imploding population bomb

10:44 Sep 27, 2019
This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer

English to German translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Environment & Ecology
English term or phrase: imploding population bomb
This sentence is from a short chapter in a book about the development of humanity:

"Early warnings of an **imploding population bomb** driving global famine missed how agricultural innovations, education, urbanization, family planning, and better health care could sustain human progress while slowing growth in numbers."

I would understand the sentence if it said "exploding" but like this, it seems contradictory to me. Would "imploding" not mean that the population declines?

Thank you for your help.
Karin Maack
Germany
Local time: 23:23


Summary of answers provided
4 +1in sich zusammenbrechende Bevölkerungsbombe
gofink
4 +1implodierende Bevoelkerungsbombe
Wolfgang Hager
4... einer bevorstehenden Bevölkerungimplosion...
thefastshow
2bevorstehende Bevölkerungsbombe (for "impending population bomb")
D. I. Verrelli
Summary of reference entries provided
José Patrício

Discussion entries: 17





  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
in sich zusammenbrechende Bevölkerungsbombe


Explanation:
Die Bevölkerungsbombe ist verpufft - Die Lunte gelegt hatte „Die Bevölkerungsbombe“, ein 1968 erschienener Bestseller des Stanford-Professors Paul Ehrlich und seiner Frau Anne. Die Ehrlichs sagten Hungersnöte für die 1970er und -80er Jahre voraus und gaben keinen Pfifferling mehr auf die Zukunft der Menschheit.

Aber der Knall, mit dem die Bevölkerung „explodieren“ sollte, fand nicht statt. Der Untergang blieb aus, weil Paul und Anne Ehrlich sich vertan hatten - see https://www.tagesspiegel.de/meinung/was-wissen-schafft-die-b...


gofink
Austria
Local time: 23:23
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Dann könnte ich ja auch gleich "implodierende Bevölkerungsbombe" schreiben, soweit war ich auch schon, aber das Bild ist inhaltlich trotzem völlig schief und ergibt keinen Sinn.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Steffen Walter: Ich stimme der Erklärung zu, allerdings nicht der Übersetzung (stilistisch geht eine " ... zusammenbrechende ... Bombe" gar nicht). / Ist schon klar, nur passt die Wortkombination von "zusammenbrechen" und "Bombe" dennoch nicht.
21 mins
  -> "in sich zusammenbrechen - implode, collaps

agree  dkfmmuc: Ich möchte zu 100 % zustimmen, da die Begriffswelt so verwendet wird, wie sie ist. Klingt mir ein bisschen zu pessimistisch.
3 hrs
  -> Danke dkfmmuc
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
impending population bomb
bevorstehende Bevölkerungsbombe (for "impending population bomb")


Explanation:
I'm not convinced that "imploding" was truly intended. It sounds very strange to me.
Here I give one option for an 'amended' translation based upon reading "imploding" as "impending".

Three options:
imploding : 2 hits https://www.bing.com/search?q=+"imploding population bomb"
impending : 64 hits https://www.bing.com/search?q=+"impending population bomb"
exploding : 93 hits https://www.bing.com/search?q=+"exploding population bomb"

D. I. Verrelli
Australia
Local time: 09:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
implodierende Bevoelkerungsbombe


Explanation:
gemeint: die Bevoelkerung steigt rapide, was zu verheerenden Hungersnoeten fuehrt, welche die Bevoelkerung dezimieren (Irland). Hier am besten das Fremdwort verwenden und die Verantwortung fuer Unverstaendlichkeit dem Autor ueberlassen.

Wolfgang Hager
Italy
Local time: 23:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  José Patrício
1 hr
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3 days 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
... einer bevorstehenden Bevölkerungimplosion...


Explanation:
Since a bomb can only explode but never implode unless you want to refer to a specific design of nuclear bomb http://hydrogen.physik.uni-wuppertal.de/hyperphysics/hyperph... I would simply avoid this unfortunate allegory and replace it with just the phenomenon which would not cause any confusion at all since it is clear. To add the initially intended drama of "bomb" to my suggestion, you could add threatening, desastrous effects of, horrendous etc.. take your pick :))

thefastshow
Germany
Local time: 23:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
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Reference comments


27 mins
Reference

Reference information:
Ich denke du verstest, wenn ob Bevölkerung setzt herab, es ist nicht gut- https://www.dict.cc/deutsch-englisch/herabsetzen.html

José Patrício
Portugal
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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