GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | ||||||
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01:20 Sep 25, 2000 |
German to English translations [PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters | |||||
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| Selected response from: Mats Wiman Sweden Local time: 18:41 | ||||
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It ought to be emphasised that ... Explanation: Could it be, that the context is reported speech? Otherwise, the use of "sei" just indicates politeness. |
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It is stressed, emphasized, that Explanation: 'sei' is the imperfect subjunctive (1. and 3. person) of 'sein' - to be. |
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It should be stressed, that Explanation: None Norstedts+MM&I |
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we want / wish to stress that... Explanation: Since the subjunctive expresses a wish, it would be appropriate to use want or wish in the translation. This would get you away from the impersonal phrase starting with "it". Of course, "we" refers to the firm in question, and you would have to check if this is an appropriate subject in this case. Best of luck! |
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Be it emphasised that ... Explanation: A little heavy, but that is what it really means. Depending on the atmosphere, it may have to be rephrased. Some context would have been nice! |
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Let me emphasize, It is important to notice,(OR understand Or remember) We stress that Explanation: In this little phrase we have two typical German usages, the subjunctive, used more than in English, and the passive, where the subject appears to be nobody in particular. It is true as someone answered that the subjunctive sei expresses a wish, but it is also true that it conveys something of unreality, and the movement away from a concrete action by a real person is also carried by the passive. Who is really doing what? The reason for all this is that the author is trying to say that it is a fact independent of who wishes it. I often translate, or formulate this kind of thing, by using the phrase "It is important..." followed by what fits. Good for telling teens that it is not just their mother that thinks they should do the wash, without threatening the loss of friendship. Your author is pulling such a distance from his statement by this usage. Of course, one could do as has been suggested and say, "I stress..." or other possibilities along this line. You have lots of right answers on this one. Best Wishes, Nancy |
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