English translation: unhinge, -ed,(trans. or itr.), shift (of perspective/perception)
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:
ins Schlingern geraten
English translation:
unhinge, -ed,(trans. or itr.), shift (of perspective/perception)
German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
German term or phrase:ins Schlingern geraten
In an arty text, on the artist's use of wooden planks set into light boxes for aesthetic effect, I am puzzled by the term "ins Schlingern geraten" in the following sentence :
"Funktion und Sichtweise des Leuchtkastens geraten in dieser Skulptur also auf drei unterschiedlichen Ebenen ins Schlingern : auf der konkret formalen, auf der funktionalen und auf der metaphorischen."
Explanation: i.e. the customary perception (of light-box, planks, etc.) is defied, shaken up, re-mixed... there's a 'shift in the parameters' ('on three levels' etc.), - the elements (box, planks) lose (are set adrift from) their familiar contexts ... etc.
- a try: (presuming a prior description: 'Thus') 'the received perception of both the function and appearance of the light box is dislodged...'
The greater problem for me is the double definition in 'appearance' and 'perception' and I haven't attempted a sol'n here.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 hrs (2007-01-21 02:25:56 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
"In dieser Skulptur" refers to the sculptural object of wooden planks set into the light box ("...des Lichtkästen. Dessen Holzraum hat der junge Künstler mit der alten skulpturalen Handwerksteknik der "moving parallel lines" quasi abgegossen, und zwar mit drei Meter langen Holzbrettern, die sich in die Negativform der Lichtkästen einfügen und diese multiplizieren.")
Does "in dieser Skulptur" refer to the light box itself, or to some other sculptural exhibit/object?
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Answers
1 hr confidence:
See suggestion
Explanation: Not that this helps but (if you didn't already notice) the Duden definition of "ins Schlingern geraten/kommen ist: (schleudern) b) sich schlingernd (a) mit Schlingerbewegungen fortbewegen
So... in this sculpture, the function and perspective of the licht box fling themselves forward on three different levels... I don't know about you, but that doesn't make much sense to me and that's even stretching a literal translation.
And since it's an art text, I would take some artistic license:
The role and worldview of the light box are hurled into the sculpture where they manifest themselves on three levels...
The light box's beams and perception high-tail it into the sculpture where they treble: on the concretely formal level, the...
Or, continuing to move in the direction of obscurity: the skein and offices of the light box untangle themselves in the sculpture on three levels... (offices, of course, in its old-fashioned sense)
But you will certainly have the best ideas with more information.
Henry Schroeder United States Local time: 13:25 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 60
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks for your swift response - it certainly put me on the right track.
unhinge, -ed,(trans. or itr.), shift (of perspective/perception)
Explanation: i.e. the customary perception (of light-box, planks, etc.) is defied, shaken up, re-mixed... there's a 'shift in the parameters' ('on three levels' etc.), - the elements (box, planks) lose (are set adrift from) their familiar contexts ... etc.
- a try: (presuming a prior description: 'Thus') 'the received perception of both the function and appearance of the light box is dislodged...'
The greater problem for me is the double definition in 'appearance' and 'perception' and I haven't attempted a sol'n here.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 hrs (2007-01-21 02:25:56 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Didn't mean to obscure this answer!
Stephen Reader Local time: 19:25 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 89
Grading comment
Many thanks - I have decided to go with your idea.
17 hrs confidence:
to fishtail
Explanation: The term suggests side-to-side movement causing a blurring visual effect.
Annette Urbschat Local time: 13:25 Works in field Native speaker of: English, German
Explanation: Based on "ins Schlingern geraten" ( to get in to trouble), I think the work is being criticised as a failure on three levels.
Robin Salmon Australia Local time: 04:25 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks for responding - but in this context (the exhibition catalogue) I think it is more likely to refer to engendering a shift in perception rather than a sense of failure!
The translation workplace 
