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Schlingarm

English translation: writhing limbs

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German term or phrase:	Schlingarm
English translation:	writhing limbs
Entered by:	Jon Reynolds

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10:02 Oct 13, 2009

German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting

German term or phrase: Schlingarm

Not sure whether art/literary is the right category for this, but it is from a description of an art installation in Brazil.
"Die Finanzmärkte pumpen ihre Geldströme durch den Dschungel. Der Glaube an das endlose Wachstum der Wirtschaft hat seine **Schlingarme** weit in die Lüfte über die höchsten Bäume hinauswachsen lassen."

Jon Reynolds KudoZ activity Questions: 54 (none open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 23 United Kingdom
Local time: 02:18

writhing limbs

Explanation:
One can imagine their young roots burrowing into the dark soil as their gently writhing limbs reach skyward...

Selected response from:

Henry Schroeder
United States
Local time: 21:18

Grading comment

Thanks Henry, I liked the image this creates! Jon
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +1

writhing limbs

Henry Schroeder

3 +1

creepers

Kerstin Buessenschuett

3 +1

tendrils

Stephen Reader

branch out

Jocelyn Gonzalez

tentacles

Taunuston

tangled offshoots

Annett Kottek

Summary of reference entries provided

Duden - Schlingen

Henry Schroeder

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

34 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

creepers

Explanation:
or simply 'vines'

Kerstin Buessenschuett
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:18
Native speaker of:

German

46 mins confidence:

branch out

Explanation:
The German term suggests "tentacles" (or indeed creepers), but in English sounds too specific and lacks musicality. To give it a poetic tone, you can compose a sentence more gracefully with "branching out," since they are already mentioning trees... I also like Kerstin Buessenshuett's "vines," the term also seems to fit the artsy tone.

Jocelyn Gonzalez
Germany
Local time: 03:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish

50 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

tendrils

Explanation:
Thought of 'tentacles' which might be too animal, strictly speaking (but the context is figurative anyway). For tendrils, see web. ref.

Reference: http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0406.htm

Stephen Reader
Germany
Local time: 03:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 78

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

writhing limbs

Explanation:
One can imagine their young roots burrowing into the dark soil as their gently writhing limbs reach skyward...

Henry Schroeder
United States
Local time: 21:18
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 60

Grading comment

Thanks Henry, I liked the image this creates! Jon

1 day22 hrs confidence:

tangled offshoots

Explanation:
Schlingarme = tangled offshoots

It's quite a complex extended metaphor, a bit clumsily executed perhaps, but I think that the image the author attempts to create is quite striking. Here's my attempt (low confidence level):

'The belief that economic growth is unstoppable has itself grown out of control, having developed a network of tangled offshoots that now extends high above the forest canopy.'

Annett Kottek
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 12

2 days2 hrs confidence:

tentacles

Explanation:
bildlich gesehen passt's.

Taunuston
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:18
Native speaker of:

German

Reference comments

29 mins

Reference: Duden - Schlingen

Reference information:
Schlingen

1}schlin|gen [mhd. slingen, ahd. slingan = hin und her ziehend schwingen; winden, flechten, auch: sich winden, kriechen, schleichen]:

1. a) um etw. winden od. legen [u. die Enden verknüpfen od. umeinanderlegen]: einen Schal um den Hals s.;

b) (Arme, Hände) fest um jmdn., etw. legen: die Arme um jmdn., um jmds. Hals s.;

c) sich um etw. herumschlingen, winden: Efeu schlingt sich um den Baumstamm.

Henry Schroeder
United States
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 60

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