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German to English translations [PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
German term or phrase:Tunnelpassagier
I'm translating an interview with a musician and I have come across the following question and answer:
- Wenn nicht Musik, was dann? Wenig, Ich bin ein stark besessener Tunnelpasagier wenn es um Musik geht aber in den kurzen Pausen in denen sich meinen Leben nicht um Musik drehen möchte liebe ich es Menschen zu beobachten, Skateboard zu fahren und fremde Länder zu bereisen.
I've never come across 'Tunnelpasagier' before. It seems like he's obsessed with music, I'm just not sure if there's another, better way of translating the phrase.
Hi All, Interesting that you think it is unusual German as this was the impression I had when reading the text. However, the interviewee is German, as is the client (who conducted the interview), so it's not a case of being a non-native speaker, or a translation of a translation (that I am aware of). It could be that neither the interviewer or interviewee were particularly bothered about getting things 'right' (there are a couple of spelling mistakes). I don't *think* the person is particularly young, so it's not that. It could simply be that the interviewee was a little nervous and couldn't get their words out properly. I don't have a good explanation, I'm afraid!
- I second that, Anne. Here I was thinking maybe I'm the only one who finds this a bit odd.
(also @Steffen) Going out on a limb here, I guess, but doesn't the second bit sound awkward to you, too? The one I put in quotes below. To be frank, the use of those words in that order seems translated, especially "bereisen"; it's an interview...all of it sounds a bit stilted.
Tunnelpassagier sounds odd and does not make sense in German, apart from evoking an association of "traveling through life with a 'Tunnelblick'". Actually, the whole sentence does not sound genuinely German to me ("stark besessener", "drehen möchte" – to a certain extent also "liebe ich es", although this is increasingly used as an Angliscism in German).
First off, I've never heard or seen it used in this way.
The only explanation I can come up with is that the interviewee is a bit like myself and a friend of mine: He thinks in images.
Here's an ex.: "Darin erfuhr man vor allem, daß Angst vor rauher See und Tabletten gegen Seekrankheit hinfort der Vergangenheit angehörten. Dennoch wurde dem Tunnelpassagier für die Fahrt im Autowaggon neben einem Blick auf die Landkarte und dem Vertreten der Füße ein Klobesuch anempfohlen." https://www.zeit.de/1994/19/tunnel-wer-braucht-einen-tunnel
Metaphorically speaking, people riding on a train inside the Eurotunnel have no choice but to focus on the trip ahead. Their visual field is constricted.
It's more like a pictogram than an actual metaphor. I can't provide references, because there aren't any.
Starting to think this person is either quite young or this is a translation. Just my opinion, but...err...this bit "liebe ich es Menschen zu beobachten, Skateboard zu fahren und fremde Länder zu bereisen" sounds a bit awkward (to me, that is).
Best wishes
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hi Björn
15:57 Mar 20, 2019
Both one-track mind and tunnel vision can be used negatively, neutrally or (admiringly) positively. It has nothing to with drugs, it has to do with how, when and why the terms are spoken. I understand the nicety of one-track mind in a musical context, which is why I included both terms in my suggestion. Now, do you have some of your lightning-fast references for Phil? The term Tunnelpassagier seems unusual to me, too.
I'd be interested to hear from Björn, or any other German native speaker, why this guy says Tunnelpassagier. Does it sound odd in German, or does it make perfect sense?
In fact, I'm not sure most GNS would agree with me either. But this also means that "certain metaphors have a different impact in German" is not a good argument to make. I don't speak for all Germans; they aren't a monolithic group and neither are ENS.
When I was younger (ha ha), the only time I've ever heard Tunnelblick/tunnel vision used was when someone got drunk. I'm sure a lot of people haven't.
Oddly enough, though, I can't seem to find as good a reference for "tunnel vision" as I could for "one-track mind"--and I thought it was a nice play on words, too. Thus, my comment.
Best wishes
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Ach Björn!
15:28 Mar 20, 2019
You do NOT need to 'prove' your opinion. ALL native speakers are well aware that 'tunnel vision' is not necessarily a complimentary term - it is neutral to negative, the same with one-track mind. BOTH terms apply and can be interpreted in both, or many ways.
From an actual ENS interview: "'It’s not a thought; it’s the only thing that we do and that we want to do,' Oscroft says. 'It’s pretty one track mind when you’re creative. We’re always creating.'" https://move.themaneater.com/stories/music/mothxr-bring-new-...
ENS quote: "'But it gave me the opportunity to focus on my music, just fall in love with my music," continues Shaddix. "All I did was think, live, eat, sh*t, breathe music. I just had a one track mind – reinventing ourselves.'" https://www.campuscircle.com/review.cfm?r=350
And another one: "'I've got a one track mind,' confesses John Michael Montgomery. "I can't be doing too many things at one time. If I'm on the road touring, I'm totally focused on that. So it's hard enough to pay attention to things going on in my life, much less thinking about going into a studio to record between dates on the road.'" http://missy3.tripod.com/country.html
Also, the definition in Collins: "If you say that someone has tunnel vision, you disapprove of them because they are concentrating completely on achieving a particular aim, and do not notice or consider all the different aspects of what they are doing." https://www.collinsdictionary.com/de/worterbuch/englisch/tun...