sparen wir genau den Betrag ...

English translation: shortfall

08:58 Oct 14, 2004

German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama / Cost Cutting Measures

German term or phrase: sparen wir genau den Betrag ...

"Aber die Übersetzung der Texte in fünf Sprachen, fünfmal Synchronisieren in Fremdsprachen, wenn all das wegfällt, sparen wir genau den Betrag, der zur Zeit in unserem Etat fehlt."

From an introduction to a video, part of a longrunning series. In this introduction, they're talking about assorted cost-cutting measures they're being forced to take, including shortening the length of the video so they don't have to increase its subscription price and dispensing with the services of their presenter (or one of their presenters).

Is this sentence saying what I think it's saying - that they're also going to can translation and dubbing into five other languages? And what exactly is Betrag here? Sum? Amount? Some other term specifically associated with budget? TIA for helping me clear this up.

Rowan Morrell KudoZ activity Questions: 2467 (none open) (62 closed without grading) Answers: 2776 New Zealand
Local time: 11:49

English translation:shortfall

Explanation:
I would understand it as meaning that - as you suggest - the translation and dubbing is to be axed, resulting in cost savings which correspond to the budget shortfall.

Selected response from:

IanW (X)
Local time: 01:49

Grading comment

Thanks Ian. That shortfall idea was great! And thanks to the peer graders for further confirmation. It's a bit sad though, because I've been doing the English translations for this particular video series over the last four years. Kind of the end of an era. I do get other texts apart from this, of course, but this would be the longest-running project (four times a year each year since late 2000) I've ever done.

Ah well, c'est la vie. Anyway, thanks again for that Ian - much appreciated. Thanks also to shineda for taking the time to offer an idea.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +4

shortfall

IanW (X)

we save exactly the amount

shineda

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

shortfall

Explanation:
I would understand it as meaning that - as you suggest - the translation and dubbing is to be axed, resulting in cost savings which correspond to the budget shortfall.

IanW (X)
Local time: 01:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 33

Grading comment

8 mins confidence:

we save exactly the amount

Explanation:
it seems to be saying that they intend to stop doing translations and thereby save the necessary amount of money

shineda
Netherlands
Local time: 01:49
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Dutch

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