Ich bin mit dem Ordnen des optischen Gerätes vollauf beschäftigt. Alles wird appellfähig auf der Kammer geordnet. Die Kameraden bis einschließlich 96 werden namhaft gemacht und werden uns morgen verlassen. Ich bleibe ungefähr als einziger Unteroffizier der Weltkriegsgeneration zurück.
I am completely taken up with putting the optical equipment in order. Everything is arranged for a roll call in the room. Fellow-soldiers up to and including those born in 1896 are identified and will leave us tomorrow. I stay behind as just about the only non-commissioned oficer from the World War generation.
FRA
IT
So this was bad luck for Dieter. At least we do know more now about his age. Since the guys born in 1896 and older are sent home, he must be younger obviously. I could not find the post again, but I remember we could figure out his approximate age to be around 42. Another hint for this.
AntwortenLöschenBut then again, and we all know the course of the story, I am quite sure that those guys sonner or later would have to come back again....
I am completely taken up with adjusting the optical equipment. Everything is regulated to perfection on the camera. * Fellow-soldiers up to and including those born in 1896 are identified and will leave us tomorrow. I stay behind as just about the only non-commissioned oficer from the World War generation.
AntwortenLöschen* have I understood correctly?
Hi vf,
Löschenyes, you got the age-thing right :-)
Only small deviation is "Kammer", which does not refer to a camera (although the text is dealing with optics), but is an ancient word for "room". I think Dieter wants to say that everything is polished up ready for inspection (Appell) and put orderly into the rooms/shelves (although he does not talk of any shelves, but I associate with this a small room and all things stored nicely into the shelves).
May I ask, you translate "Kamerad" with fellow-soldier. Why is "comrade" not the right term?
Cheers,
Thomas
I don't think that I am using this blog very efficiently!
LöschenI responded to your post, but not as an answer - sorry.
And it was the "Kammer" sentence that I was unsure about - the age phrase wasn't too difficult.
I keep thinking about the "comrade" question, and have discussed with others. We agree that "comrades" was in common 19th century use in the Crimean and Boer Wars, perhaps for some English speakers in the 1st WW. By then it was mostly used in the phrase "old comrades", which definitely implied shared battle experience.
Otherwise from WW1 (my grandfather) onwards men would refer to their "friends" or use a local words like "pals" or "mates".
I was just about to ask about "Kammer". Is is not also an old word for "camera"?
AntwortenLöschenhttp://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&p=_xpAA&search=camera&trestr=0x8001
I made this assumption because he wrote "auf der Kammer" and not "in der Kammer".
If you still prefer "room", then as a native-speaker you are obviously correct (though the shelves are an imaginative extra!)
"Comrade" is little-used in English. It would be used to express the idea of fellow-soldiers who had become friends through shared battle experiences (English 'old comrades').
I think in German "Kamerad" has less emotional weight and can simply mean somebody who was there at the same time. Is a "Klassenkamerad" always somebody you liked at school?
I'll be delighted to read your thoughts on both questions.
Good morning,
Löschennow these are really fine nuances in translation :-)
Concerning the camera, I checked the leo entry. I think in the way it is being used there it is meant in a technical way, so there might be a special usage in photogrammetry (what ever that might be) for it. In daily life "Kammer" would not be associated with a camera. It always refers to some kind a room, mostly small rooms. In ancient text, the "Kammer" can also be a (lady's) sleeping room.
The "Speisekammer" is a pantry, maybe that is where my association with shelves comes from; sure I was hungry at that time :-)
Concerning the Kamerad, the meaning seems to be of the same complexity in both languages. You are right, there is a less emotional usage of the word, mosty when referring to the other boys at school. Generally, the word is a little out of fashion. "Klassenkamerad" would refer to any guy that was in your class.
In the army this somewhat similar, but a bit more emotion in it. It means more than just someone but less than a friend. It seems to be very close to the english use.
"Kammer" is cognate with English "chamber" and French "chambre" - a private room. I still wonder why he wrote "auf" der Kammer, but a native speaker is going to get this right where I don't!
LöschenWhile their origin is the same, "comrade" and "Kamerad" don't have similar usage in English at all. A "Klassenkamarad" was at one time in English a "classmate", with no implication except being in the same place at the same time. However "mate", as an individual word, definitely does mean "friend". Nowadays we'd say "a boy/girl in my class".
I have never heard the word "comrade" used in English in any context except in old songs and set phrases like "old comrades" mostly referring to wars before WW1. I have read it as became an elevated term, used in inspiring written accounts of bravery, but not an everyday word used by many men of that time. My grandfather would have described his personal friends in his unit as his as his "pals".
(And of course it is well-known as a Communist greeting.)
Not helpful, perhaps, but language is so interesting!
Thanks vf, I really enjoy these little chats!
LöschenAnd besides, I also learn a lot. :-)