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motiv

English translation: object (in a photograph)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Motiv
English translation:object (in a photograph)
Entered by: Kurt Beals

22:38 Aug 19, 2002
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering
German term or phrase: motiv
Dealing with photography--I'm inclined to say "subject" here. Looking for either confirmation of my inclination or other suggestions. Thanks.

Der so genannte Moiré-Effekt ist ein sich wiederholendes Störmuster in einem Bild. Es entsteht bei einer Digialkamera, wenn sich das Raster des Aufnahmechips und das Muster eines Motivs überlagern.
Kurt Beals
United States
Local time: 09:12
object
Explanation:
...the patterns of an object...
Selected response from:

Klaus Dorn (X)
Local time: 19:12
Grading comment
"Object" does seem like the best word, since we're talking about something which can have a pattern. Thanks to everyone for answers and comments.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7object
Klaus Dorn (X)
5 +1subject
Chris Rowson (X)
4 +1theme
RNolder (X)


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
object


Explanation:
...the patterns of an object...

Klaus Dorn (X)
Local time: 19:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 1514
Grading comment
"Object" does seem like the best word, since we're talking about something which can have a pattern. Thanks to everyone for answers and comments.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cristina Moldovan do Amaral
2 mins
agree  opedos
14 mins
agree  labusga
1 hr
agree  Trudy Peters
2 hrs
agree  Theo Bose
3 hrs
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith
5 hrs
agree  Klaus Herrmann
9 hrs
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
theme


Explanation:
De Vries Dict. again.
good luck!

RNolder (X)
Local time: 12:12
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 163

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: patterns of a theme
19 mins
neutral  Chris Rowson (X): The theme is the idea. In a portrait, you may have the intention to show someone in a particular way. That is the theme. But the person is still the subject.
5 hrs
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
subject


Explanation:
Definitely "subject". One can photograph an object, but that is more equivalent to "Gegenstand". "Motiv" refers to the subject of the photograph.

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Note added at 2002-08-20 04:43:12 (GMT)
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I just discussed this further with Cécile, my German wife. In music, it is confusingly different. There, Motiv corresponds to motif or motive, while Thema is subject or theme (e.g. in a fugue). But in music we deal with neither Objekt nor object (except in the 18th C sense, corresponding to Zweck).

Our discussion confirms that for photography, object corresponds to Gegenstand, theme/idea/concept to Thema, and subject to Motiv.

Chris Rowson (X)
Local time: 18:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 768

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter
3 hrs
neutral  Klaus Herrmann: I'd agree to your translation but I think the German sentence is inconcise. If you're wearing a suit and I take your picture, you'd be the subject, but the suit (an object in the picture) will cause the moiree effect.
4 hrs
  -> Imprecise, yes. But is the translator entitled to correct?. I would completely re-write some of the things I translate :-)
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