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German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics / History | | German term or phrase: Staatssekretär | The text is about Bethmann Hollweg, a former Chancellor (1909-1917) of the German Empire. "Staatssekretär" occurs in the second paragraph of the following text:
Im Jahre 1912 sandte die britische Regierung den deutschfreundlichen Kriegsminister Lord Haldane nach Berlin, der über eine Beschränkung des Flottenbaus sprechen sollte und von Bethmann Hollweg herzlich aufgenommen wurde. Die Besprechungen nahmen zeitweilig einen guten Verlauf, doch am Ende scheiterten sie.
Der Reichskanzler war nicht stark genug, vom Staatssekretär und vom Kaiser mehr als nur eine geringfügige Verzögerung des Flottenbaus zu erreichen.
This is a quote from a translation test I took two years ago. I am currently looking through my exam sheets and am trying to improve the mistakes I made.
I am looking for a translation other than "secretary of state" because "secretary of state" was not acceptable to both examiners. According to them "Secretary of State" is the official term for the American "Außenminister" and therefore should not be used in this context. If you feel that "Secretary of State" is the only correct translation, then please suggest the term anyway. It will help me to get a lot of opinions on this issue.
Thanks a lot! |
| | | Permanent secretary | Explanation:
If the person referred to was the head of the relevant civil service department, then the term is Permanent Secretary. If the person was a political 'Staatssekretär', then Minister of State or Junior Minister is appropriate.
The blurring of political and policy functions in the German system with the Political "Staatsekretar" position makes for confusion in translation. In the UK a Secretary of State is a Minister with relatively high rank in the Cabinet in political charge of a Department (Ministry). The corresponding Permanent Secretary is in charge of the administration of the Department. |
| Selected response from:
Donal Murphy-Bokern
Germany
Local time: 03:06
| Grading comment Thanks, Donal. This is a very helpful explanation.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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13 mins confidence:  
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +3 Permanent secretary
Explanation:
If the person referred to was the head of the relevant civil service department, then the term is Permanent Secretary. If the person was a political 'Staatssekretär', then Minister of State or Junior Minister is appropriate.
The blurring of political and policy functions in the German system with the Political "Staatsekretar" position makes for confusion in translation. In the UK a Secretary of State is a Minister with relatively high rank in the Cabinet in political charge of a Department (Ministry). The corresponding Permanent Secretary is in charge of the administration of the Department.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_Secretary
| Donal Murphy-Bokern
Germany
Local time: 03:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 22
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| | Grading comment | Thanks, Donal. This is a very helpful explanation. |
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