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Engagementpolitik

English translation: Social commitment politics (or policy)

14:30 Jul 1, 2015
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / Social Entrepreneurship
German term or phrase: Engagementpolitik
Honored (baked, in Germany) Colleagues! This is a favored term in the current TWB project I am currently translating. I absolutely refuse to integrate it as is in the text, as engagement does not mean the same in English. So please, help me to find an appropriate purely English translation. So far, I was able to skirt around it by using social involvement (without the politics) and/or social/civic policy. As this context is more specific - it is the beginning of a long list of measures to be take to promote social businesses - I would like another solution. THANKS!


Social Entrepreneurship zusätzlich zur Engagementpolitik (Federal Ministry for Families, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth hereon as BMFSFJ since 2011) in
Gründungsförderung (BMWi) etablieren sowie zusätzlich einen
ressortübergreifenden Beauftragten (etwa im BK-Amt) einrichten
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 12:40
English translation:Social commitment politics (or policy)
Explanation:
A social policy of commitment to fostering the well-being of others. Not just involvement, but actual commitment and dedication to improving the lives of others, especially those who are more needy - socially and economically.

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Note added at 1 hr (2015-07-01 16:26:25 GMT)
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actually it should be policy.. not politics..

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Note added at 1 hr (2015-07-01 16:27:23 GMT)
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Engagement in the German sense is strong involvement with a sense of purpose, thus commitment.

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Note added at 1 day23 hrs (2015-07-03 14:18:44 GMT) Post-grading
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Thank you Ramey. A pleasure to help.
Selected response from:

Eleanore Strauss
Local time: 06:40
Grading comment
I know I'm taking a huge risk of tsk,tsk,tsk and perhaps you're right. However, I am selecting this answer and will have to live with the consequences. That does not diminish my gratitude to you all for your help with this, for me, partially impossible text.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5[civil/community] engagement policy
philgoddard
3 +1Social commitment politics (or policy)
Eleanore Strauss
3social economy policies
Michael Martin, MA


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
social economy policies


Explanation:
or policies promoting social enterprises/businesses

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 06:40
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 34
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Michael, not so sure...

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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
[civil/community] engagement policy


Explanation:
It means community engagement, ie people becoming more involved in interacting with and helping others. In the quote below, it's referred to as "bürgerschaftliches Engagement" or "ZivilEngagement", and then abbreviated simply to "Engagement", just as it has in the text you're translating.

Darüber hinaus hat das Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ)... die Initiative ZivilEngagement „Miteinander – Füreinander“ gestartet, um bürgerschaftliches Engagement anzuerkennen, weiterzuentwickeln und zu stärken. Mit verschiedenen Vorhaben soll in einem ersten Schritt dazu beigetragen werden, gesellschaftliche Rahmenbedingungen für *bürgerschaftliches Engagement*... damit noch mehr Menschen aktiv werden. Die Initiative
*ZivilEngagement* ist zugleich der Ausgangspunkt für die Entwicklung einer ressortübergreifend abgestimmten *Engagementpolitik*.

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Note added at 1 hr (2015-07-01 16:07:51 GMT)
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You could also say "involvement", but I think "engagement" is a more active and positive word. It implies not only being involved, but being committed.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2015-07-01 16:52:44 GMT)
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German does have a habit of borrowing and twisting the meaning of English words, but I don't believe that is the case here. It means exactly the same in both languages.


    Reference: http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/16/115/1611597.pdf
philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Phil, I'll certainly consider this, despite my hesitation.

Asker: Thank you Phil, I've made sure it comes in the glossary for other, less obstinate translators.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Armorel Young: perfectly good word, IMO incorrect to translate it with anything else
4 hrs
agree  Lancashireman: w/ Armorel (w/ because it is so much trouble to type the word 'with' in full)
5 hrs
agree  TonyTK: Yes, the Germans love their Shortys and Pullunders.
18 hrs
agree  Horst Huber (X): Just getting it back to where it should be.
21 hrs
agree  Jacek Konopka: GREAT!
22 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Social commitment politics (or policy)


Explanation:
A social policy of commitment to fostering the well-being of others. Not just involvement, but actual commitment and dedication to improving the lives of others, especially those who are more needy - socially and economically.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2015-07-01 16:26:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

actually it should be policy.. not politics..

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2015-07-01 16:27:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Engagement in the German sense is strong involvement with a sense of purpose, thus commitment.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day23 hrs (2015-07-03 14:18:44 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thank you Ramey. A pleasure to help.

Eleanore Strauss
Local time: 06:40
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I know I'm taking a huge risk of tsk,tsk,tsk and perhaps you're right. However, I am selecting this answer and will have to live with the consequences. That does not diminish my gratitude to you all for your help with this, for me, partially impossible text.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Elli, I'm quite comfortable with commitment as an equivalent to the German meaning of engagement.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gudrun Wolfrath
18 hrs
  -> Thank you Gudrun!
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