KudoZ home » German to English » Anthropology

überhöht

English translation: ceremonial

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	überhöht
English translation:	ceremonial
Entered by:	Liesl

Options:
- Contribute to this entry

03:15 Aug 20, 2008

German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Anthropology / Rituals

German term or phrase: überhöht

In an academic paper about rituals. Rituale können sich auch im Alltag vom Alltag abheben, indem sie durch den überhöhten Charakter einer Zeremonie durchgeführt werden.
Looking for something that suggest the religious/semi-mystical aspect of rituals that set them apart from the ordinary. Through their ceremonial nature...?

Patricia Will KudoZ activity Questions: 431 (2 open) (13 without valid answers) (13 closed without grading) Answers: 90 Australia
Local time: 00:02

ceremonial

Explanation:
I keep looking back at this one and am convinced that you were right on with your own suggestion of "ceremonial nature." I really feel like it's the one word that captures the neutral tone of the source text (as opposed to terms that might carry a slightly negative connotation), while also being a word generally associated with spirituality.

This option keeps you from having to add on translation of "...einer Zeremonie," which could become distracting (as Craig has pointed out), since the focus of the sentence is on the rituals (not a ceremony, as such). Some might consider this undertranslating, but I am quite certain that the full meaning (including the "überhöht") is present in the English term.

Selected response from:

Liesl
United States
Local time: 11:02

Grading comment

Thanks, all suggestions valid but I think this comes closest
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

intensified/exaggerated

Helen Shiner

3 +1

solemn character

Nicole Schnell

ceremonial

Liesl

lavish

John Dale D.D.

inflated

NO-EN-DE

lofty

Catherine Knight

idealized character/nature of

seehand

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

solemn character

Explanation:
Example:

"...those sacred rites which have furnished so many models for Masonic symbolism, the opening ceremonies were of the most solemn character."

http://books.google.com/books?id=GUS5-9IouBIC&pg=PA737&lpg=P...

Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 08:02
Works in field
Native speaker of:

German

5 hrs confidence:

lofty

Explanation:
"the lofty nature" might work. I think it conveys the idea of something being elevated/on a higher level, as suggested by "überhöht", and would fit with the image of "abheben".

Example sentence(s):

the lofty nature of the coronation ceremony (Merriam-Webster)

Reference: http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lofty

Catherine Knight
Germany
Local time: 17:02
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

5 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

intensified/exaggerated

Explanation:
If you were to use 'transcend' for 'abheben' (preceding clause), then I think either of these suggestions would work well. I think it is important to select something that relates to forms of spirituality, rather than organised religion.

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:02
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8