Mitmachen ist federleicht!

English translation: Joining us is as easy as flight is to birds

20:09 Apr 12, 2013

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

German term or phrase: Mitmachen ist federleicht!

I would be interested to know if anyone has a suggestion for how this sentence can be translated into English whilst retaining the play on words. The whole campaign is built upon the image of birds and flight so it would be a real shame to lose this flavour in the English translation.

Jessica West KudoZ activity Questions: 18 (none open) (1 without valid answers) Answers: 29 United Kingdom
Local time: 09:01

English translation:Joining us is as easy as flight is to birds

Explanation:
Just trying to cover all the bases here..

Other options:

"Join us for an uplifting experience!

"Join in and soar with us!"

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Note added at 2 days6 hrs (2013-04-15 02:38:45 GMT)
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Now that the information we've all been clamoring for has been divulged, I hope it's save to make my final addition...

"Win a flight of fancy!"

Or perhaps even:

"Fasten seatbelts for a flight of fancy"

http://www.tegel.co.nz/flight-of-fancy

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-03-01/india...

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Note added at 2 days7 hrs (2013-04-15 03:20:48 GMT)
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Wheels up for a flight of fancy! (Jetzt ist aber Schluss..)

Selected response from:

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 04:01

Grading comment

Thank you very much for your suggestions. In the end I opted for "as easy as flight is to birds" - this had been my initial thought as well as the phrase covers flight and how easy it is to take part!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

Join in! -- Birds of a feather flock together

Lirka

take part and take to the air!

David Friemann, MA

Participating is as easy as winking!

Anil Kelkar

Easy landing, soaring rewards

Ramey Rieger (X)

[It's] easy -- take wing and fly!

Horst Huber (X)

Joining us is as easy as flight is to birds

Michael Martin, MA

Join in! The early bird catches the worm!

Wendy Streitparth

Discussion entries: 15

Jessica West

United Kingdom

ASKER

11:29 Apr 15, 2013

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this question (especially considering the debates about context - noted for future!)

Jessica West

United Kingdom

ASKER

09:11 Apr 14, 2013

Ok - this is an email advertising a competition and the prize is flights. The line I have given is the introductory heading leading to the competition questions and entry form. In answering the question they are entered into the competition for flights. Unfortunately not going to be at my desk till later this afternoon so can't give further text examples until then!

Jessica West

United Kingdom

ASKER

08:54 Apr 14, 2013

..and unfortunately I don't know exactly what kind of birds are involved. No particular species have been mentioned!

philgoddard

United States

08:54 Apr 14, 2013

You still haven't explained how birds feature in the competition. What is being advertised, and what do you have to do?

Jessica West

United Kingdom

ASKER

08:04 Apr 14, 2013

Sorry-there has been a lot of discussion here that I have missed, mainly because I have family visiting and cannot be stuck to my computer all day! the sentence is highlighting how easy it is to participate in a competition. So "taking part (in the competition) is easy" but with the added reference to flight because birds feature in the campaign (participants win flights).

Lirka

Austria

R.Kelly: I believe I can fly

18:07 Apr 13, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16FdJrrAWSo

writeaway

Definitely need more context

08:56 Apr 13, 2013

Is this the title of the document (is it a document??) or if not, please show us how it's actually used in context (a bit of German would be nice to see). Even Frank Sinatra would want to know (he's already 'up there')

Ramey Rieger (X)

Germany

IF IT'S ABOUT

08:55 Apr 13, 2013

FLYING, YES. That's the question.

Carol Latimer

United Kingdom

Like Andrew's idea

08:25 Apr 13, 2013

Maybe it could be as simple as: 'Come fly with us - it's so easy!'

Ramey Rieger (X)

Germany

YES, more context

08:12 Apr 13, 2013

PLEASE!

David Friemann, MA

Germany

07:47 Apr 13, 2013

@ Edwin: this might be completely great or completely inappropriate, depending on the style of the campaign. Imagine the campaign revolving around cute little birds and chicks and then a slogan referring to duck soup! :)

Lancashireman

United Kingdom

Come Fly With Me

22:35 Apr 12, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euci0_BBmNE
Frank Sinatra: Come Fly With Me

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
If you can use some exotic booze
There's a bar in far Bombay
Come on and fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away

Cilian O'Tuama

Germany

Agree with Edwin.

20:49 Apr 12, 2013

It might be helpful to know what the campaign is about.

Edwin Miles

Germany

Is "Easy as duck soup"…

20:41 Apr 12, 2013

…in standard use? It sounds a tad old-fashioned to me (thinking of the Marx brothers movie), but might be what you're looking for: Joining in's as easy as duck soup!

Edwin Miles

Germany

What is it exactly...

20:32 Apr 12, 2013

...that they'd be taking part in? That might help with the wordplay.

Answers

18 mins confidence:

Join in! -- Birds of a feather flock together

Explanation:
That's what comes to mind ;)

Lirka
Austria
Local time: 10:01
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

14 hrs confidence:

Join in! The early bird catches the worm!

Explanation:
Also a possibility - depending on context.

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 10:01
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

1 day 6 hrs confidence:

Participating is as easy as winking!

Explanation:
If the phrase is in a campaign exhorting people to get involved or participate, this might be your answer.
Or "Participating is dead easy"
Or "Participating is really simple"

Anil Kelkar
Local time: 13:31
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Marathi,

English

1 day 13 hrs confidence:

take part and take to the air!

Explanation:
is what I would consider.

David Friemann, MA
Germany
Local time: 10:01
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German

1 day 13 hrs confidence:

Easy landing, soaring rewards

Explanation:
my two cents worth. Well, maybe ten cents.

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 10:01
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 81

2 days 4 hrs confidence:

[It's] easy -- take wing and fly!

Explanation:
"Take wing and soar" may be trade-marked. Just one more attempt.

Horst Huber (X)
United States
Local time: 04:01
Native speaker of:

German

3 hrs confidence:

Joining us is as easy as flight is to birds

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 04:01
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 116

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Mitmachen ist federleicht!

English translation: Joining us is as easy as flight is to birds

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English translation: Joining us is as easy as flight is to birds

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