Kummertempel

English translation: Temple of Solace

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kummertempel
English translation:Temple of Solace
Entered by: Helen Shiner

16:37 Sep 24, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Esoteric practices
German term or phrase: Kummertempel
"Kummertempel" was part of the name of a column in a German occult magazine in which a magician, in the persona of an elderly, eccentric, but knowledgeable aunt, answered questions sent in by readers.

I know "Kummer" as grief, but I don't get what it means here with "tempel": "Grief temple" makes no sense. How would I translate this, perhaps capturing the whimsical essence I imagine is in the original?

Thanks in advance.
BrettMN
Local time: 07:24
Temple of Solace
Explanation:
I think Kummer in such cases equates to our use of 'agony aunts', but temple of agony just sounds scary. Something positive might work better. I guess one could come up with a whole variety of suggestions here.

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Note added at 12 mins (2009-09-24 16:49:59 GMT)
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depends how inventive you are allowed to be...

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Note added at 3 days22 hrs (2009-09-28 15:19:16 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks for the fun question and the poiints, BrettMN!
Selected response from:

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:24
Grading comment
Thank you, Helen! Great solution. I also appreciate Lonnie's explanation that "Kummertempel" is likely a play on words of "Kummerecke" and "Kummertante," thus explaining why a literal translation into English doesn't really work.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +3Temple of Solace
Helen Shiner
3 +1Wizard's Wisdom World
Lonnie Legg


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Wizard's Wisdom World


Explanation:
Helen is definitely right about 'agony aunts', since the term is evidently a play on "Kummerecke" (or by extension to the "Kummertante" counsellor featured there).

But since the fellow's a magician, I thought I'd add a pertinent alternative.
Or if you don't mind something less literal, but even more fitting (and snappier IMO):
Wise Words from the Wizard

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Note added at 18 hrs (2009-09-25 11:17:57 GMT)
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Re wizard: I had overlooked that this magician is an "aunt". But, as Helen has suggested (see discussion entry), using it as an adjective seems fine, so I'll change that to:
"Wise Words from a Wizard Witch".

Lonnie Legg
Germany
Local time: 13:24
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner: Can aunts be wizards or even magicians? Aren't they witches and sorceresses? I am sure we could spend the entire evening coming up with lots of crazy answers to this one! I like your www, might be the right tone, depends how pompous the organ is!!
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Helen. And good point re male gender of wizards.
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Temple of Solace


Explanation:
I think Kummer in such cases equates to our use of 'agony aunts', but temple of agony just sounds scary. Something positive might work better. I guess one could come up with a whole variety of suggestions here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2009-09-24 16:49:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

depends how inventive you are allowed to be...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days22 hrs (2009-09-28 15:19:16 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the fun question and the poiints, BrettMN!

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:24
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
Thank you, Helen! Great solution. I also appreciate Lonnie's explanation that "Kummertempel" is likely a play on words of "Kummerecke" and "Kummertante," thus explaining why a literal translation into English doesn't really work.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lingua.Franca: I really like your solution.
7 mins
  -> Thank you, Lingua.Franca!

agree  Rolf Keiser: with LF
14 hrs
  -> Thanks, Goldcoaster

agree  Lonnie Legg: Or how about "Solace from the Sorceress"?
18 hrs
  -> That's another good one, Lonnie, thanks!
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