How to indicate obscurity in a translated quotation?












11















I'm writing a historical work about a German philosopher, in which I use some of his unpublished notes.



One quotation contains an almost untranslatable, hardly intelligible expression - it's not essential to the point I'm making with the citation (which is perfectly clear), but by cutting it out using [...] I mangle the quotation even more.



Can I translate it literally (which turns into nonsense) and write [sic] behind it? After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option. Or should I chose one of the different possible interpretations that make some sense of it, but thereby pushing some particular reading, even though I don't need that to make my point?






translations quotation







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  • 6





    Make a choice that you can reasonably justify and explain that choice/justificaiton to the reader.

    – user2768
    14 hours ago











  • Yeah that's what I decided to do. Added the original text in a footnote and explained that it's not crucial to the point. Thanks!

    – mar_cel
    14 hours ago











  • what is the point you are trying to make by putting this note in text?

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago











  • OP: consider accepting one of the answers posted below

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Reminder: answer in answers, not in comments.

    – V2Blast
    6 hours ago
















11















I'm writing a historical work about a German philosopher, in which I use some of his unpublished notes.



One quotation contains an almost untranslatable, hardly intelligible expression - it's not essential to the point I'm making with the citation (which is perfectly clear), but by cutting it out using [...] I mangle the quotation even more.



Can I translate it literally (which turns into nonsense) and write [sic] behind it? After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option. Or should I chose one of the different possible interpretations that make some sense of it, but thereby pushing some particular reading, even though I don't need that to make my point?






translations quotation







share|improve this question









New contributor




mar_cel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 6





    Make a choice that you can reasonably justify and explain that choice/justificaiton to the reader.

    – user2768
    14 hours ago











  • Yeah that's what I decided to do. Added the original text in a footnote and explained that it's not crucial to the point. Thanks!

    – mar_cel
    14 hours ago











  • what is the point you are trying to make by putting this note in text?

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago











  • OP: consider accepting one of the answers posted below

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Reminder: answer in answers, not in comments.

    – V2Blast
    6 hours ago














11












11








11








I'm writing a historical work about a German philosopher, in which I use some of his unpublished notes.



One quotation contains an almost untranslatable, hardly intelligible expression - it's not essential to the point I'm making with the citation (which is perfectly clear), but by cutting it out using [...] I mangle the quotation even more.



Can I translate it literally (which turns into nonsense) and write [sic] behind it? After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option. Or should I chose one of the different possible interpretations that make some sense of it, but thereby pushing some particular reading, even though I don't need that to make my point?






translations quotation







share|improve this question









New contributor




mar_cel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












I'm writing a historical work about a German philosopher, in which I use some of his unpublished notes.



One quotation contains an almost untranslatable, hardly intelligible expression - it's not essential to the point I'm making with the citation (which is perfectly clear), but by cutting it out using [...] I mangle the quotation even more.



Can I translate it literally (which turns into nonsense) and write [sic] behind it? After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option. Or should I chose one of the different possible interpretations that make some sense of it, but thereby pushing some particular reading, even though I don't need that to make my point?






translations quotation




translations quotation






share|improve this question









New contributor




mar_cel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




mar_cel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 6 hours ago









jakebeal

146k31527767




146k31527767






New contributor




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asked 14 hours ago









mar_celmar_cel

563




563




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New contributor





mar_cel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






mar_cel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 6





    Make a choice that you can reasonably justify and explain that choice/justificaiton to the reader.

    – user2768
    14 hours ago











  • Yeah that's what I decided to do. Added the original text in a footnote and explained that it's not crucial to the point. Thanks!

    – mar_cel
    14 hours ago











  • what is the point you are trying to make by putting this note in text?

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago











  • OP: consider accepting one of the answers posted below

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Reminder: answer in answers, not in comments.

    – V2Blast
    6 hours ago














  • 6





    Make a choice that you can reasonably justify and explain that choice/justificaiton to the reader.

    – user2768
    14 hours ago











  • Yeah that's what I decided to do. Added the original text in a footnote and explained that it's not crucial to the point. Thanks!

    – mar_cel
    14 hours ago











  • what is the point you are trying to make by putting this note in text?

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago











  • OP: consider accepting one of the answers posted below

    – aaaaaa
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Reminder: answer in answers, not in comments.

    – V2Blast
    6 hours ago








6




6





Make a choice that you can reasonably justify and explain that choice/justificaiton to the reader.

– user2768
14 hours ago





Make a choice that you can reasonably justify and explain that choice/justificaiton to the reader.

– user2768
14 hours ago













Yeah that's what I decided to do. Added the original text in a footnote and explained that it's not crucial to the point. Thanks!

– mar_cel
14 hours ago





Yeah that's what I decided to do. Added the original text in a footnote and explained that it's not crucial to the point. Thanks!

– mar_cel
14 hours ago













what is the point you are trying to make by putting this note in text?

– aaaaaa
7 hours ago





what is the point you are trying to make by putting this note in text?

– aaaaaa
7 hours ago













OP: consider accepting one of the answers posted below

– aaaaaa
7 hours ago





OP: consider accepting one of the answers posted below

– aaaaaa
7 hours ago




1




1





Reminder: answer in answers, not in comments.

– V2Blast
6 hours ago





Reminder: answer in answers, not in comments.

– V2Blast
6 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















29















After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option.




You seem to have unconsciously ruled out what I would consider the best option: leave the phrase in question untranslated with a footnote which gives the literal translation and says that the phrase's meaning is unclear but irrelevant.






share|improve this answer



















  • 2





    This is the best answer. It leaves the option there for the reader to try to make some sense out of the quotation, if they can.

    – Robert Columbia
    7 hours ago



















6














In language-related papers, it is common to do all of these options:




  • give the untranslated version

  • give the literal translation

  • give the semantically closest translation in English


Of course it depends how important this particular sentence is to your work. But if you want to mention it, you should at least give the original sentence and a translation in my opinion.






share|improve this answer































    1














    Give the loose translation in brackets. For instance, if the original says "This happens once in a blue moon", then give the translation as "This happens [very infrequently]". If you want to be complete, give a footnote with the original German and literal translation.




    So-and-so says "this happens [very infrequently][1]".

    [1]"alle Jubeljahre", literally "once in a blue moon", an idiom expressing extremely low frequency




    (Obviously, this answer is pretending that "alle Jubeljahre" is German idiom that means "infrequently" for the sake of an example, and is not asserting that this is the case in reality.)






    share|improve this answer































      -2














      Make a judgement call and explain the basis for that call to the reader.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 7





        Please expand this into a full answer.

        – jakebeal
        13 hours ago






      • 2





        @jakebeal What aspect would you like elaborating on?

        – user2768
        12 hours ago






      • 11





        The question is asking for advice on how to make this judgement call, so I don't see what your answer adds.

        – David Richerby
        9 hours ago






      • 5





        @user2768 The question is "Which of these things should I do?" and your answer is that "Choose one of them." Really, that doesn't say anything.

        – David Richerby
        8 hours ago






      • 2





        @DavidRicherby Well, as it stands, the OP has adopted my answer, academia.stackexchange.com/questions/124908/… So, it is surely reasonable to considered it an answer.

        – user2768
        7 hours ago













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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      29















      After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option.




      You seem to have unconsciously ruled out what I would consider the best option: leave the phrase in question untranslated with a footnote which gives the literal translation and says that the phrase's meaning is unclear but irrelevant.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 2





        This is the best answer. It leaves the option there for the reader to try to make some sense out of the quotation, if they can.

        – Robert Columbia
        7 hours ago
















      29















      After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option.




      You seem to have unconsciously ruled out what I would consider the best option: leave the phrase in question untranslated with a footnote which gives the literal translation and says that the phrase's meaning is unclear but irrelevant.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 2





        This is the best answer. It leaves the option there for the reader to try to make some sense out of the quotation, if they can.

        – Robert Columbia
        7 hours ago














      29












      29








      29








      After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option.




      You seem to have unconsciously ruled out what I would consider the best option: leave the phrase in question untranslated with a footnote which gives the literal translation and says that the phrase's meaning is unclear but irrelevant.






      share|improve this answer














      After all, it's not what was actually written but my translation, so I feel like this isn't really an option.




      You seem to have unconsciously ruled out what I would consider the best option: leave the phrase in question untranslated with a footnote which gives the literal translation and says that the phrase's meaning is unclear but irrelevant.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered 10 hours ago









      Peter TaylorPeter Taylor

      1,8431120




      1,8431120








      • 2





        This is the best answer. It leaves the option there for the reader to try to make some sense out of the quotation, if they can.

        – Robert Columbia
        7 hours ago














      • 2





        This is the best answer. It leaves the option there for the reader to try to make some sense out of the quotation, if they can.

        – Robert Columbia
        7 hours ago








      2




      2





      This is the best answer. It leaves the option there for the reader to try to make some sense out of the quotation, if they can.

      – Robert Columbia
      7 hours ago





      This is the best answer. It leaves the option there for the reader to try to make some sense out of the quotation, if they can.

      – Robert Columbia
      7 hours ago











      6














      In language-related papers, it is common to do all of these options:




      • give the untranslated version

      • give the literal translation

      • give the semantically closest translation in English


      Of course it depends how important this particular sentence is to your work. But if you want to mention it, you should at least give the original sentence and a translation in my opinion.






      share|improve this answer




























        6














        In language-related papers, it is common to do all of these options:




        • give the untranslated version

        • give the literal translation

        • give the semantically closest translation in English


        Of course it depends how important this particular sentence is to your work. But if you want to mention it, you should at least give the original sentence and a translation in my opinion.






        share|improve this answer


























          6












          6








          6







          In language-related papers, it is common to do all of these options:




          • give the untranslated version

          • give the literal translation

          • give the semantically closest translation in English


          Of course it depends how important this particular sentence is to your work. But if you want to mention it, you should at least give the original sentence and a translation in my opinion.






          share|improve this answer













          In language-related papers, it is common to do all of these options:




          • give the untranslated version

          • give the literal translation

          • give the semantically closest translation in English


          Of course it depends how important this particular sentence is to your work. But if you want to mention it, you should at least give the original sentence and a translation in my opinion.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 5 hours ago









          ErwanErwan

          2,000710




          2,000710























              1














              Give the loose translation in brackets. For instance, if the original says "This happens once in a blue moon", then give the translation as "This happens [very infrequently]". If you want to be complete, give a footnote with the original German and literal translation.




              So-and-so says "this happens [very infrequently][1]".

              [1]"alle Jubeljahre", literally "once in a blue moon", an idiom expressing extremely low frequency




              (Obviously, this answer is pretending that "alle Jubeljahre" is German idiom that means "infrequently" for the sake of an example, and is not asserting that this is the case in reality.)






              share|improve this answer




























                1














                Give the loose translation in brackets. For instance, if the original says "This happens once in a blue moon", then give the translation as "This happens [very infrequently]". If you want to be complete, give a footnote with the original German and literal translation.




                So-and-so says "this happens [very infrequently][1]".

                [1]"alle Jubeljahre", literally "once in a blue moon", an idiom expressing extremely low frequency




                (Obviously, this answer is pretending that "alle Jubeljahre" is German idiom that means "infrequently" for the sake of an example, and is not asserting that this is the case in reality.)






                share|improve this answer


























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  Give the loose translation in brackets. For instance, if the original says "This happens once in a blue moon", then give the translation as "This happens [very infrequently]". If you want to be complete, give a footnote with the original German and literal translation.




                  So-and-so says "this happens [very infrequently][1]".

                  [1]"alle Jubeljahre", literally "once in a blue moon", an idiom expressing extremely low frequency




                  (Obviously, this answer is pretending that "alle Jubeljahre" is German idiom that means "infrequently" for the sake of an example, and is not asserting that this is the case in reality.)






                  share|improve this answer













                  Give the loose translation in brackets. For instance, if the original says "This happens once in a blue moon", then give the translation as "This happens [very infrequently]". If you want to be complete, give a footnote with the original German and literal translation.




                  So-and-so says "this happens [very infrequently][1]".

                  [1]"alle Jubeljahre", literally "once in a blue moon", an idiom expressing extremely low frequency




                  (Obviously, this answer is pretending that "alle Jubeljahre" is German idiom that means "infrequently" for the sake of an example, and is not asserting that this is the case in reality.)







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 1 hour ago









                  AcccumulationAcccumulation

                  1,40938




                  1,40938























                      -2














                      Make a judgement call and explain the basis for that call to the reader.






                      share|improve this answer





















                      • 7





                        Please expand this into a full answer.

                        – jakebeal
                        13 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @jakebeal What aspect would you like elaborating on?

                        – user2768
                        12 hours ago






                      • 11





                        The question is asking for advice on how to make this judgement call, so I don't see what your answer adds.

                        – David Richerby
                        9 hours ago






                      • 5





                        @user2768 The question is "Which of these things should I do?" and your answer is that "Choose one of them." Really, that doesn't say anything.

                        – David Richerby
                        8 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @DavidRicherby Well, as it stands, the OP has adopted my answer, academia.stackexchange.com/questions/124908/… So, it is surely reasonable to considered it an answer.

                        – user2768
                        7 hours ago


















                      -2














                      Make a judgement call and explain the basis for that call to the reader.






                      share|improve this answer





















                      • 7





                        Please expand this into a full answer.

                        – jakebeal
                        13 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @jakebeal What aspect would you like elaborating on?

                        – user2768
                        12 hours ago






                      • 11





                        The question is asking for advice on how to make this judgement call, so I don't see what your answer adds.

                        – David Richerby
                        9 hours ago






                      • 5





                        @user2768 The question is "Which of these things should I do?" and your answer is that "Choose one of them." Really, that doesn't say anything.

                        – David Richerby
                        8 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @DavidRicherby Well, as it stands, the OP has adopted my answer, academia.stackexchange.com/questions/124908/… So, it is surely reasonable to considered it an answer.

                        – user2768
                        7 hours ago
















                      -2












                      -2








                      -2







                      Make a judgement call and explain the basis for that call to the reader.






                      share|improve this answer















                      Make a judgement call and explain the basis for that call to the reader.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited 11 hours ago

























                      answered 14 hours ago









                      user2768user2768

                      12.9k23354




                      12.9k23354








                      • 7





                        Please expand this into a full answer.

                        – jakebeal
                        13 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @jakebeal What aspect would you like elaborating on?

                        – user2768
                        12 hours ago






                      • 11





                        The question is asking for advice on how to make this judgement call, so I don't see what your answer adds.

                        – David Richerby
                        9 hours ago






                      • 5





                        @user2768 The question is "Which of these things should I do?" and your answer is that "Choose one of them." Really, that doesn't say anything.

                        – David Richerby
                        8 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @DavidRicherby Well, as it stands, the OP has adopted my answer, academia.stackexchange.com/questions/124908/… So, it is surely reasonable to considered it an answer.

                        – user2768
                        7 hours ago
















                      • 7





                        Please expand this into a full answer.

                        – jakebeal
                        13 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @jakebeal What aspect would you like elaborating on?

                        – user2768
                        12 hours ago






                      • 11





                        The question is asking for advice on how to make this judgement call, so I don't see what your answer adds.

                        – David Richerby
                        9 hours ago






                      • 5





                        @user2768 The question is "Which of these things should I do?" and your answer is that "Choose one of them." Really, that doesn't say anything.

                        – David Richerby
                        8 hours ago






                      • 2





                        @DavidRicherby Well, as it stands, the OP has adopted my answer, academia.stackexchange.com/questions/124908/… So, it is surely reasonable to considered it an answer.

                        – user2768
                        7 hours ago










                      7




                      7





                      Please expand this into a full answer.

                      – jakebeal
                      13 hours ago





                      Please expand this into a full answer.

                      – jakebeal
                      13 hours ago




                      2




                      2





                      @jakebeal What aspect would you like elaborating on?

                      – user2768
                      12 hours ago





                      @jakebeal What aspect would you like elaborating on?

                      – user2768
                      12 hours ago




                      11




                      11





                      The question is asking for advice on how to make this judgement call, so I don't see what your answer adds.

                      – David Richerby
                      9 hours ago





                      The question is asking for advice on how to make this judgement call, so I don't see what your answer adds.

                      – David Richerby
                      9 hours ago




                      5




                      5





                      @user2768 The question is "Which of these things should I do?" and your answer is that "Choose one of them." Really, that doesn't say anything.

                      – David Richerby
                      8 hours ago





                      @user2768 The question is "Which of these things should I do?" and your answer is that "Choose one of them." Really, that doesn't say anything.

                      – David Richerby
                      8 hours ago




                      2




                      2





                      @DavidRicherby Well, as it stands, the OP has adopted my answer, academia.stackexchange.com/questions/124908/… So, it is surely reasonable to considered it an answer.

                      – user2768
                      7 hours ago







                      @DavidRicherby Well, as it stands, the OP has adopted my answer, academia.stackexchange.com/questions/124908/… So, it is surely reasonable to considered it an answer.

                      – user2768
                      7 hours ago












                      mar_cel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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                      mar_cel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












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