German translators of AtD

[Michael J. Hußmann]

Monte Davis (monte.davis at verizon.net) wrote:

> I don't know German, but the English title certainly embraces all of:
>
> 1) in preparation for the [coming] day... with biblical connotations of
> warning, prophecy (is "gegen den Tag" in Martin Luther's 2 Peter 3:7,
> Proverbs 21:31, John 12:7 etc.?)
>
> 2) opposing the day... with connotations of darkness 
>
> 3) backlit or silhouetted (a la contre-jour) ... the "against" simply
> geometrical

The problem with the biblical connotation is that it depends on a
specific translation, i.e. the King James Version. Luther has "für den
Tag", just like the New International Version's "for the day". The
Einheitsübersetzung has "bis zum Tag" ("until the day"). The literal
translation of "Against the Day" thus misses the allusion to 2 Peter 3:7
etc., and the only translation preserving the biblical connotation,
namely "Für den Tag", would contradict 2 and 3. "Gegen den Tag" captures
2, but not 3 -- "contre-jour" would be "Gegenlicht". "Gegenlicht" could
also express the "opposing the day/light" aspect, so that's two out of
three for "Gegenlicht" compared to one out of three for "Gegen den Tag".

- Michael


Michael J. Hußmann

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