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    English missing

    zunächst einmal: sense GER vs. sense ENG

    Subject

    zunächst einmal: sense GER vs. sense ENG

    Sources
    Boustrophedon zu schreiben erscheint uns heute absurd. Dabei hat es gerade für einen ungeübten Schreiber merkliche Vorteile: Er braucht die Hand nicht abzusetzen, wenn er von einer Zeile zur nächsten wechselt; der Leser kann genauso mit dem Auge eine kontinuierliche Schlangenlinie verfolgen. Dass man dabei die Buchstaben spiegelverkehrt schreiben und lesen muss, ist zunächst einmal nur ein kleiner Nachteil und mit der Schrift leicht erlernbar. Somit ist es wenig überraschend, dass in Griechenland in einigen Gebieten noch jahrhundertelang boustrophedon geschrieben wurde.
    Comment
    To write in boustrophedon fashion appears to be absurd from a modern perspective. However, it has a notable advantage for an unskilled writer: he does not need to discontinue his hand when he changes from one line to the next; the reader, too, may follow an uninterrupted sinuous line with his eyes. For the time being, the fact that one has to write and read mirror-inverted letters is only a small disadvantage and is easily learnable with the script. Hence, it is unsurprising that writing in boustrophedon fashion continued for several centuries in some regions in Greece.

    Is it possible to translate the above-mentioned "zunächst einmal" with "for the time being"? I'm not really sure about the resulting sense, i.e. whether it is really the same as in the original text. Apart from not being sure about the quality of the translation either :-/
    AuthorFrank09 Feb 09, 17:24
    Suggestionat first
    Comment
    'for the time being' bezieht sich auf Sprech-Zeit, 'at first' auf die Erzähl-Zeit, also die des Lernenden
    #1Author wor (335727) 09 Feb 09, 17:31
    Suggestionas a start
    #2AuthorBounder (558548) 09 Feb 09, 17:34
    SuggestionI would do this:
    Sources
    The idea of writing in boustrophedon fashion appears absurd from a modern perspective. However, it has a particular advantage for an unskilled writer: he does not need to lift his hand when he changes from one line to the next; the reader, too, may follow an uninterrupted, sinuous line with his eyes. The fact that one has to write and read letters in mirror-image is only a small disadvantage and is learned easily with the script. Hence, it is unsurprising that writing in boustrophedon fashion continued for several centuries in some regions in Greece.
    Comment
    For me, it reads much better. In any case, I think that you should leave the "For the time being" out entirely, as it contributes nothing and loses the sense in English.

    And "discontinue" doesn't really work well there, either. Sorry!
    #3AuthorGratis09 Feb 09, 17:36
    SuggestionAt the beginning...
    #4AuthorMichael_sailor09 Feb 09, 17:40
    SuggestionOops!
    Comment
    That should say "The idea of writing in boustrophedon form seems..."

    Sorry.
    #5AuthorGratis09 Feb 09, 17:40
    Comment
    man kann auch auf a small initial<\b> disadvantage gehen
    #6Author wor (335727) 09 Feb 09, 17:43
    Comment
    thanks very much! you helped me lot. especially as far as the "zunächst einmal"-bit is concerned. I just needed someone to make me leave it out :-) I didn't dare to...
    #7AuthorFrank09 Feb 09, 18:00
     
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