says he was “floored”/ “shocked”.
(BrE) /“shocked.”(AmE) He even thinks it is the most outrageous/scandalous
thing to have happened ever since beauty queens have been elected/crowned:
“She gave the worst answer in pageant history. She lost, not because she
doesn’t believe in gay marriage, she lost because she is a dumb bitch.”
[original quote]
Despite the backlash/criticism, Prejean stands by/ is sticking to/ is not
backing down from her words, and in an interview with TV broadcaster Fox
News she called herself “the winner”: “The way I answered may have been
offensive. With that question specifically, it's not about being politically
correct. For me it was being biblically correct.” [original quote]
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Your twin duty as a translator
• be true to the meaning of the source text
• be true to the target language: make it linguistically
correct and appropriate in itself
English-German
Prejean: The way I answered may have been offensive
literal translation: Die Art, wie ich antwortete, mag
beleidigend gewesen sein.
• perhaps gets the meaning across, but does it sound natural
in German, like a native-speaker beauty queen?
better translation? Vielleicht waren meine Worte wenig
diplomatisch.
German-English
Carrie Prejean wurde nur ganz knapp Zweite
literal translation: became only very narrowly second
• gets the meaning across, but…
• “became second” is not a common collocation
• “became very narrowly second” not common either
(wurde Zweite, ganz knapp Zweite: very common)
good translation: came a very close second
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Reported Speech
Als der schwule Moderator sie fragte, was sie davon halte,
dass Vermont die Ehe Homosexueller legalisiert habe,
• Direct speech: “What do you think about the fact
that Vermont has legalised same-sex marriage?”
• Reporting verb in past tense? YES: fragte
• Backshift direct-speech tenses
He asked her what she thought about that fact that
Vermont had legalised same-sex marriage.
------------------
Prejeans Meinung nach habe sie die Wahl nur verloren, weil
sie sich gegen die Homo-Ehe ausgesprochen habe.
1. Direct speech:
“I lost …because I criticized...”
2. Reporting verb in past tense? NO: Ps Meinung nach
3. Don’t backshift direct-speech tenses
In P’s opinion, she lost because she criticised…
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Carrie Prejean Says Answer to Gay Marriage
Question Cost Her Miss USA Crown
Monday , April 20, 2009
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,517215,00.html
Miss California is not backing down from the answer regarding gay marriage she gave on Sunday
night's Miss USA telecast.
Carrie Prejean told FOXNews.com that she had "no regrets" and was happy with the answer she
gave when a Miss USA judge, the gossip blogger Perez Hilton, asked about her stance on same-sex
marriage.
"I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," she said on the live
broadcast. "No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."
One person who was offended was Keith Lewis, co-director the Miss California competition, which
Prejean won to make it into the Miss USA pageant. Lewis told FOXNews.com that he was
"saddened" by Prejean's statement.
"I am personally ... hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a
woman," said Lewis in a statement.
Co-director Shanna Moakler, best know as Travis Barker's wife in the MTV reality show "Meet the
Barkers," said that she fully supported Lewis' condemnation of Prejean's views.
Blogger Perez Hilton was also enraged, calling Prejean a "stupid b***h" in a video tirade he aired
on his blog.
But the backlash is having little affect on Prejean, 21, she says.
"I wouldn't have had it any other way. I stated an opinion that was true to myself, and that's all I can
do," she told Billy Bush, who hosted Miss USA, on his radio talk show on Monday.
"It did cost me my crown," Prejean continued. "It is a very touchy subject and [Hilton] is a
homosexual, and I see where he was coming from and I see the audience would've wanted me to be
more politically correct. But I was raised in a way that you can never compromise your beliefs and
your opinions for anything."
"I feel like I won," she said. "I feel like I'm the winner. I really do."
Prejean also said that her sister, a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, and a supporter
of gay marriage, was not offended by her answer.
“She was just in my hotel room and she said, ‘Sis, I’m not offended by anything that you said. We
have two different opinions and I love you because of it. I love you because you stood up for what
was right, and it’s not a matter of being gay or not gay, it’s a matter of you competing for Miss
USA and getting a question and answering it to the best of your ability.”
Miss California's answer sparked a shouting match in the lobby after the show.
"It's ugly," said Scott Ihrig, a gay man, who attended the pageant with his partner. "I think it's
ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this
audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are."
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Charmaine Koonce, the mother of Miss New Mexico USA Bianca Matamoros-Koonce, argued
back.
"In the Bible it says marriage is between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"
The winner, Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, a 22-year-old aspiring motivational speaker and
entertainer from Wilmington, edged out Prejean and second runner-up, Miss Arizona USA AliciaMonique Blanco, of Phoenix.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
………………………………..
http://blog.nj.com/entertainment_impact_celebrities/2009/04/miss_california_
carrie_prejean/print.html
Miss California Carrie Prejean's gay marriage answer angers Miss
USA judge Perez Hilton
Posted by vihyman April 20, 2009 16:39PM
Miss USA 2009 runner-up Carrie Prejean of California is making headlines for actually having an
opinion beyond "world peace is a good thing." Miss California's answer to judge (and gossip
provocateur) Perez Hilton's question about legalizing gay marriage started out rather politic but
soon veered into tangible conviction: "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage
or opposite marriage. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I
believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there,
but that's how I was raised."
Hilton responded via his own video blog right after the show, saying "she gave the worst answer in
pageant history." He says that anyone with half a brain should have answered that each state should
decide for themselves. A Miss USA shouldn't alienate anyone, he says, she should inspire and unite.
Hilton did later apologize for calling a "dumb b----," and said he's like to take her out for a cup of
coffee.
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Another Miss USA judge says Miss California
gave wrong answer
07:03 PM PT, Apr 21 2009
http://vegasblog.latimes.com/vegas/2009/04/another-miss-usa-judge-says-wrong-answer.html
If you had any doubt that Miss California, Carrie Prejean, lost the crown, if indeed she ever had a
chance to win it, with her answer to Perez Hilton's question about states legalizing gay marriage,
then read fellow judge Alicia Jacobs' account of her voting. After hearing the answer, Jacobs, a
former Miss Nevada USA, writes on her blog, "if I could have made her 51st runner-up, I would
have." In a blog item titled "Pretty is as pretty does," Jacobs offers a behind-the-scenes account of
the judges and pageant officials involved. Included is Jacobs' account of her reaction as she heard
the answer:
"As she continued to speak, I saw the crown move further & further away from her. When she
finished, she looked strangely proud for a moment. Personally, I was STUNNED on several levels.
First, how could this young woman NOT know her audience and judges? Let's not forget that the
person asking the question is an openly gay man, at least 2 people on the judges panel are openly
gay. Another judge has a sister in a gay marriage. Her very own state pageant director, KEITH
LEWIS is an openly gay man who has been a very generous benefactor of hers...in many ways. (2
ways in particular....if you get my drift??) Did I mention I was STUNNED?"
I don't actually get Jacobs' drift about the "2 ways," but I am sure someone hipper will explain that
to me. As for Carrie Prejean, she will be as remembered as well as former Miss Oklahoma Anita
Bryant.
Oh, wait, Anita Bryant is still alive. Well, I admit I had to look that up, and my guess is that most of
you would too!
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
'It was about being biblically correct': Miss California defends gay
marriage stance
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/it-was-about-being-biblically-correct-miss-californiadefends-gay-marriage-stance-20090422-aegz.html
April 22, 2009
[Australian English]
A Miss USA contestant says God was testing her character when she was asked her views on gay
marriage, and will stand by her answer - that marriage is between a man and a woman - despite
being called a "dumb bitch" by the judge who asked her the question.
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was a favourite to win the crown but said she did not regret stating
her views on same-sex marriage, which was deemed to have ruined her chances.
"I wouldn't have answered it differently," she told breakfast TV in the US.
"The way I answered may have been offensive. With that question specifically, it's not about being
politically correct. For me it was being biblically correct."
Prejean, 21, was asked the question on Sunday night by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, one of
five judges, after earlier completing the swimsuit and evening gown modelling rounds.
Hilton, who is openly gay, asked: "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalise same-sex
marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?"
"I think it's great Americans are able to choose one or the other," Prejean answered. "We live in a
land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage.
"And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be
between a man and a woman.
"No offence to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be
between a man and a woman."
A storm of controversy was triggered after Hilton reacted furiously.
On a video blog, Hilton described it as "the worst answer in pageant history" and then added: "She
lost not because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage, she lost because she's a dumb bitch!".
He said had Prejean won, he would have stormed onto the stage and ripped off her tiara.
Prejean said Hilton's comments had upset her, but she had no regrets and had received a lot of
support.
"I've gotten over 500 Facebook friend requests, hundreds of messages from people I don't know,
saying how proud of me they are that I stood my ground," she told FOX News.
"That made me the real winner of the night."
Prejean eventually lost on the night of the pageant, finishing runner-up to Miss North Carolina.
She said she knew instantly after answering the question that she would not win, "because I had
spoken from my heart, from my beliefs and for my God".
Hilton said she lost "because it was a bad answer" and that Miss USA ought to be more diplomatic
and "inclusive".
Translation 1 (E. Martin, Anglistik) – Summer 2009
Hilton has continued to criticise Prejean and argue in favour of gay marriage on his Twitter account.
"I stand by calling her a dumb bitch, just like she's standing by her words from yesterday too," he
wrote yesterday.
He also joked: "How long until Miss California gets a job working as an anchor for Fox News? See,
I helped her!"
In recent hours, Hilton has also used Twitter to question a range of celebrities about their views on
gay marriage, including Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Martha Stewart and Sean "Diddy" Combs.
It's not the first time a US pageant contestant's answer to a question has attracted worldwide
headlines.
In 2007, Miss Teen South Carolina - Lauren Caitlin Upton - received international attention for her
confused, mangled response to a question about why one-fifth of Americans could not locate the US
on a map