den Rücken stärken

English translation: We'll back you up

19:38 Nov 15, 2011

German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research

German term or phrase: den Rücken stärken

"Wir wollen unseren Mitarbeitern den Rücken stärken"
I need to translate this and incorporate the double meaning of support and helping with back problems. This is from a company newsletter and the article itself is entitled "Rückenschule". Many thanks in advance

Stephen Sadie KudoZ activity Questions: 983 (8 open) (1 without valid answers) (50 closed without grading) Answers: 2829 Germany
Local time: 06:20

English translation:We'll back you up

Explanation:
for a UK audience

Selected response from:

Phoebe Indetzki
Local time: 06:20

Grading comment

this was best for my text, I actually went for "We want to 'back' our staff", many thanks to you and all peers
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +7

We'll back you up

Phoebe Indetzki

3 +6

We've got your back

jccantrell

3 +2

better fitness for (our worker's) backs

Horst Huber (X)

(we've got to) strengthen your back

Alexander Schleber (X)

4 -1

stand by our employees

Wendy Lewin

3 -1

to give some more backbone

Sarah Bessioud

3 -1

We're giving you our support

British Diana

Discussion entries: 8

Michele Gile

Canada

ergonomics

19:50 Nov 17, 2011

It is clearly an article on ergonomics within the workplace. Many companies have it. Provide you with height correct tables and chairs to suit. A company I worked for had its own ergonomics department that measured the employees’ height; hip to knee length etc. in order for the employee to be as comfortable as possible/healthy in his workplace to have higher production and fewer sick days.

Bernhard Sulzer

United States

thinking

19:09 Nov 16, 2011

http://www.liquid-lifestyle.at/en/summer/seminars/rueckensch...
Ergonomic exercises. Does your article talk about ergonomic training or indeed include other things as in the link above? If it refers to helping associates become more self-assured, team players, "better"workers, the emphasis would IMO be on a program designed to strengthen them, making them stronger, more successful and not just having their back = supporting them when needed. Even "backing you up" would seem a more incidental help although I imagine "backing you up/we'll back you up" could be taken as straightening your back (out), so to speak, thus figuratively alluding to the "making you stronger, better, more successful" meaning.
From pain to gain?

Stephen Sadie

Germany

ASKER

@ all answerers

07:09 Nov 16, 2011

This is supposed to be going to US English, at the same time being comprehensible for English speakers as a whole. @Bernhard: with "Rückenschule" as mentioned already. Maybe "We've got our employees' backs"?

philgoddard

United States

Andrew

23:25 Nov 15, 2011

It wasn't just a Telegraph link - it was 1.9 million Google hits for "We've got your back" plus "UK" :-) Sorry jccantrell, I fought your corner for you!

Lancashireman

United Kingdom

Thanks for the Telegraph link, Phil

22:36 Nov 15, 2011

Britisher goes it not. Clever title for subtext.

Uta Kappler

United States

with Bernhard

21:33 Nov 15, 2011

"We want to give your back some support" might work. Not sure whether the article is about some kind of "back-therapy training", guided execises, or maybe even just tips how to sit/stand/stretch properly, anything else to do your back some good during a long workday. Hence I would like to join Bernhard in his request for additional information.

philgoddard

United States

Andrew

20:33 Nov 15, 2011

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozill...
The second hit is that great arbiter of all things linguistic, the Daily Telegraph.

Bernhard Sulzer

United States

question

20:24 Nov 15, 2011

Stephen, how are employees actually being helped with/asked about their (back) pain(s) - through/with regard to methods/strategies making their job easier/shorter or by back massages and pills? ;0)

Answers

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

We've got your back

Explanation:
In the USA, this is the phrase I would use. Of course, you have to reword it to work in the part about employees, but "having someone's back" means that you are protecting their vulnerable side, providing support no matter what.

Good luck.

jccantrell
United States
Local time: 21:20
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 27

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

disagree

Alexander Schleber (X): Sorry, that's not it at all. I do not undertsand why so many of the colleagues agree with this. "I've got your back" means literally "I've got your ass" = back = backside. What has this got to do with helping with back problems???

13 mins

agree

Johanna Timm, PhD: for sure.

14 mins

neutral

Lancashireman: Sorry, this would not be understood in a positive sense in the UK. In fact, it sounds vaguely menacing. // I know. Hence the apologetic tone and neutral status. I think PG may have been away for too long...

22 mins

-> I did preface my answer with "In the USA" so the asker can take that into account.

agree

philgoddard: Brilliant! And Andrew - this is more common in the US, but I think most Brits would be familiar with it.

22 mins

neutral

Wendy Lewin: sounds completely wrong to me - agree with Andrew

1 hr

agree

Kim Bakkers: Works in UK English for me, I think it would work well in the context.

1 hr

agree

Karin Johnson: Interesting discussion, but prefer this suggestion, especially as a subtitle

14 hrs

agree

TonyTK: Perfect

15 hrs

agree

Michael Martin, MA: Definitely the one that works best on both levels - if no snazzy British phrase can be found..!

1 day 5 hrs

agree

Darrel Knutson: The perfect solution. "Got your six" and "got your back" are used very often in TV series and movies. First time I hread it was in Stargate SG-1 over 10 years ago.

1 day 18 hrs

neutral

Michele Gile: I think since the title is Rueckenschule, it might refer to ergonomics. Meaning how to strengthen your back or keep it strong at the workplace....

1 day 23 hrs

23 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

to give some more backbone

Explanation:
I'm not sure of the overall context of your text, but "backbone" can be used to imply a variety of different character strengths or types of support provided (physical, psychological, moral, for example).

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100012826/sir-...
General Sir Richard Dannatt will give the Tories some backbone...
Sir Richard will give them the moral backbone they so badly need.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_154_25/ai_778...
I am a life member of the NRA. They are the best voice we have. They could do a much better job. I do not know how to give them more backbone.

http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2009/09/identify-your-most-c...
I also have a tendency to write about wimpy heroines, so I'm trying to give them more backbone and motivation.

http://blog.biggreenpurse.com/biggreenpurse/2007/06/index.ht...
Clearly, neither the Administration nor Congress have the courage nor the conviction to stop climate change. I suggest we use our clout in the marketplace to give them some backbone.

Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Local time: 06:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 28

24 mins confidence:

(we've got to) strengthen your back

Explanation:
That's what I think is meant.

Alexander Schleber (X)
Belgium
Local time: 06:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 14

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

stand by our employees

Explanation:
or underpin the position of our employees

Wendy Lewin
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:20
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

better fitness for (our worker's) backs

Explanation:
"Improve", or just "more"? Assuming that this actually concerns workplace health. The word in the sphere of morale would be "spine".

Horst Huber (X)
United States
Local time: 00:20
Native speaker of:

German

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

We'll back you up

Explanation:
for a UK audience

Phoebe Indetzki
Local time: 06:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 23

Grading comment

this was best for my text, I actually went for "We want to 'back' our staff", many thanks to you and all peers

11 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

We're giving you our support

Explanation:
I am a bit concerned that non-native speakers of einer BE or AE (possibily the newslatter will be read internationally?)would readily understand "We've got your back" or "we'll back you up", so here is another possibility.

British Diana
Germany
Local time: 06:20
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

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den Rücken stärken

English translation: We'll back you up

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