Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Mienenarbeit / Minenarbeit
English translation:
sabotage / subterfuge
Added to glossary by
Timoshka
May 14, 2023 04:05
1 yr ago
35 viewers *
German term
Mienenarbeit / Minenarbeit
German to English
Social Sciences
History
From a letter, written in 1945 in Budapest, by a non-native German speaker:
"In Ungarn ist die Valorisation gut gelungen, wenn auch einige Symtomen sind, die verdächtig waren, wir hoffen das die Regierung genug stark sein wird jede Mienenarbeit der Reaktion um unser Geld wertlos zu machen unmöglich macht."
My proposed translation: "In Hungary, valorization has been quite successful, even if there are some indications that were suspicious. We hope that the government will be strong enough to render every [undermining effort???????] of the reactionaries to make our money worthless impossible."
I don't know if "Minenarbeit" refers to terrorist activity of some sort or just "undermining efforts" of the reactionary forces in Hungary at that time.
"In Ungarn ist die Valorisation gut gelungen, wenn auch einige Symtomen sind, die verdächtig waren, wir hoffen das die Regierung genug stark sein wird jede Mienenarbeit der Reaktion um unser Geld wertlos zu machen unmöglich macht."
My proposed translation: "In Hungary, valorization has been quite successful, even if there are some indications that were suspicious. We hope that the government will be strong enough to render every [undermining effort???????] of the reactionaries to make our money worthless impossible."
I don't know if "Minenarbeit" refers to terrorist activity of some sort or just "undermining efforts" of the reactionary forces in Hungary at that time.
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +2 | sabotage / subterfuge | Gordon Matthews |
3 | subversive (underhand) effort | Adrian MM. |
Proposed translations
+2
6 hrs
Selected
sabotage / subterfuge
"sabotage" or "acts of sabotage" is probably the more accurate translation - with the connotation of physically blowing something up. "subterfuge" would be a good alternative, though, with the connotation of conspiratorial work to undermine something.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2023-05-14 11:07:35 GMT)
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I think "Mienenarbeit" or "Minenarbeit" is being used metaphorically here rather than referring to terrorists physically blowing things (or people) up.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2023-05-14 11:07:35 GMT)
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I think "Mienenarbeit" or "Minenarbeit" is being used metaphorically here rather than referring to terrorists physically blowing things (or people) up.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Steffen Walter
: Yes, it's used figuratively/metaphorically in this context. For the English, I'd also think of "obstruction".
5 hrs
|
Thanks for agreement and comment.
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agree |
philgoddard
: Sabotage.
6 hrs
|
Thanks for your agreement.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
8 hrs
German term (edited):
Minenarbeit
subversive (underhand) effort
NB HUN/ENG: *miénk* dolgoz = our work
'Valorization' might well be currency revaluation.
'Valorization' might well be currency revaluation.
Reference:
Discussion