Verschmelzung

English translation: formula

09:29 Sep 4, 2006

German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Religion / Judaism

German term or phrase: Verschmelzung

This is the story of the creation of the Golem from a book of legends of the Prague ghetto:

"Nun befahl Rabbi Löw dem Priester Jizchak sieben Rundgänge, von rechts beginnend, um den Lehmkörper zu machen, wobei er ihm die Zirufim, die **Verschmelzung** der Worte anvertraute, die er dabei zu sprechen hatte."

The best I can do is "the fusion of words he must say" which I don't like very much! TIA for any ideas.

Rachel Ward KudoZ activity Questions: 454 (none open) (8 closed without grading) Answers: 72 United Kingdom
Local time: 06:06

English translation:formula

Explanation:
A term commonly found in conjunction with the Golem story. Or would it be a disaster if you strayed from the German while still getting the message across?

e.g.
In Jewish legend, an image or form that is given life through a magical formula.
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/golem/backgroundgolem....

to walk round the figure seven times, while reciting a cabalistic formula he had himself composed
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/golem.html

Selected response from:

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 07:06

Grading comment

No it wouldn't be a disaster, and that's what I used in the end. Thanks all for the info and help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +1

how to blend words

Martin Wenzel

refinement

Matthias Quaschning-Kirsch

formula

Francis Lee (X)

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

40 mins confidence:

refinement

Explanation:
Zumindest ein Vorschlag...
"Verschmelzung" ist hier offenbar der Versuch, "zirufim" zu übersetzen. Im Hebräischen und Aramäischen bedeutet צרף läutern, anreichern, verfeinern, veredeln. Der Akzent liegt also weniger auf dem Schmelzen selbst als auf dem, was damit bezweckt wird.
Bei den Zirufim handelt es sich anscheinend um kabbalistische Formeln, und zwar Wortneubildungen aus den Buchstaben des Tetragramms JHWH.

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Note added at 57 Min. (2006-09-04 10:26:27 GMT)
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Hab nochmal nachgesehen... Tzerufim (so wird es wohl meistens geschrieben, das e ist ein Schwa) sind allgemein Kombinationen der Buchstaben eines Wortes zu neuen Wörtern.
Am besten wäre also als Übersetzung vielleicht ein Begriff, der Verschmelzung und Veredelung gleichermaßen berücksichtigt.

Matthias Quaschning-Kirsch
Germany
Local time: 07:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 4

4 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

how to blend words

Explanation:
In linguistics words can be blended, hence brunch is a blend of the words breakfast and lunch. Does that help?

Martin Wenzel
Germany
Local time: 07:06
Native speaker of:

German,

English

1 day 4 hrs confidence:

formula

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 07:06
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 20

Grading comment

No it wouldn't be a disaster, and that's what I used in the end. Thanks all for the info and help.

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