durch Fremdeinwirkung

English translation: through (unnatural) external causes

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	durch Fremdeinwirkung
English translation:	through (unnatural) external causes
Entered by:	Joseph Tein

03:43 Oct 28, 2013

German to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general) / causes of death

German term or phrase: durch Fremdeinwirkung

This little phrase appears in a character reference letter sent in an adoption matter. I've been asked to proofread the translation.

"Frau X is die Schwester der Verstorbenen (durch Fremdeiwirkung) Frau XX."

The translator rendered "durch Fremdeinwirkung" as "through external causes" but I'm wondering if this is enough here or if it has a more specific meaning, maybe something to do with violence or criminal activity, since later in the letter it states that "der Vater der Kinder ist wegen Mordverdacht and der Kindsmutter inhaftiert".

How would you translate this little phrase?

Many thanks for your help!

Joseph Tein KudoZ activity Questions: 1487 (7 open) (1 without valid answers) (120 closed without grading) Answers: 724 United States
Local time: 01:23

by unnatural external causes

Explanation:
Also a category in the US - cf. PD James's novel, but - for some medical reason - does not rule out suicide.

Selected response from:

Adrian MM. (X)
Local time: 10:23

Grading comment

Thanks for your help, Tom.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

by unnatural external causes

Adrian MM. (X)

3 +2

by homicide

Kim Metzger

due to third-party cause

Inter-Tra

deceased due to the actions of persons unknown

Yorkshireman

unnatural death

Wendy Streitparth

through foul play (act of criminal nature)

Ellen Kraus

Summary of reference entries provided

I would leave it as is

gangels (X)

Discussion entries: 3

Answers

31 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

by homicide

Explanation:
Looks like murder.

foul play [act of a criminal nature]
http://www.dict.cc/german-english/Fremdeinwirkung.html

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Note added at 35 mins (2013-10-28 04:18:51 GMT)
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An einem Freitagmorgen entdeckte eine US-Soldatin in einem dichten Farngestrüpp eine teilweise verweste, zunächst unbekannte, männliche Leiche. Auffallend war die Fesselung der Unterschenkel und ein ca. 10 m langer Strick ausgehend vom Kopf-Halsbereich. Beim Umwenden der Leichen fanden sich ähnliche Strickteile. Obwohl der erste Eindruck auf eine Fremdeinwirkung hindeutete, ergaben die Ermittlungen auch Hinweise auf einen Suizid.

A putrified and partly skeletonized unidentified male body was discovered in an undergrowth of ferns. Notably, the legs were bound and an approximately 30-foot-long rope extended from the head-neck region. Under the body similar ropes were found. The first impression pointed to homicide, which, however, could not be confirmed after intensive police investigations.

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-75757-0_2...

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 02:23
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 1244

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you Kim ... sehr schoenen Dank (y gracias también).

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

by unnatural external causes

Explanation:
Also a category in the US - cf. PD James's novel, but - for some medical reason - does not rule out suicide.

Example sentence(s):

Unnatural death is a category used by coroners and vital statistics specialists for ... all human deaths not properly describable as death by natural causes.

Reference: http://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch/uebersetzung/fremdein...

Adrian MM. (X)
Local time: 10:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 790

Grading comment

Thanks for your help, Tom.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Michael Martin, MA: Unnatural causes and unnatural death are both used in the US.

13 mins

-> Thanks and good thinking. Now I will sit back and wait for others to piggyback and/or lift my idea.

agree

AllegroTrans: I would be half (maybe 3/4) inclined to omit "unnatural"

11 hrs

-> Thanks and point taken.

agree

oa_xxx (X): I would be much more inclined to omit external.// Actually I think I've changed my mind - it might be important to keep "external" after all, I guess its not quite the same as "unnatürlicher Tod" in German either.

12 hrs

-> Thanks and OK, albeit opposed to Allegro's stance.

neutral

Charles Stanford: Isn't this piggybacking on Brigitte though Tom? And aren't external causes always unnatural? In which case we should surely be encouraging her to post an answer rather than reposting her idea.... Not sure if background radiation really works as natural!

13 hrs

-> Brigitte's idea was a discussion entry and not a posted answer. If she had, I would not have done. And the external causes point is questionable as there are permutations & combinations of external causes that are 'natural', namely background radiation.

agree

David Moore (X)

1 day 4 hrs

-> Thank you for your (ex-)BR blessing.

4 hrs confidence:

deceased due to the actions of persons unknown

Explanation:
The police/coroner have not yet found out "whodunnit"

Yorkshireman
Germany
Local time: 10:23
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 34

4 hrs confidence:

unnatural death

Explanation:
is the standard phrase

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 10:23
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 114

13 hrs confidence:

through foul play (act of criminal nature)

Explanation:
might be another variant

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Note added at 13 Stunden (2013-10-28 16:51:37 GMT)
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What does the term "foul play" mean in terms of crime? - Yahoo ...

answers.yahoo.com › ... › Words & Wordplay‎05.06.2009 - Best Answer - Chosen by Voters. "Foul play" means some sort of criminal activity--not an accident, or, in the case of a death, not suicide.
Foul play ruled out in SF hospital patient's death - Yahoo News
news.yahoo.com/foul-play-ruled-sf-hospital-patients...‎
10.10.2013 - From Yahoo News: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Investigators have ruled out foul play in the disappearance and death of a San Francisco woman

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Note added at 13 Stunden (2013-10-28 16:52:39 GMT)
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see also "Fremdeinwirkung" in online dict. cc

Ellen Kraus
Austria
Local time: 10:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 308

2 days 6 hrs confidence:

due to third-party cause

Explanation:
'through outside influence/cause' I think is a good solution

Reference: http://www.linguee.com/german-english/translation/fremdeinwi...

Inter-Tra
Italy
Local time: 10:23
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Italian
PRO pts in category: 14

Reference comments

15 hrs

Reference: I would leave it as is

Reference information:
No point in playing Sherlock Holmes or Judge and Jury

gangels (X)
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 249

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