Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
ins Schlingern geraten
English translation:
unhinge, -ed,(trans. or itr.), shift (of perspective/perception)
Jan 20, 2007 18:26
17 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term
Firefly Solutions Language Services
Native in: English 
Works in: Japanese to English, French to English, German to English
ins Schlingern geraten
German to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
In an arty text, on the artist's use of wooden planks set into light boxes for aesthetic effect, I am puzzled by the term "ins Schlingern geraten" in the following sentence :
"Funktion und Sichtweise des Leuchtkastens geraten in dieser Skulptur also auf drei unterschiedlichen Ebenen ins Schlingern : auf der konkret formalen, auf der funktionalen und auf der metaphorischen."
"Funktion und Sichtweise des Leuchtkastens geraten in dieser Skulptur also auf drei unterschiedlichen Ebenen ins Schlingern : auf der konkret formalen, auf der funktionalen und auf der metaphorischen."
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | unhinge, -ed,(trans. or itr.), shift (of perspective/perception) |
Stephen Reader
|
| 4 | fail |
Robin Salmon (X)
|
| 3 | to go out of control/balance |
casper (X)
|
| 3 | to fishtail |
Annette Urbschat
|
| 1 | See suggestion |
Henry Schroeder
|
Proposed translations
+2
2 hrs
Selected
unhinge, -ed,(trans. or itr.), shift (of perspective/perception)
i.e. the customary perception (of light-box, planks, etc.) is defied, shaken up, re-mixed... there's a 'shift in the parameters' ('on three levels' etc.), - the elements (box, planks) lose (are set adrift from) their familiar contexts ... etc.
- a try: (presuming a prior description: 'Thus') 'the received perception of both the function and appearance of the light box is dislodged...'
The greater problem for me is the double definition in 'appearance' and 'perception' and I haven't attempted a sol'n here.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2007-01-21 02:25:56 GMT)
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Didn't mean to obscure this answer!
- a try: (presuming a prior description: 'Thus') 'the received perception of both the function and appearance of the light box is dislodged...'
The greater problem for me is the double definition in 'appearance' and 'perception' and I haven't attempted a sol'n here.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2007-01-21 02:25:56 GMT)
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Didn't mean to obscure this answer!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Henry Schroeder
: You disappeared for a while, so didn't wait to answer... I gather you understood something of the German - impressive!
15 mins
|
|
Dankedanke, again, Henry!
|
|
| agree |
Susanne Rindlisbacher
: unhinged
2 hrs
|
|
Dank'der au, Susanne
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks - I have decided to go with your idea."
1 hr
Henry Schroeder
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
20 years of experience, certified, ATA
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
60
See suggestion
Not that this helps but (if you didn't already notice) the Duden definition of "ins Schlingern geraten/kommen ist: (schleudern) b) sich schlingernd (a) mit Schlingerbewegungen fortbewegen
So... in this sculpture, the function and perspective of the licht box fling themselves forward on three different levels... I don't know about you, but that doesn't make much sense to me and that's even stretching a literal translation.
And since it's an art text, I would take some artistic license:
The role and worldview of the light box are hurled into the sculpture where they manifest themselves on three levels...
The light box's beams and perception high-tail it into the sculpture where they treble: on the concretely formal level, the...
Or, continuing to move in the direction of obscurity: the skein and offices of the light box untangle themselves in the sculpture on three levels... (offices, of course, in its old-fashioned sense)
But you will certainly have the best ideas with more information.
So... in this sculpture, the function and perspective of the licht box fling themselves forward on three different levels... I don't know about you, but that doesn't make much sense to me and that's even stretching a literal translation.
And since it's an art text, I would take some artistic license:
The role and worldview of the light box are hurled into the sculpture where they manifest themselves on three levels...
The light box's beams and perception high-tail it into the sculpture where they treble: on the concretely formal level, the...
Or, continuing to move in the direction of obscurity: the skein and offices of the light box untangle themselves in the sculpture on three levels... (offices, of course, in its old-fashioned sense)
But you will certainly have the best ideas with more information.
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for your swift response - it certainly put me on the right track. |
2 hrs
to go out of control/balance
Or: to lose control/balance
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-01-20 21:23:11 GMT)
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More options for consideration:
-to go/become off-balance;
-to lose their sense of balance/control;
-There is loss of (sense of) balance/control...
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-01-20 21:23:11 GMT)
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More options for consideration:
-to go/become off-balance;
-to lose their sense of balance/control;
-There is loss of (sense of) balance/control...
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for your advice. |
17 hrs
Annette Urbschat
Native in German
&
English
Works in field
bilinguist, childrens' lit. and arts
Native in: English , German
Works in: German to English, English to German
to fishtail
The term suggests side-to-side movement causing a blurring visual effect.
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for your advice. |
2 days 16 mins
fail
Based on "ins Schlingern geraten" ( to get in to trouble), I think the work is being criticised as a failure on three levels.
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for responding - but in this context (the exhibition catalogue) I think it is more likely to refer to engendering a shift in perception rather than a sense of failure! |
Discussion