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Glimmschäden

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

erweitern

English translation:

augments/acts as a catalyst

Added to glossary by Ramey Rieger (X)
Nov 28, 2014 13:13
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

erweitern

German to English Medical Medical (general)
A scientific study (historical survey) on a physical anomaly:

"Als diskrete Erscheinung ist diese Anomalie äußerlich sichtbar, relativ häufig und gut beschreibbar. Das Thema eignet sich daher hervorragend um aufzuzeigen, wie sich in der Geschichte die wissenschaftlichen Fragestellungen um ein abgegrenztes Untersuchungsobjekt erweitern."

I am looking for a semi-poetic (yet scientific) expression for "wie sich in der Geschichte die wissenschaftlichen Fragestellungen um ein abgegrenztes Untersuchungsobjekt erweitern".

I want to say something along the lines...."fuels a chain reaction ( /or sth limilar/) of scientific issues/questions", but lack the poetic insight...

Any help from creative colleagues highly appreciated! Also, I would appreciate if German natives could confirm that that is the exact meaning of the German text...

Thanks!
Proposed translations (English)
3 augments
4 +2 proliferate
3 boosts
3 broaden, expand
Change log

Dec 7, 2014 20:12: Ramey Rieger (X) Created KOG entry

Discussion

Ilka7 Nov 29, 2014:
expand
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 29, 2014:
Hi Anne also possible. Enough for me now, though. Have a good weekend.
Anne Schulz Nov 29, 2014:
Hi Ramey The grammar is ambiguous, so there is no way to tell which interpretation would be off-base. I tend to read um as "about", though. (And I also think it is 'about' a specific anomaly rather than a specific test person.)
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 29, 2014:
Hi Anne I understand it as 'by' since the scientific questions are augmented/proliferated/expanded BY a single, isolated test person. I don't really see the chain reaction Lirka is getting at, more that the scientific questions themselves become more profound through the practical experience of a single test person. Is that totally off base?
Anne Schulz Nov 29, 2014:
@Ramey Are you reading "um" as "by" (as in "scientific questions are augmented by this specific anomaly/issue")? <br /> Isn't it rather "about" than "by": scientific questions/perspectives about a specific issue may expand over time?
Anne Schulz Nov 29, 2014:
(Non-)Confirmation from a native speaker To be honest, the proposition of the quoted paragraph sounds less grand to me than a chain reaction or fireworks of ideas. While such terms (and poetic style) might be justified by the broader context of this essay, the phrase in itself simply indicates expansion (or proliferation, as Donald put it) of scientific views over time.
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 28, 2014:
der Geschichte die Fragestellungen This is what's got me. It's NOT the chronicle OF the scientific issue, otherwise it would be 'der Geschichte DER Fragestellungen'. So:

How, throughout history, one single test person ignites a multitude of scientific questions.

But that's really reading into it.

Proposed translations

23 mins
Selected

augments

this is how I would put -
This an excellent example of how a singular, limited examination object/person augments the chronicle of this scientific question.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Jaime Hyland : I don't like "examination object": what about "object of examination"? Does the sentence really mean that? and not that scientific issues multiply as such objects are studied?
1 hr
I THINK it's actually a test person, which I would personally prefer. I don't read it that way, as the 'die' isn't genetive.
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I used "acts as a catalyst" but I am awarding points here since it got the ball rolling... "
59 mins

boosts

Perhaps...?
Something went wrong...
+2
2 hrs

proliferate

Ambiguous enough to imply that science is an ever-expanding endeavor. The more learn, the more there is to know. It is self-propagating.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jaime Hyland : I think you have it!
4 hrs
thanks, I appreciate it!
agree Anne Schulz
18 hrs
Thanks, Anne!
Something went wrong...
1 day 38 mins

broaden, expand

More options (no poetic touch, but as I said in the discussion, I don't see the need for an ornate style from the quoted phrase).

Something went wrong...
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