English translation: ideological hurdy-gurdy / organ-grinder
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18:14 Dec 16, 2009
Czech to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Religion / sociology of religion under Communism
Czech term or phrase:ideologický kolovrátek
Dear colleagues,
my next question regards an expression that I have encountered during my translation of the very same article as before (my last three posts). The author enjoys metaphorical expressions and I would like to retain the metaphorical dimension in my translation. The metaphor of "ideologický kolovrátek" has however, caused a considerable "head-scratching" on my part and I thus decided to turn to my colleagues to see what is their opinion on the matter. Please find below, two instances, in which this expression appears. There is another expression that the author uses in the given context, i.e. that of "krunýř" which I have decided to translate as a "straightjacket".
"Emancipace je vlastně hlavní téma citované Svitákovy úvahy, nevybíravě kritizující praxi počátku 50. let, kdy byly vědy o společnosti (alespoň podle tohoto autora) sevřeny „krunýřem“ a hrály pouze roli „ideologického kolovrátku“.
Later on within the text, the author questions:
"Kdo vytvořil z revolučních idejí Marxe a Lenina „krunýř“ a „ideologický kolovrátek“?"
Explanation: Well, the metaphors in your text are quite colourful.
My above two suggestions both express the idea of the same thing repeated again and again.
A hurdy-gurdy (whether you take it in its original sense of a medieval instrument, or in the sense of a barrel-organ) just drones on... If you want to "personalise" it, you could say "ideological organ-grinder", i.e. the one who cranks the handle.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 hrs (2009-12-17 09:11:10 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I'm taking "kolovrátek" in the sense of "barrel organ". I think the idea of mindless repetition is there. Earlier, I was thinking of "refrain" (same old monotonous refrain). This is in line with Maria's idea, "worn-out song".
in Czech, the metaphor of a "kolovrátek" means that something keeps repeating itself endlessly, sort of mindlessly: Also we have this saying "huba mu jela jak kolovrátek" - which would translate "he talked a blue streak". But in this sense I would also try to convey the mindlessness of the "kolovrátek".
I'm not sure if "spinning wheel" works the same way in English (?)
lingua chick United Kingdom Local time: 22:07 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, I value your opinion but I think that "ideological rollercoaster" gives a bit of a different idea than what the original intended, which is a mindless repetition of something.
Explanation: Well, the metaphors in your text are quite colourful.
My above two suggestions both express the idea of the same thing repeated again and again.
A hurdy-gurdy (whether you take it in its original sense of a medieval instrument, or in the sense of a barrel-organ) just drones on... If you want to "personalise" it, you could say "ideological organ-grinder", i.e. the one who cranks the handle.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 hrs (2009-12-17 09:11:10 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I'm taking "kolovrátek" in the sense of "barrel organ". I think the idea of mindless repetition is there. Earlier, I was thinking of "refrain" (same old monotonous refrain). This is in line with Maria's idea, "worn-out song".
Dylan Edwards Local time: 22:07 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you, Dylan. You have given a much needed confirmation of a native English speaker :o)
Thank you
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Dylan,
you are right, there are plenty of very colourful metaphors in both of my texts which makes their translation very enjoyable yet challenging at the same time. I believe, as you do, that the expression of "ideologický kolovrátek" is to suggest that social sciences in their straightjacket only produced mindless repetition ... very much like what an organ-grinder produces when he turns the handle of his instrument. I just wasn't sure whether an English reader would understand the expression if translated as "hurdy-gurdy" or "organ-grinder" thus I am very grateful to have your opinion. I also very much like your idea of "refrain". This is perfect. It is commonly used in academic articles, I believe, in the very sense that the author have intended (just see results from Google search for 'ideological refrain'). I'll think about it.
Thank you!!!
The translation workplace 
