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German to English translations [PRO] Science - Philosophy
German term or phrase:aus seinem Schatten heraustreten
Ich weiss dass, jeder Mensch, egal, wie aussichtslos die Lage auch erscheinen mag, aufstehen und aus seinem Schatten heraustreten kann.
An interview discussing attitudes towards life. Could this be rendered as something along the lines of 'everyone, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem, can pick themselves up and see light at the end of the tunnel'?
Explanation: I know (I'm certain) that any human being, no matter how desolate their situation may be, can rise up and step from their darkness/into the light.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 54 mins (2021-05-03 15:59:16 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
On second thought: I know (I'm certain) that any human being, no matter how desolate their situation may be, is capable of rising and stepping/has the power to rise up and step from their darkness/into the light.
"Schatten" does not really work in German, either. Even if you interpret, with some good will, "aus seinem Schatten" as "aus dem Schatten, in dem er steht", this phrase sounds (to me) like a distorted mixture of "aus jemandes Schatten heraustreten" and "über seinen Schatten springen".
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@ Uyuni
08:43 May 4, 2021
I'm pretty certain shadow does not work in English, at least not with the possessive. When someone steps from the shadows in English (at least in all the literature that I have read) they are either lurking there in the first place with no good in mind or are very shy. The latter might work at a stretch, but it's not what is meant, I believe. Happy translating!
Vielen Dank, deine vielen Umschreibungen mit den kleinen, aber wichtigen bzw. notwendigen Ergänzungen bekräftigen eigentlich meine Position. Sicherlich weiß jeder, was gemeint ist, trotzdem ist es (so) keine (bekannte) Redewendung - und ergibt in dieser Form auch keinen Sinn, aber das scheint im ausufernden Bereich der Selbstoptimierungs- und -motivations"lehre" nicht so wichtig zu sein ;-) Allein ein einleitender Passus wie "Ich weiß, dass jeder Mensch..." lässt mich nicht einmal mehr aufhorchen, sondern sofort 'abschalten'. So, genug abgeschweift und aufgeregt. Das war's von meiner Seite. Viele Grüße, Bernd
Ja, so obskur ist es auch nicht im Deutschen. Es gibt auch sowas im Englischen: to live in the shadows or a shadowy existence. However, in English it implies something like a vampire or half-human existence. Of course, you want to get philosophical about it, these are metaphors for inner darkness.
Ich kenne diese Redewendung schon. Sie bedeutet eben, aus seinem Schattendasein herauszutreten. Aus dem Schatten, in dem man steht. Sich mal etwas trauen. Sich nicht im Dunkeln verstecken. Den Mund aufmachen. Etwas wagen.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Schattenseite
19:38 May 3, 2021
Is probably what is intended. It is a common expression in spiritual/healing circles and indicates just about anything human that hinders emotional, spiritual growth. In English it would be from darkness to light, not from shadow to light.
"Aus seinem (eigenen) Schatten heraustreten" is simply no typical German idiom. And, how would that work, stepping out of the shadow I'm generating having the sun/light already on my opposite side? I must stand in the (sun)light to be able to cast a shadow on so. or sth., don't I? (Please excuse the clumsiness trying to contribute to this philosophic/idiomatic issue)
Ich dachte immer, man könnte nur aus dem Schatten anderer heraustreten und über seinen eigenen springen ... ;-)
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
53 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +4
can rise and step out of their darkness/step into the light
Explanation: I know (I'm certain) that any human being, no matter how desolate their situation may be, can rise up and step from their darkness/into the light.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 54 mins (2021-05-03 15:59:16 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
On second thought: I know (I'm certain) that any human being, no matter how desolate their situation may be, is capable of rising and stepping/has the power to rise up and step from their darkness/into the light.
Ramey Rieger (X) Germany Local time: 20:13 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 12