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21:15 Sep 27, 2011
German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Linguistics / dialects
German term or phrase:'eppa ein'
An interview between a doctor and a sales rep, in allemanian ( Vorarlberg, Austria):
"Ja, des ischt eppa ein, ein sehr zugkräftiges..."
Talking about a new drug, an argument pro its use....
No way I can figure it out as a non-native...Help, please!
Explanation: I am Swiss and the dialect is very similar. Without further context, I would say that the 'eppa' is more or less a filler here, doesn't really mean much. and the 'ein, ein' is just a hesitation/repetition/.
In some contexts 'eppa', or 'oeppa' as we say in Swiss, can also mean roughly, approximately (synonymous with 'ungefaehr')
loses the undertone of slight caution; my dicitionary attributes to the particle "eine bloß einschränkende Kraft". Something like "it is, I would think, a ..."
It just occurred to me that 'eppa' here most probably comes from the high German 'eben', and should probably be transcribed as 'ebba'. So my suggestion of 'in fact', is ok. The 'eppa' I said was the same as approximately, however, is a different word (only meaning approx. or roughly). Hope that's not too confusing.
This is a pure guess, so maybe completely off target.
"Ja, das ist aber ein, ein sehr zugkräftiges...".
The repetition of "ein" seems to me just a pause for thought or slight hesitation on the part of the speaker.
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Answers
11 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +7
in fact a
Explanation: I am Swiss and the dialect is very similar. Without further context, I would say that the 'eppa' is more or less a filler here, doesn't really mean much. and the 'ein, ein' is just a hesitation/repetition/.
In some contexts 'eppa', or 'oeppa' as we say in Swiss, can also mean roughly, approximately (synonymous with 'ungefaehr')
Corina Holzherr Works in field Native speaker of: English, German PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks a lot!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Corina. I went with 'in fact' and delivered. It will do just fine!
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +7