Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Angst-Musik, Angst-Stimme, Angst-Schrift

English translation:

nerve-jangling/scary + music/voice/font

Added to glossary by Lancashireman
Dec 14, 2012 10:09
11 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Angst-Musik, Angst-Stimme, Angst-Schrift

German to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Political thriller
This is from a political thriller where a group of characters are discussing ways to use a faked media scenario to create fear in a population. It's clear enough what Angst-Musik, Angst-Stimme and Angst-Schrift mean, but I can't find a way of expressing them in English that doesn't sound horribly clunky.

The best I have at the moment is "music of fear" which sounds awful by the time you get to "lettering of fear"!

Is anybody else feeling more inspired?

Thanks!
Rachel

»Faszinierend!«, unterbrach ihn Patricia Palmer. »Wir werden emotionstechnisch Vollgas geben.« Nun
war sie in ihrem Element. »Wir machen das mit der **Angst-Musik**.« Sie summte ein paar Töne einer
dramatischen Melodie. »Und mit der **Angst-Stimme**!«
Sie sahen sich verdutzt an. Keiner hätte der zierlichen Frau diese Abgründigkeit zugetraut. Aber dafür
war sie schließlich engagiert worden.
Landlers Gesicht hellte sich auf. Er glaubte eine Seelenverwandtschaft zu erkennen. »Und mit der **Angst-
Schrift**«, fügte er hinzu. Patricia warf ihm einen vernichtenden Blick zu.
Change log

Dec 15, 2012 21:22: Lancashireman Created KOG entry

Discussion

Rachel Ward (asker) Dec 14, 2012:
Lettering Have checked - it is the lettering on the TV news.
Rachel Ward (asker) Dec 14, 2012:
@Brigitte Hmm, that's a point. They do prepare faked newspapers as well. I'll have to check that. Thanks!
BrigitteHilgner Dec 14, 2012:
Just a question Are you sure that "Angst-Schrift" means writing/font and not some pamphlet/paper/article?
Bernd Runge Dec 14, 2012:
Just curious / with Tom Would angst-ridden be an apt adjective here?
As in angst-ridden music. There is even a font called angst-ridden.
http://www.fontspace.com/bolt-cutter-design/angstridden
Tom Feise Dec 14, 2012:
Angst Angst, which is akin to anxiety, is often used as "angst". Probably it might be good to actually use "angst music", "angst voice" and "angst font". Or "spooky music", "anxiety voice", and "frightening font"

Proposed translations

+1
2 hrs
German term (edited): Angst-[NOUN]
Selected

fear-inducing

'Scary' is perfect for teens. An adult reader might prefer this.

fear-inducing music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi59R-caipA
fear-inducing voice: http://tinyurl.com/co5m4us
Pyes Pa is a fear inducing font family... http://littlebitheart.com/2011/12/font-friday-36-otama/

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Note added at 3 hrs (2012-12-14 13:10:41 GMT)
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Inspired by lirka's 'bloodcurdling' alternative, I would like to supplement this answer with two more:
nerve-jangling
spine-tingling

Peer comment(s):

agree seehand
26 mins
neutral Cilian O'Tuama : prefer scary, post grading and all // All swell in Clone. Grüße
1 day 15 hrs
Hiya, Cilian. You still up or up already? It's 8.23am here in Dubai, so it must be 5.23 in Clone.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Andrew - went with nerve-jangling in the end."
+5
25 mins

scary music, scary voice, scary writing/font

just another suggestion
Peer comment(s):

agree Helen Shiner
25 mins
thanks Helen
agree BrigitteHilgner
1 hr
thanks Brigitte
agree Lancashireman
1 hr
thanks Andrew
agree Lonnie Legg
4 hrs
thanks Lonnie
agree Thayenga : Sounds good. Enjoy your weekend, Lis. :)
1 day 1 min
thanks Thayenga - you have a good weekend too!
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2 hrs

bloodcurdling

an alternative you may want to consider..
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3 hrs

nightmarish

anxiety provoking/arousing
terror inspiring
Something went wrong...
1 day 2 hrs

eery music, voice and print/script

It's a pity I get the email notices so LATE!
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1 day 3 hrs

the Music of Doom, the Voice of Doom, the Font of Doom

Is there at least a touch of irony or dark humour in this passage? I can't tell without more context, but that's the impression I get from the bit you posted in your query.

If that is the case, I'd recommend these choices (capitalised as shown!) to convey how the characters might enunciate them in the dialogue.
Note from asker:
Like it, but sadly doesn't quite fit the tone.
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