This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Eventualbehauptung
Vertrauensremission
Aug 27, 2014 10:24
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Grenzenloser Service von XY

German to English Marketing Telecom(munications)
I'm drawing a blank on looking for a marketing slogan for a customer offering a service that transcends borders into other countries.

Any help on getting something snappy?
Proposed translations (English)
3 +11 Our service knows no boundaries
4 Service beyond borders
4 -1 boundaryless service by XY (or unlimited/limitless/unrestricted service by XY)
3 Transcending borders with XY
3 (superior/excellent) XY service across the line/board

Discussion

philgoddard Aug 27, 2014:
Asker There's no such place as Lettland. It's the German name for Latvia.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
@writeaway please post your suggestion, I managed to reach the client and have now altered my translation.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
@writeaway I really like that suggestion "our service knows no boundaries", unfortunately I've just delivered my translation but that would have been a very good idea. Hm, perhaps I could still contact the client.
writeaway Aug 27, 2014:
I'd be very surprised if the company isn't playing with the 2 meanings of grenzenlos. I doubt it only refers to the actual borders in a marketing text. But it's your call.
I think it means our service knows no boundaries.
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
The same service anywhere you go Last try (matches my grenzüberschreitend/grenzenlos explanation below).

In any case, really interested what you'll choose in the end.
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@M00nshine ? "you probably meant carefree" (that's what I said)? And yes, the phone or whatever is not "carefree", so that won't work. I apologize :)
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@Johannes LEO contains so many inaccurate and inadequate "translations" (which has something to do with their we-include-it-all philosophy) that this is not the right basis for comparison.

Proof you already have with the Telekom reference below.

grenzenlos -> Es gibt keine Grenze - grenzüberschreitend -> Grenze wird überschritten

The result of both is the same (being somewhere else) but grenzenlos better conveys the freedom you have by using the services of this company. Grenzüberschreitend - even if it is more accurate - just sounds too technical and dull. It also kind of conveys that you first have to cross a border - which means you'd have to make an effort (die Grenze überschreiten). Grenze is a negative statement that you don't want to re-affirm (as in grenzüberschreitend) but nullify (as in grenzenlos).

So, I consider this more of a deliberate choice, M00nshine.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
Sorry Björn you probably meant "carefree". Thanks for the suggestion but I don't think that is suitable in this particular context.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
I do think that the German "Grenzenlos" is flawed as it is not an unlimited service but a service that crosses borders, which is why I hesitated to use it. I'm afraid that my original suggestion, confirmed by Steffen, is probably the closest to the admittedly flaky original.
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@M00snhine Don't see anything wrong with your comment :)

Just wondering what you thought about my last idea below. Primarily, it doesn't seem to be about signal but about "issues" you may have.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
That last comment might be construed as inflammatory. Sorry if it appears that way it wasn't intended as such.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
Boundaryless is the sentiment wanted here. Only, in my humble opinion, it does not sound well to my ears as part of this particular marketing text - it may work in other instances though. I had already run through the obvious candidates before posting my question.
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
Yes, that is the question... ...which M00nshine already tried to answer in his opening statement (in the question itself). On a side note: "unlimited" is highly misleading. Unlimited minutes point to a German Flatrate and have nothing to do with any service. "unlimited service" could be service that you don't have to pay for (even if you don't have to pay for the hotline, you may have to pay later). "unrestricted" is "accessible at all times/to everyone", which doesn't make sense here either because it shifts the emphasis.

"transcend" and any "boundary" statements would be too idiomatic for me. But who knows.
Johannes Gleim Aug 27, 2014:
The question is not what we understand or we interpret, but what the client wanted to express.

See the different translations of „grenzenlos“ and “grenzüberschreitend”:
http://dict.leo.org/ende/index_de.html#/search=grenzenlos&se...
http://dict.leo.org/ende/index_de.html#/search=grenzüberschr...

I can’t believe that the client or his advertising department/agency has so much lack of language skills to confuse “grenzenlos” with “grenzüberschreitend”.
Any proof for this „marketing metaphorism”?
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@Johannes I think M00nshine will be quite aware of what the customer wants or not. Also: If you leave everything up to the customer, they may translate the document on their own then.

"Grenzenlos" is a marketing metaphor for "grenzüberschreitend". Even the Telekom uses it like that - see my reference below.
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
Carefree - anywhere in Europe (and beyond) Just tossing around ideas...sticking to close to the German may not help.
Johannes Gleim Aug 27, 2014:
Transcending the border wäre grenzüberschreitend, also etwas anderes als "grenzenlos".
Grenzüberschreitender Service beschränkt sich nicht auf das Heimatland. Ein grenzenloser (unlimited/limitless/seuperior/exellent) Service bietet aber eine größere Leistungsvielfalt an, als üblich.

Was hier gemeint ist, sollte der Kunde bestimmen.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
@Björn The difference here, though, is that there is just one freecall number rather than a shared cost number.
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
@Björn yes, it is along those lines.
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@M00nshine Ah, OK :) Could it be something along the lines of what I showed below (regarding the service itself)?

I also see kind of a difficulty here considering that the metaphor is no longer that vivid: A lot of EU "borders" you won't even recognize anymore. When I travel to the Netherlands or France or whatever, it's hard to think of Grenzen in its restricted sense in German. Guess the phone companies are lagging behind still (keyword: roaming)...
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
@Björn Sorry Björn that remark was meant for Johannes.
@Brigitte I'm not completely sure whether the service is exclusive to one country in that it is an either/or situation. I think it is for any of the 31 listed countries at any time.
I was looking for something like "limitless, unlimited" but conveying the sense of borders as in the German "Grenzenlos".
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@Brigitte Considering Service is the German word, I really think he means something like the following:
"Produkte im Überblick.
Grenzenloser Service mit hoher Kostentransparenz"
https://mwl.telekom.de/produkte/pdf/Shared Cost Internationa...

It's about:
-Erreichbar unter landestypischen Shared Cost-Rufnummern
-Demonstration von Präsenz vor Ort
-Kundenfreundlich durch den Einsatz bekannter Servicenummern
-Kostengünstig: Die Anrufer übernehmen einen Teil der Gesprächskosten
BrigitteHilgner Aug 27, 2014:
cross-border ? I don't quite understand the concept - is it either or (I use the service (WHAT service??) EITHER in Germany OR in France) or does it mean a connection from Germany into another country?
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@M00nshine Do you view the NGO's use as meaning something different? "Without borders" is meant as international/state borders, IMO.

But considering what the term is used for normally, I said I believe I wouldn't use it :) Typically, it would be "Public Service Without Borders" or something.

Don't know whether you'll need something snappy, really. Even in German, it's a false promise (not grenzenlos) and I am simply thinking of all these legal suits involving false promises right now :)

Then, you might as well write: "We'll take care of it - wherever you are."
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth (asker) Aug 27, 2014:
State borders are what are meant here. That is to say, the service provided can be used in Germany or France or Lettland. Various countries in the EU.
Björn Vrooman Aug 27, 2014:
@asker Don't know... ...whether it's too mean to say: "Service without borders" (you know, like Reporters without Borders). Actually, it's a well-established term for many different kinds of organizations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Without_Borders_organiz...

But like I said, may not be so nice, considering they are NGOs.

Proposed translations

+11
2 hrs
Selected

Our service knows no boundaries

or a variation thereof.
Peer comment(s):
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : Very nice!!
0 min
agree Steffen Walter : Good one :-)
2 mins
agree franglish
10 mins
agree Michael Martin, MA
10 mins
agree Björn Vrooman : Yeah! That seems to be the right one.
22 mins
agree Lancashireman : This answer sees multiple agrees
38 mins
agree Johannes Gleim : a good alternate expression for boundaryless.
47 mins
agree Johanna Timm, PhD : genial.
4 hrs
agree Cilian O'Tuama : (or even knows no bounds) - puts JG's "boundaryless" in the shade. Is that even a word an ENS uses?
10 hrs
agree David Hollywood : this is a lovely rendering and the first time I've seen you answer ... you should do it more often as you have the gift :) in many languages :) mein Herz steigt wie en Vogel in die Lüfte :)
14 hrs
agree Helen Shiner
1 day 7 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks so much, that was exactly what I was hoping to here."
-1
27 mins

boundaryless service by XY (or unlimited/limitless/unrestricted service by XY)

Zunächst wäre zu klären, ob es sich bei "Grenzen" um eine Staatsgrenze handelt. Ich denke nicht, deshalb würde ich Ausdrück mit "border" und ähnlichem vermeiden.

True Service Is Boundaryless
Boundaries only exist in the mind. “In true service there are no boundaries. When we serve others we serve ourselves and by serving ourself in truth we serve others” (source unknown). This seems like a nice quote, but it is in itself also creating a new boundary. The word ‘Service’ implies a concept that can be bordered, bounded, valued, measured, architected, designed, integrated etc. So by referring to concepts like ‘boundaryless service’ we actually seem to remove boundaries somewhere and reintroduce them elsewhere.

19. Is HR easier to do business with? (Do we have boundaryless service and customer satisfaction data)
http://www.gatelyconsulting.com/pp15js54.htm

Other approaches:

These Terms and Conditions govern your use of the VPN Unlimited service.
https://www.vpnunlimitedapp.com/terms

Grenzenloser Service auf höchstem Niveau
wirtgen.de
Limitless service at the highest level
wirtgen.de

Über 500.000 unipo®-Systeme im weltweiten Einsatz sprechen für unsere Kompetenz, Zuverlässigkeit und unseren grenzenlosen Service.
unipo.de
The worldwide use of more than 500'000 unipo® systems speaks for itself with regard to our competence, reliability and unlimited service.
unipo.de

Das Softwarepaket umfasst das Diagnosesystem woodScout, grenzenlosen Service dank TeleServiceNet und mit USV eine unterbrechungsfreie Stromversorgung.
weinmann-partner.com
The software package encompasses the diagnostic system woodScout, unrestricted service thanks to TeleServiceNet, and facility for uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
weinmann-partner.com

http://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch/search?source=auto&qu...
Peer comment(s):
neutral Björn Vrooman : You say: "Ich denke nicht [dass eine Staatsgrenze gemeint ist]." Asker said, however, in his question: "transcends borders into other countries" and specified in discussion entry.
33 mins
Das teilte er erst nach meiner Antwort mit. Ich verstehe grenzenlos im üblichen Sinn. Sonst hätte der Kunde ja auch "grenzüberschreitend" oder ähnliches gesagt. // "boundary" ist auch, aber nicht nur nur im Sinne von "border" zu verstehen.
agree Lancashireman : Spiel ohne Grenzen = Boundaryless Play; Médecins Sans Frontières = Boundaryless Physicians
11 hrs
Danke!
disagree Cilian O'Tuama : "borders into other countries" was there from the start - this is most unsuitable for a marketing context, and others
12 hrs
disagree Helen Shiner : with Cilian - a very clunky phrasing, far too close to the GER.
1 day 9 hrs
Something went wrong...
28 mins

Transcending borders with XY

Why not stating the obvious? (You mentioned it yourself.)
Note from asker:
Yes, that is what I have used so far. Just wondered if anybody else had a flash of inspiration really.
Something went wrong...
57 mins

(superior/excellent) XY service across the line/board

a bit of play on words, indicating the depth of their services as well.
Note from asker:
I quite like "across the line" and I think that this could be used in a slightly different context but here countries are included.
Something went wrong...
18 hrs

Service beyond borders

another alternative
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search