lean meanness

Romanian translation: numărul insuficient al ofiţerilor germani

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	lean meanness of the German command
Romanian translation:	numărul insuficient al ofiţerilor germani
Entered by:	Bianca Fogarasi

11:55 Aug 8, 2006

English to Romanian translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

English term or phrase: lean meanness

"Speed was essential for the Germans. The enemy must not be given a chance to recover. A victorious army can overlook fatigue - and both officers and men of Kluck's army were very tired indeed. ***The lean meanness*** of the German command was beginning to create unnecessary stress. With too few in charge forced for too long to work twenty-hour days, details were falling between the cracks. "In war as in business," the military historian Dennis E. Showalter points out, "there is a certain advantage to redundancy." Moreover, in the absence of rail lines - destroyed by the retreating French and Belgians - and reliable motor transport, supplying men with food and ammunition was a problem, and only became more so as distances increased. Communications, too, were strained. Once in French territory, army commands could not depend on the telephone. Moltke, far away in Coblenz and then, after August 29, in Luxembourg City, mainly used the wireless to communicate with the Western armies - though messages were delayed by congestion at the other end (and by the time needed to decode them) or interfered with by a French station on the Eiffel Tower. Schlieffen's thirty-nine days after mobilization would come none too soon."

Multumesc!

Bianca Fogarasi

numărul insuficient al ofiţerilor germani

Explanation:
Ceva de genul ăsta. Nu cred că răutatea are ceva a face aici. Fraza următoare este edificatoare: "_With too few in charge_ forced for too long to work twenty-hour days, details were falling between the cracks." În paragraful ăsta e vorba de lipsuri: mai întâi a organelor de conducere, agravate de cele logistice: transport, comunicaţii, etc

În "lean meanness of the German command", aş zice că "meanness" înseamnă "stinginess" (vezi sinonimia), o "zgârcenie" neinspirată a comandamentului german de a trimite mai mulţi ofiţeri care să adimistreze ca lumea problemele care existau acolo.

Selected response from:

Valentin Alupoaie
Romania
Local time: 23:31

Grading comment

Mulţumesc Vali şi tuturor celorlalţi pentru părerile exprimate. Răspunsul tău m-a convins cel mai mult şi graţie explicaţiilor primite de la colegii vorbitori nativi de limbă engleză. http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1492600

Cred că ar fi mers şi "eficienţă excesivă/exagerată" , după cum sugera şi Lucian, dar rămân la această traducere. :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

numărul insuficient al ofiţerilor germani

Valentin Alupoaie

4 +2

pura rautate a ofiterilor germani

Romanian Translator (X)

eficienţa rea/ostilă/malefică

lucca

3 +1

asprime neîngăduitoare

andreea

3 +1

rautatea gratuita

Emil Mahmut

redusa din motive de operativitate

Rodica Stefan

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

21 mins confidence:

eficienţa rea/ostilă/malefică

Explanation:
De la expresia lean and mean, cel mai frecvent pozitivă (lean and mean management, a l & m operation etc). "Gratuită" nu se potriveşte.

lucca
Romania
Local time: 23:31
Native speaker of: Romanian
PRO pts in category: 40

25 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

asprime neîngăduitoare

Explanation:
Cred că se refera la disciplina drastică impusă de cei care conduceau armatele....

andreea
Romania
Local time: 23:31
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Romanian
PRO pts in category: 8

Notes to answerer

Asker: Foarte de acord cu afirmaţiile tale. Asta e: drastici/aspri/eficienţi cu orice preţ... [dar nu cu răutate :)]

12 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

rautatea gratuita

Explanation:
lean(adj.) - fara substanta, lipsit de o calitate esentiala, flasc

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Note added at 57 mins (2006-08-08 12:53:21 GMT)
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gratuita = fara un suport real, ineficienta daca vrei...nu gratuita=free of charge :)

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Note added at 1 hr (2006-08-08 12:56:25 GMT)
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nevermind...nu-i deranja pe cei de la webster :)

Emil Mahmut
Italy
Local time: 22:31
Native speaker of:

Romanian

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

lean meanness of the German command

numărul insuficient al ofiţerilor germani

Valentin Alupoaie
Romania
Local time: 23:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Romanian
PRO pts in category: 44

Grading comment

6 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

pura rautate a ofiterilor germani

Explanation:
asa inteleg eu

Romanian Translator (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:31
Native speaker of: Romanian

18 hrs confidence:

redusa din motive de operativitate

Explanation:
As intoarec putin fraza si as spune: " structura de comanda germana, redusa din motive de operativitate" - pentru ca rezulta din frazele de dinainte ca nemtii voiau sa se miste repede. Traduce si sensul de eficienta cumva.
Ar putea fi si "motive de austeritate", daca ne gandim ca "lean budget" inseamna buget de austeritate. Oricum, si eu sunt de parere ca nu exista nicio legatura cu rautate, etc.

Rodica Stefan
Local time: 23:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Romanian
PRO pts in category: 34

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lean meanness

Romanian translation: numărul insuficient al ofiţerilor germani

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