English translation: he has to go to the local authorities
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German to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Human Resources / the name for a department in a town hall etc.
German term or phrase:Er muss aufs Amt
Actually I am writing a text about a Listening Comprehension test for an English exam in which I explain that the little dialogues which the candidates listen to and then have to ask questions on are conversations in everyday situations, both in personal and in work-related contexts. My specifications say that these conversations take place " z. B. in der Nachbarschaft, auf einem Amt, an der Arbeitsstelle".
I take this to mean that the situation could be someone going e.g. to the local Town Hall and asking where to get a new residence permit or something like that.
Thus the person "muss aufs Amt". But how do I say it? It isn't always a Town Hall, so how do I give a name to the room where the person has to go? If I say "in an office" it is not clear that we are referring to a situation of Amtsperson + Bittsteller.
There must be a way out?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Diana
Thanks for your input. I quite agree that "local authorities" would not be an expression readily understood by a German B1 student, especially in a listening context. However, if you reread what I have said, I am not looking for anything that will be used in an actual examination. I am only translating part of the specifications which tells language experts what the setting will be. What the candidates will get to hear will be a dialogue starting "Good morning. Can you tell me where I can go to renew a dog licence?" or similar. So Wendy's suggestion is suitable after all.
it is quite common. For a German student, at level B1, sitting at exams it isn't. I don't deny that Wendy's translation is excellent - I'm just considering the students and my considerable experience in the field.
Local authorities is a very common term - wouldnt have thought thered be any confusion with "Autoritätspersonen", certainly not in UK English - and definitely in plural, the local "authority" could be confused with a local "Autoritätsperson" - council, town hall (I've never been to a town hall in my life, neither in Berlin or Ireland, dont even know why you would go there!!) are too specific imo.
Conversations with eg. (neighbours?), the local authorities, at work - sounds fine to me.
the word "authorities" is most likely associated with "Autoritätspersonen", and not with city/town civil servants. I'm sorry Wendy, but in a listening comprehension, the students snap up cognates like bon bons at Carneval. The same problem is with "cited", which would be heard as "sighted" and then they're really confused. The more specific, the better. "He has to go to Town Hall" or if there are other offices involved, "He has to register at the voting office" "He has some official business". The last suggestion may be appropriate.
Liebe Brigitte, Horst und Ramey,
der Kontext ist der, wie ich versucht habe klarzumachen, dass ich die Spezifikationen für eine Prüfung schreibe. Mein Text wird von Textautoren oder anderen Fachleuten gelesen, nicht von den Kandidaten oder (normalerweise nicht) deren Lehrkräften. Es geht darum, zu zeigen, in welchen Situationen die kleinen Gesprächen stattfinden können, damit Testautoren welche schreiben können.
Nachdem die Prüfung auf B1-Niveau oder darunter angesiedelt ist, kann es nur um ganz einfache Dinge gehen, die man eben auf einem Amt erfragt oder mitteilt.
Das Problem ist, dass "beim Amt" sehr knapp sowohl den Anlass wie auch die Räumlichkeit bezeichnet, und ich suche so etwas im Englischen. Die Länge ist nicht so schlimm, nur sollte der Begriff nicht zu idiomatisch sein (sorry David!), weil es von NNS gelesen wird.
"Er muss aufs Amt" klingt für mich altmodisch. Ich habe an verschiedenen Orten in Dt (in verschiedenen Bundesländern) gelebt, kann mich aber nicht erinnern, diesen Ausdruck je gehört zu haben. In einer Mittelstadt ging man "aufs Bürgermeisteramt" (weil im Stadthaus verschiedene Behörden gebündelt waren) oder "aufs Landratsamt". Mir fehlt der Kontext und so verstehe ich nicht, ob diese Formulierung sein muss - ich würde sie keinem Schüler beibringen.
I have written many exams for 10th graders (Realschulabschluß). The context is vital to give the kids an opportunity to understand idioms/expressions that they may not otherwise have popping into their heads under exam stress. At the same time, it must be fluent. Does the phrase pop up often? "He had/has to see the....." or " He was/is called to the ......office". does it have something do with being cited for a misdemeanor, or registering to vote? If you could give a clearer idea of what/why he "muß aufs Amt", then I maybe I can help.
is something my grandmother would have said, referring to husband, son etc, who had to straighten out something, in the Gemeindeamt, Finanzamt, Polizei, with awkward office hours, a waiting room and all that. But it is about comprehension in English --- what place would have such an aura of authority, to which a person has to submit? It might be the Standesamt, to get a marriage license!
I'm guessing that you have to keep the language simple, but "dealing with officialdom" might work in some contexts. Or "talking to government officials".
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Answers
7 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +9
he has to go to the local authorities
Explanation: rather a mouthful, but may start the ball rolling
Wendy Streitparth Local time: 03:10 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Thank you, Wendy, and thank you to your Agreers for particilating!
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +9