chaka-chaka

English translation: hoopla

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:chaka-chaka
English translation:hoopla
Entered by: Heike Reagan

03:27 Nov 7, 2005
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Management / Motivation
German term or phrase: chaka-chaka
Ich seh das ueberall, hab aber keine Ahnung was damit gemeint ist... ?
"Was nützt es, ein ganz tolles Training mit ganz viel Chaka, Chaka mit zu machen"
"Nicht fremd aufgesetzte Motivation via chaka-chaka"
"Erwarten Sie jetzt bitte keine fortführende Aufzählung, dafür gab es einen Höller und Chaka-chaka"
Heike Reagan
United States
Local time: 11:30
hoopla
Explanation:
I think Melanie is absolutely correct that the German phrase is kind of a parody on management motivational techniques. The translation should reflect that. Hoopla or hype might work well in English.
Selected response from:

Rebecca Holmes
United States
Local time: 11:30
Grading comment
Thank you for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1NLP-speak
Harry Borsje
4whole shebang
Melanie Wittwer
4à la David Brent
IanW (X)
3hoopla
Rebecca Holmes
1 +1the whole shebang
Allesklar


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the whole shebang


Explanation:
just a guess - might not be totally equivalent, but should point in the general direction

Allesklar
Australia
Local time: 02:00
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Melanie Wittwer: quite, see my explanation below
4 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
NLP-speak


Explanation:
In the Netherlands Emile Ratelband, the self-acclaimed Dutch Anthony Robbins, used this as an empowerment yell (Tsjakkaa!!!!) in his Neuro-Linguistic Programming sessions; in this context probably used as a synonym for 'humbug'


    Reference: http://www.ratelband.com/boeken.php
    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-linguistic_programming
Harry Borsje
Netherlands
Local time: 16:30
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Aniello Scognamiglio (X): Emile Ratelband! That was the first time I heard somebody use "chaka-chaka".
2 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
whole shebang


Explanation:
Expression used by Hella von Sinnen in 1980s-90s TV programme "Alles Nichts Oder", always accompanied by a silly dance.
Probably signifies something of a motivational shant, or rather the parody of it.

Melanie Wittwer
New Zealand
Local time: 04:30
Native speaker of: German
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
hoopla


Explanation:
I think Melanie is absolutely correct that the German phrase is kind of a parody on management motivational techniques. The translation should reflect that. Hoopla or hype might work well in English.

Rebecca Holmes
United States
Local time: 11:30
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you for your help!
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
à la David Brent


Explanation:
If - and only if - this is for a UK readership, it might be an idea to make a reference to David Brent, from the TV series "The Office", who was seen in one episode in action as a consultant-cum-motivator, most of which consisted of him dancing around to the song "Simply the Best".

You could say "à la David Brent" for the first two sentences and "a David Brent-style motivation dance" for the last one. I think this constitutes the best cultural equivalent you're going to get.

Just a thought ...

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Note added at 4 hrs 46 mins (2005-11-07 08:14:45 GMT)
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Incidentally, given the popularity and widespread coverage of the series, even people who have never seen "The Office" usually understand the reference.

IanW (X)
Local time: 16:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 13
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