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
handlungslösend
Haltungsstrang

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Darstellungsleistung

English translation:

representational acts

Added to glossary by Helen Shiner
May 7, 2009 08:16
15 yrs ago
German term

Darstellungsleistung

German to English Social Sciences Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. Luhmann - dignity - legal rights
This is from an article in a journal for legal philosophy discussing the sources of human dignity in the German constitution.

"Aus soziologischer Sicht sieht Niklas Luhmann Würde als das Ergebnis von teils bewussten, teils unbewussten Darstellungsleistungen und in gleichem Maß als das Ergebnis sozialer Kooperation."

I'm not sure how to translate Darstellungsleistung and can't find any English discussion of this point of Luhmann's philosophy on the net. I'd be grateful for any suggestions.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 representational capacities
3 representational performances
3 activities (efforts) of self-presentation (presenting oneself)
Change log

May 8, 2009 17:49: Helen Shiner Created KOG entry

May 8, 2009 17:57: Helen Shiner changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/882779">Helen Shiner's</a> old entry - "Darstellungsleistung"" to ""representational capacities""

Discussion

Helen Shiner May 7, 2009:
Having looked at the article I've been translating, an important concept for Luhmann is the distinction between 'self-reference' and 'other-reference' which he borrows from the cognition biologist, Maturana. He speaks about the pre-conditions for the enactment of what he terms 'communicative operations'. So I would definitely stick with my translation, if it were me doing it (!), the capacity for representation - of the self and of the other (to oneself) as a concept in order to accord meaning to oneself and the other in communicative exchanges.
TonyTK May 7, 2009:
Ann Marie, ... ... your "expression" would be the "Ausdruck" Luhmann also talks about.
Stephen Reader May 7, 2009:
concept - 'embody' (and related)? Helen and Ann,
Just an uninformed, brainstorming & altogether background offering, not having read Luhmann - if he uses Darstellung in the sense of (inherently) **manifesting** a quality (here i.e. Würde), perhaps 'embody' or 'manifest/ation' could be used, e.g. 'acts (or: instances) of manifestation' (Leistung as an act) probably not sounding as arcane in context as it does without? (I have a running battle with sociologese for its arcane-ness anyway)
Helen Shiner May 7, 2009:
I think capacity for representation would be nearer what is meant here. If you google that and Luhmann you will find an article on www.questia.com, which I can't copy or access properly. In my view, expression is a little different and I don't think it would be Darstellung in German - more likely Äußerung.
Ann Marie Ackermann, JD (asker) May 7, 2009:
Might Darstellung mean "expression?" I just found a link to a translated work of Luhmann's that refers to the "capacity of expression." http://books.google.de/books?id=IxgijjrufswC&pg=PA123&lpg=PA...
Ann Marie Ackermann, JD (asker) May 7, 2009:
Thanks, Tony, that helps too, because my text also discusses "Selbstdarstellung."
TonyTK May 7, 2009:
FWIW, if you look at ... ...
http://books.google.de/books?id=gPvk-eE7t0IC&pg=PA328&lpg=PA...

you can see he also talks about "self-presentation" - which is what came to mind when I read "Darstellung" in this context.
Helen Shiner May 7, 2009:
Ann Marie I don't have a copy of that article either, but glad to have found something that helps anyway.
Ann Marie Ackermann, JD (asker) May 7, 2009:
Hello Helen,

The article only has a only few lines about Luhmann, but cites to his Grundrechte als Institution (1965) pp. 68 and 73 n. 54. (I don't have a copy.) I like your suggestion about representational capacities; it would make sense in context.
Helen Shiner May 7, 2009:
Hi Ann Marie I've been translating an article about Luhmann, too, but haven't come across this term. Does it say anything else about this concept in your article? Very loosely translated would something along the lines of 'representational forms/instances' work in your context? Ie things that are imbued with some form of representational meaning?

Proposed translations

+1
44 mins
Selected

representational capacities

If he is meaning that this stems from an invidual's capacity for representation...

This is difficult without further context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2009-05-07 12:09:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or as I say in the discussion, 'capacity for representation'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day9 hrs (2009-05-08 17:51:29 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thank you, Ann Marie

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day9 hrs (2009-05-08 17:54:37 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

I had not seen Bernhard's full explanation, and I think he is right that this is about acts of representation, rather than capacities for it. But I don't agree with self-representation, since as I have explained in the discussion area, for Luhmann this will include both the representation of the Other as well as the self, externally and to oneself, internally.
Peer comment(s):
agree Lancashireman
38 mins
Thanks, Andrew
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all of you for a very interesting discussion. Reading through both Helen and Bernhard's comments, I get the impression that Helen comes a bit closer to the points made in my article -- but who knows, I could be wrong. I would strongly encourage any other translator who in the future looks up this link in order to translate Darstellungsleistung to carefully consider Bernhard's comments as well."
20 mins

representational performances

.
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

activities (efforts) of self-presentation (presenting oneself)

I think one should be careful in using the term "capacity" in this context especially because "dignity" is your context. "Incapacity" would then not be far of.
Luhmann's concepts are difficult to translate and the immediate context is very important.
Here it seems to refer to the way individuals present themselves to others, how they appear to others, and how this presentation of themselves is evaluated/assessed by others/authorities etc. according to these other persons' parameters. Even if the individual (with their actions/activities/efforts) doesn't meet these parameters, dignity must still be bestowed/granted.

http://books.google.de/books?id=A4wb9HfDiz4C&pg=PA381&lpg=PA...
Selbstdarstellung/Darstellungsleistung

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2009-05-07 12:48:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:puz9Rov0e8gJ:dspace.ruc...
self-presentation

PS: acts of self-presentation would also fit, in my opinion

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2009-05-07 13:09:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I read "Leistung" here as an "activity" of some kind, not as "capacity" as in "Leistungsfähigkeit". Just my take.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2009-05-08 01:12:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I am also not sure about calling it "(re)presentation of 'the' Self" except
"presentation of one's Self" (to oneself but for this context rather to others). These activities of presenting one's Self to others seem to be a measure for /indicator of dignity/dignified behaviour (or capacity - if you will here) and for social cooperation.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2009-05-08 01:34:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think I could live with "representations of one's Self" or activities of/related to representing one's Self."
Self-representation is however also a term used in law for representing yourself without a lawyer. If you don't care about bringing in the Self because it might be implied anyway, I would suggest representational activities/manifestations although I do believe "presentation" is closer to what is meant here, it's about presenting one's inner Self to others, not about representing one's self.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2009-05-08 01:38:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

PS: just to be clear, I still wouldn't use "capacities" in your particular context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day10 hrs (2009-05-08 18:16:49 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

:)
Peer comment(s):
neutral Helen Shiner : Unfortunately I missed your answer for some reason. I agree with you about acts rather than capacities, actually, but not about self-representation instead of representation. Please see my post-grading comments.
1 day 5 hrs
thanks, Helen. Well presented.:)
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search