German translation, help please

[machurley22]

I am helping with the translation of a German magazine's Hurley 22 review. We are only allowed to put the translation on the HOA website so I can't put up the whole sentence since my German translator is very concerned about this. However the difficult bit is a one word phrase "du" and seems to represent the reviewers feelings having enjoyed a couple of "strong squalls" under full sail!

My translator has suggested the following:

"You can call her a friend"
"I call you a friend"
"You are my friend"

Can anyone come up with something a little snappier.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Matrosen]

Hi Dave,
The German word "Du" is simply the informal version of "you" (for use with friends etc.) The formal version is "Sie".
As a stand alone expression I have not heard it, but I'll ask my wife when she comes home from school she teaches German.
Len
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[Beagle]

As Matrosen has stated, "Du" just means "you". Could be easier to understand the meaning if you could copy a part of the text....

Grusse, Rene.

 

[tome]

I worked for a couple of years at Messerschmidt in Munich, amongst a bunch of Brits and Germans. All the Germans referred to us by our surnames, Herr Smith etc and used the formal sie. We used Christian names and it became confusing, so the Germans had a meeting and decided to accommodate us with the less formal du and to use Christian names, which was nice of them.

The next morning I was called into the office of Herr Tischer who pulled a bottle of schnaps from his desk and poured 2 measures. "Herr E, we haf known each other for some time, would it be alright if I called you Tom? My name is Herman".

"Of course" I said and we knocked back the schnapps. This little ceremony is known as a Dutsen. As I passed the next office I was called in and the same thing happened. By the time I reached my desk I was 3 sheets to the wind. Trouble is, I'm not too good at remembering names.

Following day as I breezed in I was greeted by my new friend. "Morning, Tom!"

"Morning Herr Tischer" was the best I could manage.

 

[benjenbav]

If you are looking for an image to express the fact that the vessel is rewardingly secure in adverse conditions perhaps you need look no further than the back catalogue of Steely Dan:

"Well the danger on the rocks is surely past
Still I remain tied to the mast
Could it be that I have found my home at last"

Might be a copyright issue there though.

 

[machurley22]

I'd be happy to put up the whole sentence (the chances of of someone from Die Yacht reading this thread must be fairly slim) but my fellow Hurley owner Hartmut seems to think that they're doing us a big favour by allowing us to use their 37yo article and is most insistent that it appears nowhere else.

Hartmut describes it as a typical terrible germanism and untranslatable. My own suggestion was "Ya wee beauty" but this is probably an equally terrible Scottishism.

Dave

 

[Amphitrite]

Mail me the sentence if you like, I'm a native german speaker....

 

[Beagle]

Ahhhh. Ze Germans...... will they ever remember who lost and who won.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

A kind native German speaking person allready offered his email addy. Otherwise I would be happy to respond by PM

 

[janeK]

Tome
"By the time I reached my desk I was 3 sheets to the wind."

No change there then? I would have thought you'd have learnt a lesson with age but seems that from the Cherbourg trip you haven't???????????
Nothing worse than seeing a girl lying in the gutter all dishevelled

 

[machurley22]

Thanks for all the offers of help guys but the penny has finally dropped, I think. I believe the reviewer is saying that since the plucky wee boat has seen them safely through the savage storm that it is now acceptable for him to refer to her in familiar terms. I wonder if they did the Dutsen thing?

Who says the Germans don't have a sense of humour.

Hmm... maybe I will email Amphitrite after all.

Dave

 

[tome]

I think you are quite correct in your interpretation.

BTW, I was pleasantly surprised to note that my German colleagues did have a sense of humour!

 

[tome]

No, things don't get any better with age. I only narrowly avoided an ASBO from 'er indoors when word reached her of Cherbourg.