German to English translations [PRO] Esoteric practices
German term or phrase:Kummertempel
"Kummertempel" was part of the name of a column in a German occult magazine in which a magician, in the persona of an elderly, eccentric, but knowledgeable aunt, answered questions sent in by readers.
I know "Kummer" as grief, but I don't get what it means here with "tempel": "Grief temple" makes no sense. How would I translate this, perhaps capturing the whimsical essence I imagine is in the original?
Explanation: I think Kummer in such cases equates to our use of 'agony aunts', but temple of agony just sounds scary. Something positive might work better. I guess one could come up with a whole variety of suggestions here.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 mins (2009-09-24 16:49:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Thank you, Helen! Great solution. I also appreciate Lonnie's explanation that "Kummertempel" is likely a play on words of "Kummerecke" and "Kummertante," thus explaining why a literal translation into English doesn't really work. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
How about Wise Words from a Wizard Witch? or Wizened Witch?
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Answers
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
Wizard's Wisdom World
Explanation: Helen is definitely right about 'agony aunts', since the term is evidently a play on "Kummerecke" (or by extension to the "Kummertante" counsellor featured there).
But since the fellow's a magician, I thought I'd add a pertinent alternative.
Or if you don't mind something less literal, but even more fitting (and snappier IMO):
Wise Words from the Wizard
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 18 hrs (2009-09-25 11:17:57 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Re wizard: I had overlooked that this magician is an "aunt". But, as Helen has suggested (see discussion entry), using it as an adjective seems fine, so I'll change that to:
"Wise Words from a Wizard Witch".
Lonnie Legg Germany Local time: 03:13 Works in field Native speaker of: English, German
Explanation: I think Kummer in such cases equates to our use of 'agony aunts', but temple of agony just sounds scary. Something positive might work better. I guess one could come up with a whole variety of suggestions here.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 mins (2009-09-24 16:49:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the fun question and the poiints, BrettMN!
Helen Shiner United Kingdom Local time: 02:13 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you, Helen! Great solution. I also appreciate Lonnie's explanation that "Kummertempel" is likely a play on words of "Kummerecke" and "Kummertante," thus explaining why a literal translation into English doesn't really work.
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peer agreement (net): +1
