This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Recessus retropatellaris
Einfachbier
Jun 7, 2021 07:46
2 yrs ago
76 viewers *
German term

"Die Hefe ist auch nur ein Mensch"

German to English Science Food & Drink Yeast management
„Die Hefe ist auch nur ein Mensch.“ Nach
diesem Motto sollte sie auch in Brauereien behandelt werden. Im
Rahmen einer Abschlussarbeit an der Hochschule WeihenstephanTriesdorf in Weihenstephan hat sich gezeigt, dass dem Hefemanagement in der Praxis nicht immer die notwendige Aufmerksamkeit
geschenkt wird, obwohl die Hefequalität einen so bedeutenden
Einfluss auf die Bierqualität nimmt. Der folgende Beitrag bietet
einen kurzen Überblick über die wichtigsten Punkte beim Hefemanagement

Any ideas that it does not sound translationese? TIA
Proposed translations (English)
3 +4 "Yeast is only human"
3 +2 Yeast is (also) a living being
3 +2 (even) yeast cannot work miracles on its own
4 look after your yeast like you look after your employees
4 yeast is a living organism / yeast cells are alive like those of humans
4 "Yeast is a fickle companion"
4 don't underestimate yeast (in the equation/as a factor)
3 Yeast has feelings too!
4 -1 "In fact, brewing beer is also simply a human thing."
Change log

Jun 7, 2021 08:07: Tony M changed "Language pair" from "English" to "German to English"

Discussion

Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 8, 2021:
Only/but/after all Good morning Edith! you may be putting too much emphasis on the "nur," since yeast is not human, but it is alive. It seems to me the point is that yeast is alive and must be handled as a living thing, not as a mere means to an end.
It's alive! Yeast needs your care.
Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 7, 2021:
@Tony M Actually, my original suggestion ties in with your reading, propounding the living qualities of yeast and therefore the care it should be given. After all can surely enhance that statement as it draws attention to the possible lack of such awareness (that yeast is also a living thing).
Tony M Jun 7, 2021:
@ Phil I disagree wholeheartedly with that last comment: we're not talking here about a slavish, word-for-word literal translation, which is clearly almost invariably far from ideal — but here, about a specific but important difference in meaning between 'nur' and 'nur auch', as hinted at by our colleague Lancashireman.
Surely it all hinges on whether or not that little 'only' is excusing man's (and yeast's!) inadequacies (which ties in with L/M's 'schließlich' > 'after all, only human'), which is not how I read it.
philgoddard Jun 7, 2021:
I don't think you should be worrying whether a certain word is reproduced in the translation. A literal version would be out of place here - it needs a creative rewrite.
Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 7, 2021:
Aaaah! Jawohl, Andrew
Lancashireman Jun 7, 2021:
after all... nur = schliesslich?
Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 7, 2021:
I'm only human! Yes, I see your point, Edith:
Yeast can only live/only lives so long.
Yeast is only a living thing.
Yeast is alive, but only so long.
The life of yeast is only what you make it.
Yeast wants to live, too.
Yeast can only rise to the occasion you give it. :-)
and so on....
Edith Kelly (asker) Jun 7, 2021:
Thanks I am missing the "nur" in the proposals, that was the crux of question. I think that up to now, Dorothy's answer comes closest but let us wait and see.

Proposed translations

+4
49 mins
Selected

"Yeast is only human"

"nur ein Mensch" is usually translated with "only human" and I don't see why this wouldn't be appropriate here.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Tony M : Sadly, in EN, "only human" tends to be used as an explanation for some failing due to something's being human, and I don't believe that's the right way round here.
17 mins
The German expression has exactly the same meaning in terms of being humanly flawed, so I actually consider this an endorsement!
agree Lancashireman : No call for 'disagrees' on a creative Q of this kind. Asker can make up her own mind without passers-by trashing suggestions here.
54 mins
agree Christopher Costello
12 hrs
neutral Ramey Rieger (X) : Hi Ronald! This was my first though, but yeast is not human, it's a fungus :-)
21 hrs
So the German text is equally flawed - that's exactly why I chose this translation!
agree Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
1 day 41 mins
agree uyuni
1 day 1 hr
agree Alison MacG
1 day 3 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all contributors. I added L-man's suggestion "after all""
12 mins
German term (edited): die hefe ist auch nur ein mensch

look after your yeast like you look after your employees

Here's one suggestion.
Something went wrong...
23 mins

Yeast has feelings too!

It just came too me spontaneously... It is a living organism, so it could work ;)
Something went wrong...
+2
26 mins

Yeast is (also) a living being

Yeast is only human wouldn't quite do it, but this might

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2021-06-07 12:03:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

After all, yeast is (also) a living thing/being
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I think the idea of omitting the 'nur' is inadvisable here, and rather changes the meaning in EN.
39 mins
Still working on that...
agree Lancashireman : ...// A Yeast's A Man For All That http://www.robertburns.org/works/496.shtml
4 hrs
Thanks for the nudge!
agree Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
1 day 1 hr
To your good health!
Something went wrong...
9 hrs
German term (edited): Die Hefe ist auch nur ein Mensch

yeast is a living organism / yeast cells are alive like those of humans

What is * yeast *?
Yeast is a microscopic, unicellular mushroom of ovoid or spherical shape. The great particularity of yeast is that it is * a living organism *. Just like those of humans, yeast cells are alive and natural. They need air to multiply, but the absence of air is not without consequence on its development.
https://www.exploreyeast.com/article/what-is-yeast-2

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2021-06-07 17:01:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

( just like those of humans, yeast cells are alive )

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2021-06-07 17:04:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

yeast is also only a living organism ... like humans / like you and me
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

"Yeast is a fickle companion"

This is an instance of personification as yeast has been assigned human characteristics. The implication here is that fickleness and human nature (and, by extension, yeast) go hand in hand, and as a result, handling yeast requires a certain finesse.

Example:
"Human nature is a fickle companion"
https://www.hopeboulevard.com/single-post/2019/07/08/you-can...

Definition:
"(wie alle anderen) Fehler machen, Schwächen haben, nicht perfekt sein; nicht alles leisten können, nur begrenzt belastbar sein; im Handeln von den eigenen Gefühlen beeinflusst werden"
https://www.dwds.de/wb/auch nur ein Mensch sein

I also like "Yeast has its limits". Not as bold as the German but gets the message across efficiently.

Compare with this:
"Whatever you choose as the source of sugar you use remember that yeast has its limits."
https://www.dannyswineandbeer.com/blogs/how-to/how-to-make-h...

"Beer "Fact" #5: Yeast has its limits too."
https://www.swagbrewery.com/blogs/beer-facts/7009376-beer-fa...
Something went wrong...
-1
19 hrs

"In fact, brewing beer is also simply a human thing."

suggestion
Peer comment(s):
disagree Tony M : Completely changes the meaning from the original.
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
19 hrs

don't underestimate yeast (in the equation/as a factor)

I would suggest

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2021-06-08 03:31:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

nicht immer die notwendige Aufmerksamkeit
geschenkt wird, obwohl die Hefequalität einen so bedeutenden
Einfluss auf die Bierqualität nimmt

yeast is a big player

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2021-06-08 03:34:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

soviele Antworten und Vorschläge.... trotzdem haut genau hin

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2021-06-08 03:35:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

in deinem Zusammenhang

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2021-06-08 03:37:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

anyway hope lives eternal
Something went wrong...
+2
1 day 3 hrs

(even) yeast cannot work miracles on its own

or all by itself

If the analogy is only human, not a miracle worker.

Compare this:
Yeast Management: Tips From the Pros
Yeast are a keystone piece in the development of our beers. Provide them with proper room and board, treat them with respect, and these microbes will work miracles.
https://byo.com/article/yeast-management/
Peer comment(s):
agree Johanna Timm, PhD
8 hrs
Thanks, Johanna
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : Super!
22 hrs
Thanks, Ramey
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search