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Brettlsängerin

English translation: singer (s.u.)

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23:30 Jun 21, 2011

German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

German term or phrase: Brettlsängerin

From a 1921 short-story collection by a Swiss-German author. An old woman is telling a story: "Ich wurde Zitherspielerin, und dann wurde ich Brettlsängerin." I know what the word means, but the translation given in most German-English dictionaries is "chanteuse," which has the wrong connotations for a story about a woman who sang in small German-speaking towns in Switzerland. (We're not talking about Edith Piaf.) Does anyone have suggestions for a translation more appropriate to that context?

Kurt Beals KudoZ activity Questions: 124 (none open) (2 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 63
Local time: 05:21

English translation:singer (s.u.)

Explanation:
I can see why you don't want to use "chanteuse" in a Swiss-German context; you wouldn't want readers mentally jumping across to a Francophone context. Unfortunately "chanson" encapsulates the concept you are looking for rather well, better than most English equivalents. "Traditional singer" or "folk singer" could suggest that the singer is bogged down in tradition. You could just go with "singer" and rely on context for the rest. I would probably go with "chanson singer" - still vaguely Francophone, of course, but perhaps in a much less OTT manner than chanteuse.

Selected response from:

Sarah Swift
Local time: 14:21

Grading comment

Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

cabaret singer

igerold

3 +1

singer (s.u.)

Sarah Swift

started singing (in local venues/in public)

Ramey Rieger

singer, performing locally in small venues

Nicole Schnell

Summary of reference entries provided

Grosse Duden

Jonathan MacKerron

brettlsinger

reorient

Discussion entries: 3

Answers

36 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

singer (s.u.)

Sarah Swift
Local time: 14:21
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks!

1 hr confidence:

singer, performing locally in small venues

Explanation:
Might be an option.

Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 05:21
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 32

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

cabaret singer

Explanation:
or performed cabaret songs (Brettl-Lieder)

http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/47073.html

igerold
Local time: 05:21
Native speaker of:

German

8 hrs confidence:

started singing (in local venues/in public)

Explanation:
I would make it a verb since there is no single term for this in English, like "Tingler" which is more like "busker". Of course with little context it is difficult to understand the slant.

Ramey Rieger
Local time: 14:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Reference comments

8 hrs

Reference: Grosse Duden

Reference information:
Brettl, das; -s, -: 1. Kleinkunstbühne, Kabarett. 2. Brettel.

Jonathan MacKerron
Germany
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 67

10 hrs

Reference: brettlsinger

Reference information:
Brettl-Lieder (Cabaret Songs) http://www.amazon.com/Erwartung-Brettl-Lieder-Cabaret-Songs-...

Brettl als Synonym fuer Kleinkunst/Kabarett: http://dede.mydict.com/Brettl.html

reorient
Turkey
Works in field
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 8

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Brettlsängerin

English translation: singer (s.u.)

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Brettlsängerin

English translation: singer (s.u.)

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Reference comments

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KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

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