Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Mienenarbeit / Minenarbeit

English translation:

sabotage / subterfuge

Added to glossary by Timoshka
May 14, 2023 04:05
1 yr ago
35 viewers *
German term

Mienenarbeit / Minenarbeit

German to English Social Sciences History
From a letter, written in 1945 in Budapest, by a non-native German speaker:

"In Ungarn ist die Valorisation gut gelungen, wenn auch einige Symtomen sind, die verdächtig waren, wir hoffen das die Regierung genug stark sein wird jede Mienenarbeit der Reaktion um unser Geld wertlos zu machen unmöglich macht."

My proposed translation: "In Hungary, valorization has been quite successful, even if there are some indications that were suspicious. We hope that the government will be strong enough to render every [undermining effort???????] of the reactionaries to make our money worthless impossible."

I don't know if "Minenarbeit" refers to terrorist activity of some sort or just "undermining efforts" of the reactionary forces in Hungary at that time.

Discussion

Charles R. May 14, 2023:
You should try to post it in the Hungarian section. Possibly a literal translation from Hungarian into German.

Proposed translations

+2
6 hrs
Selected

sabotage / subterfuge

"sabotage" or "acts of sabotage" is probably the more accurate translation - with the connotation of physically blowing something up. "subterfuge" would be a good alternative, though, with the connotation of conspiratorial work to undermine something.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2023-05-14 11:07:35 GMT)
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I think "Mienenarbeit" or "Minenarbeit" is being used metaphorically here rather than referring to terrorists physically blowing things (or people) up.
Peer comment(s):

agree Steffen Walter : Yes, it's used figuratively/metaphorically in this context. For the English, I'd also think of "obstruction".
5 hrs
Thanks for agreement and comment.
agree philgoddard : Sabotage.
6 hrs
Thanks for your agreement.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
8 hrs
German term (edited): Minenarbeit

subversive (underhand) effort

NB HUN/ENG: *miénk* dolgoz = our work

'Valorization' might well be currency revaluation.
Peer comment(s):

neutral philgoddard : I think you're probably right about valorisation.
4 hrs
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