left of center

06:40 Nov 23, 2011 

... dass ich es gewagt habe, einen Vorschlag zu machen. Es wird nicht wieder vorkommen.

16:17 Nov 22, 2011 

Thanks for your help everyone. Much appreciated.

13:32 Nov 22, 2011 

Yes, "gauche" is a good illustration. Poor left-handers, how they used to be persecuted. And "cack-handed" can mean "left-handed" as well as "clumsy".

Brigitte: I think "off the beaten track" is just what they're trying to imply, with connotations of having the discrimination to go where most people don't go (and thereby avoid the crowds, moreover!).

13:31 Nov 22, 2011 

thanks - yes I agree "off the beaten track" in German sounds like it might be useful.

13:27 Nov 22, 2011 

as you say "left" can imply slightly odd or unusual. Although you cannot simply say that someone is "left" (although you can say that they are gauche).

13:26 Nov 22, 2011 

Well, I'll try - but since Thomas needs to translate the text I thought it would make sense if I provided my thoughts in German.
"Just an idea
Mark's explanation is new to me but it does make sense to me. Reading "left of center" makes me think of "off the beaten track" which might be suitable [in its translated form] if the place in question is not on common tourist routes. In the sense of remote but just right."

13:21 Nov 22, 2011 

There's a song by Suzanne Vega called "Left of Center", which begins:
"If you want me you can find me
Left of center off of the strip
In the outskirts and in the fringes
In the corner out of the grip."
Here it is if you want to hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHNBozMNCIw
I think this tends to confirm what Mark has said.
Needless to say, the association of "left" with the minority, the suspect, the marginal is at least as old as the etymology of "sinister".
There's also the American phrase "out of left field" meaning "unexpected" or "unrelated to the matter in hand": not necessarily relevant here, but I throw it in the pot for what it's worth.

A large part of the effect of this phrase comes from the wordplay on "right", of course.

12:39 Nov 22, 2011 

that in English?

12:25 Nov 22, 2011 

Mark's Erklärung ist mir neu, aber sie leuchtet mir ein. Bei "left of center" denke ich an "etwas am Rand" - was evtl. passen könnte, falls die Insel nicht auf der üblichen Touristenroute liegt. Also im Sinne von: Etwas abseits - aber genau richtig.