Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Deutsch term or phrase:
Mit einem Balg ankommen
Englisch translation:
turn up with a brat
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2020-05-27 19:55:32 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
May 24, 2020 00:07
3 yrs ago
60 viewers *
Deutsch term
Mit einem Balg ankommen
Deutsch > Englisch
Kunst/Literatur
Dichtung und Belletristik
Novel about massive abuse of girls in post-World War 2 foster homes
I am translating a novel about massive abuse of girls in post-World War 2 foster homes.
A young teenage girl is reporting how her parents, the owners of a tavern, enabled her abuse by patrons.
This is the paragraph:
Elke erzählte: "Meine Eltern haben eine Kneipe. Schon wie ich im ersten Schuljahr war, wurde ich dort fast jeden Abend von Männern attackiert. Manchmal, wenn nicht nur die Gäste, sondern ebenso meine Eltern betrunken waren, haben sie mich ausgezogen und nackt auf die Theke gestellt. Alle Männer durften mich anfassen. Als ich mich bei meiner Mutter beschwerte, entgegnete sie: "Stell dich nicht an, ich bin genauso in dieser Kneipe aufgewachsen. Gewöhne dich dran. Die Männer sind nun mal so. Und diese Männer sorgen dafür, dass du nicht verhungern musst.
THIS IS THE SENTENCE IN QUESTION
--> ABER PASSE MIR SPÄTER BLOß AUF, DASS DU MIR MIT KEINEM BALG ANKOMMST."
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
REA / Chicago, IL, USA
A young teenage girl is reporting how her parents, the owners of a tavern, enabled her abuse by patrons.
This is the paragraph:
Elke erzählte: "Meine Eltern haben eine Kneipe. Schon wie ich im ersten Schuljahr war, wurde ich dort fast jeden Abend von Männern attackiert. Manchmal, wenn nicht nur die Gäste, sondern ebenso meine Eltern betrunken waren, haben sie mich ausgezogen und nackt auf die Theke gestellt. Alle Männer durften mich anfassen. Als ich mich bei meiner Mutter beschwerte, entgegnete sie: "Stell dich nicht an, ich bin genauso in dieser Kneipe aufgewachsen. Gewöhne dich dran. Die Männer sind nun mal so. Und diese Männer sorgen dafür, dass du nicht verhungern musst.
THIS IS THE SENTENCE IN QUESTION
--> ABER PASSE MIR SPÄTER BLOß AUF, DASS DU MIR MIT KEINEM BALG ANKOMMST."
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
REA / Chicago, IL, USA
Proposed translations
(Englisch)
Proposed translations
+7
14 Min.
Selected
turn up with a brat
She’s basically saying don’t get pregnant and turn up here with a brat in tow.
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Note added at 17 mins (2020-05-24 00:24:59 GMT)
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Or more precisely: don’t come to me with your/a brat (in tow).
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Note added at 17 mins (2020-05-24 00:24:59 GMT)
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Or more precisely: don’t come to me with your/a brat (in tow).
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Edith Kelly
: bairn depending on region // I was thinking of downtown Northside Dublin, they use it
4 Stunden
|
Thanks, Edith. Though I think the Scots would use something harsher than ‘bairn’, which just means ‘child’. You are absolutely right to point out the need for finding a suitable regional variant, if necessary./Interesting.
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agree |
Ramey Rieger (X)
: Exactly! Maybe urchin or gamin?
6 Stunden
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Thanks, Ramey.
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agree |
Manuela Junghans
7 Stunden
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Thanks, Manuela
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agree |
franglish
7 Stunden
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Thanks, franglish
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agree |
Veronika Neuhold
12 Stunden
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Thanks, Veronika
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agree |
writeaway
14 Stunden
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Thanks, writeaway
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agree |
Klaus Beyer
17 Stunden
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Thanks, Klaus
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Yes, this works!
In fact, this question is due to my MIS-reading of "Balg" (brat, kid) as "Balgen" (bellows).
Thanks to everyone who helped!!
REA / Chicago, IL, USA"
13 Min.
Don’t get pregnant
Since your story seems very graphic you could say :” Don’t bring home a bastard!”
Example sentence:
I would prefer this version: Be careful, so you don’t end pregnant with an illegitimate child!
-2
1 Stunde
According to the context: don't be pregnant through one of those ugly men, and bring to me a
Balg in German has different meaning, one of them is cheeky or unwanted child, which is suitable in mentioned context of the novel.
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Note added at 1 hr (2020-05-24 01:27:22 GMT)
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According to the context: don't be pregnant through one of those ugly men, and bring to me a cheeky child.
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Note added at 1 hr (2020-05-24 01:27:22 GMT)
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According to the context: don't be pregnant through one of those ugly men, and bring to me a cheeky child.
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Kim Metzger
: Way off base. Maybe stick to translating into Arabic?
11 Stunden
|
disagree |
Edith Kelly
: with Kim
1 Tag 12 Stunden
|
+5
6 Stunden
Don't get knocked up
Typical slang expression
Also
Don't turn up with a bun in the oven
Also
Don't turn up with a bun in the oven
Peer comment(s):
agree |
philgoddard
: I feel this is more instantly understandable than Helen's literal translation, which is also fine.
7 Stunden
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TBH I think Helen's note is actually better than her answer
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agree |
Lancashireman
: On both sides o't Pennines
12 Stunden
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Ta
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agree |
Klaus Beyer
1 Tag 4 Stunden
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agree |
Chris Pr
1 Tag 5 Stunden
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agree |
Edith Kelly
: Welcome back D
1 Tag 6 Stunden
|
+3
7 Stunden
don't you dare come crying to me with some bawling bastard
I couldn't resist this, as it deepens the brutality of the situation. Not only is the girl being sold and betrayed by her parents, she is also being held responsible for any repercussions of THEIR behavior. Typical of abusers.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Yorkshireman
: Like it!
Thanks for asking - could be worse (but not much!).
So far, what you suggested is the only answer that fits the "milieu"
39 Min.
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Would love to translate this book! All's well?//Hope you got that.
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agree |
Björn Vrooman
: The German may not look like much, but it's stronger than brat. Cf sense 2 (not 1) at https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Balg See also p. 21 of "Zeitreise" by Manfred Kleemann. Ppl should google it. I believe it explains the situation quite well.
1 Stunde
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Thanks for the confirmation.
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agree |
Veronika Neuhold
5 Stunden
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Hi Veronika! Hope you're keeping well and busy!
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neutral |
Klaus Beyer
: 'bawling bastard' seems more mean-spirited than 'brat'
10 Stunden
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Hi Klaus. Not if you consider the times, when bastard was the pejorative for prostitutes' offspring.
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+2
1 Stunde
come home with a brat in your belly
Just make sure later you won't come home with a brat in your belly.
Terrible situation..
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Note added at 10 hrs (2020-05-24 10:14:46 GMT)
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In this (and many other cases) it's less important for translators to demonstrate they 'understand' the source text (that should be a given anyway) than to imagine what a native speaker of the target language might have said in a similar situation.
Terrible situation..
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Note added at 10 hrs (2020-05-24 10:14:46 GMT)
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In this (and many other cases) it's less important for translators to demonstrate they 'understand' the source text (that should be a given anyway) than to imagine what a native speaker of the target language might have said in a similar situation.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
TonyTK
6 Stunden
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Thanks, Tony!
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agree |
Gordon Matthews
6 Stunden
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Thank you, Gordon!
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neutral |
Edith Kelly
: too close to Helen's suggestion
1 Tag 11 Stunden
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Perhaps you're right; and I agree with "brat (in tow)" for "Balg" (Ramey's version is over the top). But the query is about a complete German phrase. Sounds more natural to me to talk about "coming home with a X" than "turning up with a X".
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20 Stunden
Deutsch term (edited):
mir mit keinem Balg ankommen
land me with a whippersnapper (bake me a bun in the oven)
A bit late now and not entirely clear what Transatlantic idiom is wanted by the the asker in the US, namely whether whippersnapper or bun in the oven would be understood over there.
Example sentence:
The 5-foot blonde has already gained 22 pounds thanks to her bun in the oven, and says that her new figure has helped with her job. – NY Post; Summary. The English idiom bun in the oven refers to pregnancy.
Discussion
Expressed a bit more strongly. The language is crude.