existenzbedrohende Klagen

English translation: (potentially) life-ruining lawsuits

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	existenzbedrohende Klagen
English translation:	(potentially) life-ruining lawsuits
Entered by:	Markus Heinrich

11:06 Jan 12, 2017

German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics / Development/NGOs

German term or phrase: existenzbedrohende Klagen

The sentence in question is: "Verhaftungen und Gewalt gegen Aktivisten, existenzbedrohende Klagen, Verfolgung und Übergriffe aller Art, das kennen zu allererst und unmittelbar die Bürger der betroffenen Länder."

My translation so far:

Arrests and violence against activists, EXISTENZBEDROHENDE KLAGEN, persecution and all kinds of abuses first and foremost afflict the citizens of the countries in question.

Since they seem to be talking about actions of security services against NGOs "klagen" most likely means "charges." I am unsure what to chose for "existenzbedrohende." "Life-threatening" is probably not right, it is most likely more that the charges would force the NGO to close its operations. So for example if an NGO was charged with espionage, it could no longer operate but would have to leave. My thinking so far. Any ideas?

Markus Heinrich
Ireland

(potentially) life-ruining lawsuits

Explanation:
or threat of life-ruining lawsuits. Perhaps also career-ruining lawsuits.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2017-01-12 18:51:16 GMT)
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Since we're talking about Bürger here, I have to assume that existenzbedrohend pertains to individuals, not organizations.

Selected response from:

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 08:56

Grading comment

Thank you Michael
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +3

complaints or lawsuits or legal actions which pose an existential threat to the organisation

Teangacha (X)

(potentially) life-ruining lawsuits

Michael Martin, MA

3 +1

(financially) ruinous lawsuits

Armorel Young

defamation

Ramey Rieger (X)

Discussion entries: 9

Ramey Rieger (X)

Germany

@Armorel

20:21 Jan 14, 2017

Could you please post your suggestion?

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

financially ruinous lawsuits

11:36 Jan 13, 2017

I think Armorel's is an excellent suggestion, because the German word "existenzbedrohend" very frequently relates to financial issues.

Ramey Rieger (X)

Germany

Yes, Armorel

11:08 Jan 13, 2017

well said! This is why I suggested defamation, which CAN lead to the NGO shutting down and definitely leads to an employee losing her/his job. Ruinous lawsuits is a nice one. I'm also thinking along the lines of 'shutdown suchandsuch', even though I'm rather certain this is a roundabout way of saying defamation :-).

Armorel Young

(financially) ruinous lawsuits

10:55 Jan 13, 2017

might be a way forward, since it avoids specifying whether it is individuals or organisations who are ruined (although I think it is die Bürger.

I think you want to be careful about equating existenzbedrohend with "existential threat". Existenzbedrohend means that you are at risk of losing your means of livelihood, whereas "existential threat" tends to imply a threat to your very existence (i.e. your life). Most of the references to "existential threat" on the internet are about security issues and threats to the very existence of a nation.

Markus Heinrich

Ireland

ASKER

The text

18:41 Jan 12, 2017

is about NGOs, so I assumed it. but on thinking about it (and from mulling over your kind suggestions) I have changed my mind.

Teangacha (X)

Ireland

@ Markus

14:01 Jan 12, 2017

I thought from your description that you were fairly sure it referred to the NGO. But yes, if it's not a certainty that would suit.

Markus Heinrich

Ireland

ASKER

Perhaps

13:02 Jan 12, 2017

to get around that it could be "legal actions that pose an existential threat" - that could apply to an organisation and to an individual

Markus Heinrich

Ireland

ASKER

Good point

13:00 Jan 12, 2017

is it referring the the organisation, or the people working for it

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

Mir ist nicht klar ...

12:49 Jan 12, 2017

auf wen sich "existenzbedrohende Klagen" bezieht, aber ich vermute, dass es um die wirtschaftliche Existenz der Bürger geht (da diese, der Aussage nach zu schließen, diese Art von Übergriffen kennen).
Vielleicht eine Kombination mit "threaten the economic exixtence"?

Answers

7 mins confidence:

defamation

Explanation:
To get things rolling, this promises to be a hot one.

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 14:56
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24

7 hrs confidence:

(potentially) life-ruining lawsuits

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 08:56
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 76

Grading comment

Thank you Michael

22 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

complaints or lawsuits or legal actions which pose an existential threat to the organisation

Explanation:
Linksaktivisten klagen über FPÖ-Klagen - kurier.at

https://kurier.at/chronik/oesterreich/linksaktivisten-klagen...
Jan 27, 2015 - Mehrere antifaschistische Organisationen klagen über "existenzbedrohende Klagen" der FPÖ und ihr nahestehender Organisationen

Meine Marke: Was Unternehmen authentisch, unverwechselbar und ...

https://books.google.ie/books?isbn=3864142644
Hermann H. Wala - 2011 - ‎Business & Economics
Existenzbedrohende Klagen müssen ebenso abgewendet werden wie dauerhafte Beschädigungen der Marke. Das spricht dafür, Krisenpläne zu entwickeln

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Note added at 27 mins (2017-01-12 11:33:39 GMT)
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The examples in English are political and I wanted to be respectful of people's viewpoints but if you google 'to pose an existential threat' you can see for yourself.

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Note added at 33 mins (2017-01-12 11:40:04 GMT)
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Linksaktivisten klagen über FPÖ-Klagen - kurier.at
https://kurier.at/chronik/oesterreich/linksaktivisten-klagen...

'Mehrere antifaschistische Organisationen klagen über "existenzbedrohende Klagen" der FPÖ und ihr nahestehender Organisationen. Bei einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz am Dienstag betonten Karin Wilflingseder von der "Linkswende" und Manfred Walter von der Initiative "Heimat ohne Hass", sich nicht "mundtot" machen zu lassen und sich gegen die Klagen wehren zu wollen.'

"Seit den 1990er-Jahren versucht die FPÖ kritische Journalisten und Aktivisten mundtot zu machen", meinte sie. Straches Strategie ziele darauf ab, die Klage möglichst teuer zu machen. Sie sehe nicht ein, warum es "hierzulande nicht möglich sein soll, einen Politiker wie Strache in aller Schärfe zu kritisieren". Mit den Klagen würde versucht, sie "auszuhungern und mundtot zu machen", sagte Wilflingseder'

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Note added at 2 days7 hrs (2017-01-14 18:44:19 GMT)
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@ all: Yes I agree that it is the citizens and not the organisation which is being referred to 'die Bürger'. I should have firstly translated into answer box what was asked, only : 'existenzbedrohende Klagen' = 'complaints or lawsuits or legal actions which pose an existential threat' and also if I was translating the sentence, translated from the German and not taken into account anyone else's opinion on that. I presumed Markus was speaking in an authoritative manner with reference to full article.
Other good and relevant translations have been suggested here also.

Teangacha (X)
Ireland
Local time: 13:56
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Noelle Crist-See: So you mean "existentially threatening lawsuits"?

12 mins

-> Thanks, Noelle! I would find '....pose an existential threat....'(as above) sounds better. But just my opinion.

agree

Julia Burgess: ... posing a threat to the existence of (the NGO) - perhaps less Kierkegaard-esque :)

1 hr

-> Thanks, Julia. : ) I had to google 'Kierkegaard-esque'!!!!/ I understand what you mean but since to 'pose an existential threat' (google) is used a lot, I think it's not too dramatic!!! : ) But just my opinion.

agree

franglish: The conclusion Markus has come to is correct, the citiens, not the organization are meant. No doubt about existential threat, though.//Sorry, citiZens:)

7 hrs

-> Thanks, Franglish! : )

2 days 9 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

(financially) ruinous lawsuits

Explanation:
See comments in the discussion section. In particular "existenzbedrohend" implies to me that the lawsuit risks ruining your business or your livelihood, and is not quite the same as an "existential risk".

Armorel Young
Local time: 13:56
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 34

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English translation: (potentially) life-ruining lawsuits

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