ausspielen (in this context)

18:05 Jun 21, 2004

This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics / General query

German term or phrase: ausspielen (in this context)

Two sentences for context (explanations of what the verb means would be especially appreciated alongside any suggestions for straight translations):
1. Wer den weltweit ... erfolgreichen neo-liberalen Diskurs konterkarieren will, muss die Unverzichtbarkeit des Politischen ausspielen und demonstrieren.
2. Einer der Wege, die Unverzichtbarkeit der Politik zu inszenieren [another term I struggle with, all suggestions gratefully accepted - shall I post a separate question??] und auszuspielen, ist es, das staatlich-demokratische Legitimationsmonopol in der Konfrontation mit der Weltwirtschaft neu zu bestimmen und auszuspielen.

Dr. Kathleen Cross KudoZ activity Questions: 17 (none open) (3 closed without grading) Answers: 20 Germany
Local time: 10:01

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

bring to bear

heikeb

highlight/draw on

Johanna Timm, PhD

manipulate

Regina Landeck

use to it's full extend

Stefanie Sendelbach

vividly put across

Alarch Gwyn

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

9 mins confidence:

manipulate

Explanation:
also: play out as a trump card

Regina Landeck
Local time: 02:01
Native speaker of:

German

1 min confidence:

use to it's full extend

Explanation:
Is how I understand it here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2004-06-21 18:18:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"Seinen Einfluss voll ausspielen\" for example would mean to make full use of one\'s influence.

Stefanie Sendelbach
Germany
Local time: 10:01
Native speaker of:

German

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

bring to bear

Explanation:
cf: Merriam-Webster
bring to bear : to use with effect <bring pressure to bear>

In the coming years, the abolitionist movement would use the same arguments and bring
to bear the same sense of moral outrage;
usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/outusgov/slavery.htm

But Alexander's battles are marked by his ability to mix all the elements of
his army and bring to bear just what was needed at just the right time.
history.boisestate.edu/westciv/alexander/04.htm

But our approach would be to take a topic like HMOs or a patient’s bill of rights
and bring to bear all that we know about ethics, starting with Aristotle
www.yorktownuniversity.com/online_education.html

heikeb
Ireland
Local time: 09:01
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 16

1 hr confidence:

vividly put across

Explanation:
One of the problems here (apart from the daunting repetition of ausspielen) is the theatre imagery which doesn't really work in English (or at least nothing occurs to me). Ausspielen also has the meaning of "to act out" (Oxford/Duden).

What I think the writer is trying to say is that something needs to be very clearly demonstrated.

For sentence 2 I suggest the following translation using some sport imagery as an alternative.

"One of the ways of slamming home the message of how indispensable the political sphere is is to redefine the supreme legitimacy of the democratic state in its confrontation with the global economy and vividly (or forcefully) putting this message across."

I would translate ausspielen in three different ways to avoid the rather inelegant repeats in the German.

In the first sentence as "clearly demonstrate"....

in the second sentence as "slamming home the message" (for both ausspielen and inzenieren) in the first clause and as vividly (or forcefully) putting the message across in the second clause.

There is a bit of repetition in that the idea is being repeated, but this avoids repeating the actual words.

Hope this helps or at least that you can make something of it.

Alarch Gwyn
Local time: 10:01
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 6

2 hrs confidence:

highlight/draw on

Explanation:
I so like Heike's proposal!
Here's an alternative:
In the first sentence, 'ausspielen' is used in the sense of: realize the importance of something and act accordingly; exploit/utilize a certain notion.
I would use 'highlight','emphasize', 'underscore' or sth. along those lines.
In the second sentence, the utilization aspect seems to be more important; here I would use maybe "draw on".

Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
Local time: 01:01
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 23

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

ausspielen (in this context)

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

ausspielen (in this context)

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language