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mangels anderslautender Informationen

English translation: given a lack of evidence to the contrary

23:10 Oct 23, 2009

German to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

German term or phrase: mangels anderslautender Informationen

My last question for today! (I really do appreciate all this free advice. I'm very thankful.)

The above phrase was translated as "lack of contradictory information," which in context doesn't really make sense to me. Here's the context:

"Wenn ich [the author of this book] ihn mangels anderslautender Informationen und aufgrund der Lektüre seiner oft sehr verworrenen, widerspruchlichen 'Hinführungen zur Praxis' (anders kann ich das wirklich nicht nennen) auch nicht zu den grossen praktischen Könnern unserer Zunft zähle, so bewundere ich doch, wie er es verstand, der Magie seiner Epoche einen völlig neuen, geheimnisvollen und dennoch zugänglichen Nimbus zu verleihen und sie in der Phantasie seiner Zeitgenossen wirklich wieder *lebendig* werden zu lassen."

So, "Even if he cannot be counted among the great practical experts of our art due to a lack of contradictory information"?? It seems to me either I should delete the "contradictory" OR change "a lack" to "an abundance." Or perhaps do something else?

Thanks so much for your advice.

BrettMN KudoZ activity Questions: 46 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 32 United States
Local time: 11:55

English translation:given a lack of evidence to the contrary

Explanation:
It is a weird sentence - what the author is saying is that there is no evidence to back up the claim that this guy is a great practicioner of magic.

Selected response from:

mill
Germany
Local time: 18:55

Grading comment

This works the best for me in the context of this sentence. Thank you to everyone though for all your suggestions!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

to the contrary

Cilan

4 +1

in the absence of information to the contrary

Bianca Marsden

3 +2

in the absence of alternate/alternative information

Goldcoaster

given a lack of evidence to the contrary

mill

in the absence of other information

elsefien

non-existent contrary information

Thayenga

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

to the contrary

Explanation:
for want of information to the contrary

Cilan
Germany
Local time: 18:55
Native speaker of:

German,

Spanish

8 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

in the absence of alternate/alternative information

Explanation:
in the absence of other information which must not necessarily be contradictory but can replace, complement or supplement the existing information

Goldcoaster
Switzerland
Local time: 18:55
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 4

13 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

in the absence of information to the contrary

Explanation:
I think this is the usual wording in English for what is being said here.

Bianca Marsden
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:55
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

14 hrs confidence:

in the absence of other information

Explanation:
my idea

elsefien
Belgium
Local time: 18:55
Native speaker of:

Dutch

16 hrs confidence:

non-existent contrary information

Explanation:
"Mangels" does imply the non-existence of said information.

Thayenga
Germany
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German

16 hrs confidence:

given a lack of evidence to the contrary

Explanation:
It is a weird sentence - what the author is saying is that there is no evidence to back up the claim that this guy is a great practicioner of magic.

mill
Germany
Local time: 18:55
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

This works the best for me in the context of this sentence. Thank you to everyone though for all your suggestions!!

Voters for reclassification
as
PRO / non-PRO

PRO (2): Audrey Foster, Goldcoaster

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