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German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
German term or phrase:brav
Despite the many possible translations for this little word, I would like to invite your suggestions for just the right term that hits the spot in this context:
Sie sitzt da, brav, traut sich nicht aus der Rolle zu fallen, als wären ihre Schuhe auf den Boden geklebt.
Die Frisur: brav, die Kleidung: brav, sogar der Gang: brav. Mit ihr, da war er sich sicher, wäre er vor Abenteuern sicher.
... this whole sentence might read as follows: The way she wore her hair, the way she dressed, the way she walked was the very picture of demureness. https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&as_q=&as_epq=the very ... Whatever you do, don't try to create a sentence that mirrors the structure of the German.
you're right. The two sentences are not directly connected (I should have mentioned that before), but describe the same situation. He is like a painter doing a rough outline with a few brush strokes as he conveys the most striking impressions flashing up in his mind when he sees her for the first time.
That's just the author's attempt to convey a few images of this character. It's not meant to provide a snapshot that has all the imagery in one picture or one situation.
It's the same as saying 'als hätte jemand ihre Schuhe auf den Boden geklebt'. I'd say it's either that or "am Boden festgeklebt"(as if her feet were stuck to the floor)
.. has had enough of adventures and at least a girl who looks as prim and proper and neat and tidy as she does won't be likely to drop him into another - I bet she does, though!
A typical heroine role from an Indiana Jones adventure story.
How are you intending to deal with those colons? I am always amazed by the assumption prevalent among German native speakers that German conventions are transferable to English.
"Vor" is quite correct. The idiom in question is "vor etwas sicher sein" - to be safe from something. So he is not keen on adventure at all and is certain that he'll be safe from that with this girl. All very boring, unfortunately ... :).
I don't understand "wäre er vor Abenteuern sicher." Should it be "von"? And if it means "he would be sure of adventure," doesn't that contradict what has gone before?
Wer/was ist sie? Wo sitzt sie? Die Jugendliche in den 1960er Jahren in der ersten Tanzstunde? Wie soll man ohne Kontext beurteilen, welcher Begriff hier die passendste Übersetzung ist?
peer agreement (net): +6