This site uses cookies.
Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site,
while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.
For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - History / Name for a historical figure impersonated by a tour guide
German term or phrase:Stadtschreiber
The term I am finding an English word for is Stadtschreiber. My context is the historical person who wrote the Salbuch in 1504 in Volkach, a small German town in Franconia. Information on this book can be found in Wikipedia etc. or here:
A tourist guide impersonates Niklaus Brobst (wearing historical costume etc.) and takes groups of tourists round the town. At present this tour is called " Stadtschreiberführung" " Mit dem "stattschreyber und notarius" Niklaus Brobst in historischem Gewand machen Sie eine Zeitreise ins 15. Jahrhundert". This tour is now to be offered to English-speaking tourists, who could be anything from Australians on a River Cruise along the Main to Chinese wine-lovers. What word should be used to describe the "Stadtschreiber" (the tour guide introduces himself "I am Niklaus Brobst, the ??? of this town") ? I am looking something that is not too technical, easily understood by non-natives and those from a different culture and which is nevertheless historically accurate.
Thank you, Lis, you came up with both suggestions that got Agrees, so I'm giving you three points. Not full marks because the most helpful solution, and the one I will use, was provided by Helen. 3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Diana - I don't think this is a correct interpretation of the Kudoz system either. People post alternate suggestions in response to discussion, additional context and further research, all of which is potentially to the benefit of the Asker, and is timed by the system. Of course, as Asker, it is for you to determine which answer is most USEFUL. Charles just did what most of us have done at one point or another, but irrespective of that, Lis got there first. Surely we want the system to encourage Answerers to help Askers?
As you will be aware, professional translators draft and redraft their work. Your interpretation of the RuleZ - namely that no alternative term may subsequently be proposed or acknowledged - is anomalous.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@Charles
17:23 Feb 26, 2013
yes, it happens to the best of us! Your integrity is safe with me.
But there was really no plagiarism involved. I just saw "town clerk" and thought that "town scribe" would be even better. I did not read Liz's added note until later.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
I would be chary
14:38 Feb 26, 2013
of the word "clerk", not only because it stems from "clerus", a member of the clergy, but it isn't as internationally accessible as "scribe" or "chronist/chronicler", which, thanks in part to C.S.Lewis, is also known to the educated in Asia. Here, by the way, is something interesting to "notarius" http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&searc...
Hi Diana, your question seems to be directed at me, although I have no Latin. To me, however, it would suggest that the man in question had legal training. I think the important thing to concentrate on here is what the tome was about. Was it a history of key events of the town/city, including laws created/enacted and major financial decisions (and such like) - in which case, I would consider 'chronicler'? Or was it simply record-keeping by a human scribe or clerk?
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hi Diana von Britain
14:21 Feb 26, 2013
Being one of those incorrigibles who often make several suggestions - forgive me! - Liz's note was nonetheless 49 minutes prior to Charles'. I'm sure Charles didn't intentionally "plagiarize" her note, but all the same, she was there first.
Sorry to see that there is a bit of confusion about who first suggested "scribe". I think the KudoZ rules really only allow for one suggestion each, and this is the one written in red in the "summary of answers provided" box. Normally the first person to post a "red" term is the one who may collect Agrees from colleagues. So in this case I think it is Charles who is entitled to the Agrees, irrespective of the fact that Liz posted the same term earlier as an afterthought to her original "clerk". I have seen cases in which one Answerer appears twice in the list and with two red terms, but this is only allowed by KudoZ in exceptional circumstances.
Thank you for your suggestion, would you like to post it? I looked at Clive's Oxford reference and there it says "clericus civium". Do you think there is any significance attached to the Stadtschreyber being "notarius" ?
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@Liz
13:22 Feb 26, 2013
Just didn't read the small print until Sir Andrew gave the nudge. I've (a)mended my ways.
Sorry, no time to do any further research, but thought it might set you off on a useful trail.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
7 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +6
town clerk
Explanation: as a suggestions
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 Min. (2013-02-26 09:44:44 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
or city scribe (and suggestion without an s, multi-tasking is sometimes not such a good idea)
Lis Liesicke Local time: 21:52 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 7
Grading comment
Thank you, Lis, you came up with both suggestions that got Agrees, so I'm giving you three points. Not full marks because the most helpful solution, and the one I will use, was provided by Helen.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Liz! In fact it is easier for the Asker if each Answerer gives just one suggestion and not, as you do here, an alternative which is really as second Answer. Otherwise it is difficult for the Asker to work out which suggestion the peers are "agreeing" to
peer agreement (net): +6