English translation: accept it to be / accept it as so
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German to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Anthropology / Religious practices
German term or phrase:Nimm doch an
The following is taken from "Die Malepa in Transvaal", Schloemann, Fr (1894) and is discussing the prayer rituals of the Malepa (or Malemba/Lemba) tribe. The Lemba contend (and there is some evidence) that they have Semitic ancestry. I am having trouble with the phrase "Nimm doch an":
Auch Gebetsübungen sind bei den Malepa mehr in Brauch, als bei den Bassutho und Matebelen. Sie verrichten ihre Gebete in einer alten, ihnen selbst unbekannten Sprache. Dieselben bestehen in Anrufung der verstorbenen Häuptlinge, soweit zurück, als sie die Namen derselben noch kennen. Diese Gebete beginnen und enden auffälliger Weise mit „amena". Man hat dies mit „Nimm doch an” übersetzt. Ich finde hierin jedoch nur das hebräische „Amen" wieder, mit welchem auch die Muhamedaner ihre Gebete schliessen. Ein intelligenter, älterer Christ dieses Volkes gab mir dieselbe Erklärung. Vor dem Gebet nehmen sie Waschungen vor, wenigstens an den Händen. Ausserdem umhängen sie sich dabei mit weissen Decken und Tüchern.
Would "accept [this] as so" be adequate?
Or, can I go as far as saying "so be it" - which may be too much of a "textual manipulation"?
I think the translation should be as literal as possible here.
'They translate this as "accept this as so" or "so be it", which reminds me of the Hebrew "amen", the same word Muslims also say to end their prayers.' is what I went with in the end.
Your suggestion had the important element of 'accept', whilst the 'to be' part reminded me of how natives of other vernaculars from this area were often fluid with their use of the infinite and never gave me just one answer when I asked for an English equivalent of a word or phrase; my justification for translating one phrase with two! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
which are also a universal medium for attaining the divine state, are trance-inducing, or in modern speak, elevate and simultaneously slow down the brain-waves, eliminating - or muting, the constant chatter going on there, giving access to the "higher self". Mantras are 10 times more effective when sung or chanted in an ancient language such as Sanskrit, Lakota or aboriginal/native languages. Maybe that's because we cannot identify with the words and "fall" into the sounds which are more often that not "pictures" made into sound.
Indeed, and then of course, we can ponder the significance of sung vocalisations/incantations in (religious) rituals, whether for mnemonic purposes or otherwise. I have recently become very aware of phonetic relationships and phonemes, since I began teaching English to a Mandarin native, who fortunately already has a basic command of En. Since I do not know, I shall ask her tomorrow afternoon what she says at the end of a prayer... :)
was an ancient Celtic "religion", actually where the word "witch" comes from - according to some sources - meaning "wisdom" the phrase "so be it" is still used today, as part of the ceremony, at the end, as in Christian services. The earlier form "Amea/Amen" was abandoned after being integrated into the Christian ceremony, then being consider besmirched and devoid of it's original humbling (positive) force which integrated the human race into the Circle of Life. In ALL ceremonies that I have taken part in, both ancient and modern - there is some form of this "surrendering to the Greater Force". Soem form of "amen/so be it".
I have only ever been to two Church services in German (Lutheran). Does this phrase (Nimm doch an) form, or did it form, part of the Liturgy?
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Answers
23 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
accept it to be
Explanation: I can't see another possible way to translate this.
franglish Local time: 03:53 Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
'They translate this as "accept this as so" or "so be it", which reminds me of the Hebrew "amen", the same word Muslims also say to end their prayers.' is what I went with in the end.
Your suggestion had the important element of 'accept', whilst the 'to be' part reminded me of how natives of other vernaculars from this area were often fluid with their use of the infinite and never gave me just one answer when I asked for an English equivalent of a word or phrase; my justification for translating one phrase with two!
Explanation: Also used by the Wiccae. What it truly fascinating, is how this word reached nearly every corner of the Earth and means, with little deviation, the same - alien invasion?
Ramey Rieger Local time: 03:53 Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: Fascinating, indeed. I shall be researching "alleluia/hallelujah" privately after this, now that you have pointed this out!
The translation workplace 
