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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

Alter ist ein Zustand und kein Verdienst

English translation: there's no credit attached to age

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Alter ist ein Zustand und kein Verdienst
English translation:there's no credit attached to age
Entered by: Ilona Gárdosi

19:28 Sep 13, 2008
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
German term or phrase: Alter ist ein Zustand und kein Verdienst
Zugegeben sind meine Englischkenntnisse begrenzt. Ich habe das obige Statement so übersetzt: >. Bitte um Kommentierung. Danke !
Ilona Gárdosi
Germany
Local time: 21:23
there's no credit attached to age
Explanation:
It's essentially an anti-Confucian sentiment in the sense that credit does not automatically accrue to age: just because someone is old does not automatically make him or her worthy of special respect

In a sense, you could say 'age is a biological condition, not a sign of merit'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-09-13 21:58:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My wife (a German native) just mentioned that when she was in secondary school (in a Catholic nun's school), the teachers would say this or something close to it to the students when they were acting superior due to their youth, so perhaps it should be understood more generally -- not just with respect to increased age.
Selected response from:

Ken Cox
Local time: 21:23
Grading comment
Thank you. I prefer this translation: short and precise
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2age is a state not an achievement
Dirk Albishausen
3 +3there's no credit attached to age
Ken Cox
3 +1age is a state but not something hard won/deserving
Maureen Millington-Brodie
3 +1age is a condition and not a merit
swisstell
3 +1Just because you are old doesn't mean you get a free pass
Paul Cohen
3age is a statement of fact not an achievement
Penny Hewson (X)
3Aging is a process without any gain.
babli


  

Answers


27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
age is a state but not something hard won/deserving


Explanation:
one option

Maureen Millington-Brodie
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:23
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 11
Notes to answerer
Asker: thx


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): that would work
6 mins
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
age is a condition and not a merit


Explanation:
another option

swisstell
Italy
Local time: 21:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 21
Notes to answerer
Asker: thx, Ilona


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Juliano Martins
2 hrs
  -> muchas gracias, Juliano!
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37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
age is a state not an achievement


Explanation:
my 2 cents

Dirk Albishausen
Canada
Local time: 15:23
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 16
Notes to answerer
Asker: thx, Ilona


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  mill2: I prefer "condition"
2 hrs
agree  Barbara Wiebking: Finde ich gut.
13 hrs
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
age is a statement of fact not an achievement


Explanation:
Just an alternative (or possibly "old age" if that fits the context

Penny Hewson (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: thx, Ilona

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58 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
there's no credit attached to age


Explanation:
It's essentially an anti-Confucian sentiment in the sense that credit does not automatically accrue to age: just because someone is old does not automatically make him or her worthy of special respect

In a sense, you could say 'age is a biological condition, not a sign of merit'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-09-13 21:58:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My wife (a German native) just mentioned that when she was in secondary school (in a Catholic nun's school), the teachers would say this or something close to it to the students when they were acting superior due to their youth, so perhaps it should be understood more generally -- not just with respect to increased age.

Ken Cox
Local time: 21:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thank you. I prefer this translation: short and precise

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Courtney Sliwinski: I like it!
56 mins
agree  Helen Shiner: This has the merit of being something that does appear in EN idiom.
1 hr
agree  franglish
12 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Just because you are old doesn't mean you get a free pass


Explanation:
I agree with Ken's interpretation.

An alternative:
- Just because you are old doesn't mean you can get away with everything.

All you old ladies elbowing your way to the front of the line - I've got your number! Ha ha!

This is not really a translation of the German expression, but at least it sounds more or less like a real saying - and expresses a similar idea:
"Just because you are old doesn't mean you are any wiser."



Paul Cohen
Greenland
Local time: 18:23
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 52
Notes to answerer
Asker: thx, Ilona


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Veronika McLaren: or, to be more positive about aging: you still need to put in an effort!
1 hr
  -> Right on!
neutral  Lancashireman: Actually, it does. Age 60 for both genders in the UK.
9 hrs
  -> It's meant in a figurative sense, Andrew.
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Aging is a process without any gain.


Explanation:




Aging is a non meritious process.

babli
Local time: 00:53
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HindiHindi
Notes to answerer
Asker: thx, Ilona

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