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Länderanteil
Zuspannstempeln
Dec 17, 2014 20:22
9 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

der verlängerte Arm

German to English Social Sciences Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Volunteer work
I consider this an idiom, but in this instance it is used in the framework of volunteer work. Have crops up in the last paragraph and inspiration has run out. Anyone's brains still working?

The text is written by a former volunteer who now unofficially helps out in practical ways where he can.

Ich sehe mich nicht als Geldgeber. Ich bin vielmehr der verlängerte Arm des Projektes,

TIA for any suggestions.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 member of the extended project team
3 +4 Instead, I'm using my connections on behalf of the project...
3 +1 an extension of
3 +1 another pillar of the project
3 +1 I just help out where I can
4 -1 slightly more at arm's length from
3 an extended arm
3 outreach worker
Change log

Dec 18, 2014 15:22: Bernhard Sulzer changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (3): Cilian O'Tuama, Susanne Schiewe, Bernhard Sulzer

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Discussion

Wendy Streitparth (asker) Dec 26, 2014:
Coming from the land of understatement, I wouldn't like to call myself a "pillar of support" (at least not in print!), though I might think it. So my original agreement dwindled a bit. But at least it looks like we've got it sorted now and hopefully you can sit back in your chair, relax and enjoy the rest of Christmas! Thanks again, Michael, and a happy new year!
Michael Martin, MA Dec 25, 2014:
My tone was perhaps a bit too harsh, Wendy. You’re right. Nobody will come back and say you reinterpreted the source text in this particular case as you picked a perfectly acceptable solution. After all, we all have to make good-faith efforts at interpreting a source text. Everything’s fine as long as we don’t make unreasonable assumptions or demonstrably alter the source text. I thought your line about “overestimating his importance” was a step in that direction but I am prepared to take that back at this point.
Wendy Streitparth (asker) Dec 25, 2014:
Quite so, Michael. He may or may not be a pillar of strength, I don't know. What I do know is that he is a committed supporter - to whatever extent that has an effect on the viability of the project, so I hardly think that can be considered a correction to the text.
Michael Martin, MA Dec 25, 2014:
Correcting the source text @Wendy. No complaints about my solution being rejected but it should be rejected for the right reasons. You said this author might have been overestimating his importance. That may well be the case but it’s not our job to “correct” or second-guess the author of a source text. That could be interpreted as a slippery slope to all sorts of inappropriate changes. The only time we can “fill in the gaps” is if a source text is unclear or something was inadvertently left out. Even that may have to be preceded by a “Translator’s Note.”
Wendy Streitparth (asker) Dec 19, 2014:
Once again I'd like to thank everybody for their contributions - not just the answerers but also everyone who made comments or discussion entries. I would never have imagined that I (and you) could spend so much time on such a simple phrase! Unfortunately I couldn't use Andrew's phrase (though he hit the nail on the head) as it occurred in more or less those words two paragraphs before. Sorry Andrew. After much indecision, I went for Bernhard's "committed supporter", which is undeniably the case.
Horst Huber (X) Dec 18, 2014:
From Bernhard's and Andrew's comments, I would deduce that it is unidiomatic to say something like "my work serves to extend its reach"?
Wendy Streitparth (asker) Dec 18, 2014:
Thank you everybody for your suggestions and comments. You've given me a lot to think about and made it very difficult to allot the points. You couldn't know it Phil, but the man seems to be making quite an effort on the project's behalf, so I feel that arm's length doesn't quite do him justice. Still have today to think about it!
Anne Schulz Dec 18, 2014:
Agree with Horst The point seems to be that this person is the "arm" to work a European extension of the African project. Some "extension" or "extended" should be fine, and what goes with it would depend on the actual role of this person. "Extended lever"?
Horst Huber (X) Dec 18, 2014:
Quite so, Andrew; but it might say, at least roughly, what the German intends to say. Someone whose reach goes beyond that of the team itself.
Lancashireman Dec 18, 2014:
"He rather wishes to function as an extension" Horst, I think Wendy is looking for ways of making this sound like English.
Horst Huber (X) Dec 18, 2014:
This person obviously is invested in the project, but choses not to be seen or act in that capacity. He rather wishes to function as an extension, not as a directly authorised representative.
Cilian O'Tuama Dec 18, 2014:
So Michael Martin MA is probably the person to believe.
Cilian O'Tuama Dec 17, 2014:
He obviously thinks highly of himself if he's "DER" verlängerte Arm...
Wendy Streitparth (asker) Dec 17, 2014:
Afraid I really am closing down now, but look forward to reading all your wonderful suggestions in the morning!
Wendy Streitparth (asker) Dec 17, 2014:
Many thanks everybody so far. Wasn't expecting so much response at this time and had signed off for the night! The full sentence is:
Ich bin vielmehr der verlängerte Arm des Projektes, das so einen anderen Markt erschließen kann.
The volunteer had worked in Africa and now helps to find marketing contacts for the project (which tries in a small way to fund itself) in Europe. Hope this helps.
Lancashireman Dec 17, 2014:
quietly working away in the background But I really need to see more context before entering this as an official answer.
'Eminence grise' and 'godfather' also spring to mind. Plus we have the magnificent 'long arm of the law' to adapt.
philgoddard Dec 17, 2014:
What comes after the comma? Could you give us some of the text before this too? Thanks.

Proposed translations

+1
20 hrs
Selected

member of the extended project team

... and in this capacity help open up/explore new markets

alternatives:
engaged/committed supporter
engaged contributor

http://threeo.ca/continuousimprovementp619.php
extended project team

or (member of the) extended project family
see: https://www.facebook.com/Gilimbaa/posts/411030018936484

however project family is also used for various additional or new projects/products
see:
http://ppmblog.org/
project family

My suggestion is to either describe what he is doing (as Andrew did) or to find a term that does his selfless work justice, in other words, a nice term such as the one I suggested.
Spearhead and trailblazer are too strong and would indicate a leadership role, extended arm or extension are too technical and impersonal to me and there aren't many GHits to support them for this context.
The thing is, "verlängerter Arm" does define a fairly close relationship. He works tirelessly for the project, he sees himself connected to it Through his work (and money?!), he allows the project to expand its scope; now that's pretty important.




--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 hrs (2014-12-18 16:48:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

corr: allows the expansion (of the scope) of the project
Peer comment(s):
agree Lancashireman : This works the participle 'extended' nicely into the sentence.
17 mins
thank you, Andrew!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you very much for all your suggestions - a great help!"
+1
34 mins

an extension of

as in: an extended arm of the project
Note from asker:
Thank you, Alice!
Peer comment(s):
agree Horst Huber (X) : I would like to know what is not idiomatic about it, and is the English language a closed code?
19 hrs
neutral Bernhard Sulzer : IMO it just doesn't work well in English to describe an individual person and doesn't go well with "project" either.
19 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
2 hrs

slightly more at arm's length from

Here's another suggestion, which preserves the arm idea.
Note from asker:
Don't think it quite worked, but thanks nevertheless.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Edith Kelly : different meaning
9 hrs
disagree Lonnie Legg : Doesn't "do justice" (as asker has posted in discussion).
10 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

an extended arm

This was the most returned translation of the phrase on Linguee.
Reference:

http://www.linguee.com/english-german/search?source=auto&query=der+verl%E4ngerte+Arm

Note from asker:
Thank you, Bill
Peer comment(s):
neutral Cilian O'Tuama : linguee is about as reliable as my neighbour's monkey, but sometimes right
14 mins
I'm going with the sometimes right;+]
Something went wrong...
+4
2 hrs
German term (edited): Ich bin vielmehr der verlängerte Arm des Projektes...

Instead, I'm using my connections on behalf of the project...

...helping it to open up another market.
(Gleaned from the additional context provided)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2014-12-17 23:54:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I'm going to add this earlier suggestion from the Discussion Box too, as Ingeborg thought that something similar might fit the context:
quietly working away in the background
I don't think any of the suggestions featuring 'arm' are appropriate. 'At arm's length'? Why would the interviewee wish to distance himself from the project?
Note from asker:
Really sorry, Andrew. You were absolutely on the right track, but as I said above, a similar sentence already appeared two paragraphs earlier. Have a happy Christmas!
Peer comment(s):
neutral Michael Martin, MA : Sounds like an explanation rather than a translation//Good luck with that..
18 mins
Just my attempt to be a pillar of this KudoZ question.
agree Cilian O'Tuama : I like your 'background' idea, or maybe playing a backstage role, pulling strings from afar, out of the limelight...
1 hr
Thanks. I've just added it as an alternative. // 'pulling strings' is good.
agree franglish : pulling strings (behind the scenes etc.)
10 hrs
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : Probably cost an arm and a leg, but not at arm's length. No sure about the background thing, there's nothing to indicate it. I just help out where I can.
11 hrs
agree Bernhard Sulzer : Describe his work like you did (although maybe it's not just help through connections) or find a nice term for him; add. suggestion for your 2nd option:maybe "tirelessly" instead of "quietly.") / Yes. I forgot, source-text-he was describing himself.
16 hrs
Hi Bernhard and thanks. As Wendy says above, in the 'land of understatement' we would never think of describing our efforts as 'tireless'. OK for praising someone else's contribution. On this question, for example, Michael has been a 'tireless pillar'.
neutral Horst Huber (X) : With Martin. One would have to inquire about the function of this unawowed collaborator.
23 hrs
Thanks from one pillar extension to another.
Something went wrong...
+1
34 mins

another pillar of the project

The exact meaning is not entirely clear so the following options may also be possible:

I don’t see myself as sponsor but as lending a supporting hand to the project.

I don’t see myself as sponsor but as the supporting arm of the project.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2014-12-18 02:04:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think "pillar of support", "pillar of support in the shadows" or simply "support in the shadows" would also work very well here.
Note from asker:
Many thanks, Michael. I liked your suggestion, but as I wasn't sure whether the author was not maybe over-estimating his importance, I didn't feel I could use it.
Peer comment(s):
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : prefer: supporting arm or doing my part in the background (unobtrusively)or something similar
1 hr
neutral Lancashireman : Ingeborg: "the supporting arm"? Really?
1 hr
Something went wrong...
+1
13 hrs

I just help out where I can

Something else to think about, Wendy.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Ramey. This was a real predicament, but since I think the author only acts in one particular way, I didn't feel I could use this. Happy Christmas to you and yours!
Peer comment(s):
agree EK Yokohama
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 day 7 hrs

outreach worker

.....
Note from asker:
Thank you, Donald!
Something went wrong...
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