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hat eine Mottozeile bekommen

English translation: gained a catchphrase

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:hat eine Mottozeile bekommen
English translation:gained a catchphrase
Entered by: Robin Salmon (X)

13:01 Dec 18, 2005
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Literary Criticism
German term or phrase: hat eine Mottozeile bekommen
About the debate between writers and critics.

Diese Auseinandersetzung steht weit am Ende der Reihe,die mit Goethes "Schlagt ihn tod, den Hund! Es ist ein Rezensent" eine Mottozeile bekommen hat, die sich laut XXXX - dem in YYYYs Roman fiktiv gemeuchelten Kritiker - "schon im vergangenen Jahrhundert außerordentlicher Beliebtheit erfreute", die "immer häufiger und mit beinahe vollüstiger Schadenfreude zitiert" wurde und "nach wie vor zum Standardrepertoire deutscher Feuilletons" gehört.
Robin Salmon (X)
Australia
Local time: 20:08
gained a catchphrase
Explanation:
or "rallying cry"
Selected response from:

Steven Sidore
Germany
Local time: 12:08
Grading comment
Thanks. That makes sense and fits the structure.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2gained a catchphrase
Steven Sidore
4 +1epitomised by Goethe's line
Deborah Shannon
4became a maxim
Henry Schroeder


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
hat eine Mottozeile bekommen
gained a catchphrase


Explanation:
or "rallying cry"

Steven Sidore
Germany
Local time: 12:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Thanks. That makes sense and fits the structure.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nicole Schnell
23 mins
agree  Martina Heintke
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
hat eine Mottozeile bekommen
became a maxim


Explanation:
This is merely another option. Steven's answer is completely correct and possible in this context.

Maxim seems to be applicable here as well, since it is sort of a "general truth" or "fundamental principle" among writers to think that critics should be killed.

This would especially apply to this case, which is most likely about Martin Walser and Marcel Reick-Ranizky (pardon me for the incorrect spelling here).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 25 mins (2005-12-18 14:27:32 GMT)
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No, now that I look it over more, "became" is definitely not the best verb here. Perhaps something like "...at the end of the series, which Goethe's words... turned into a maxim".

I am not of the opinion that a maxim or a catchphrase can be gained, received, obtained, attained, etc., but perhaps my colleagues will disagree.

Henry Schroeder
United States
Local time: 06:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 88
1 corroborated select project
in this pair and field What is ProZ.com Project History(SM)?

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Steven Sidore: From Merriam-Webster: a maxim is: a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct. Do you think that quote meets this standard?
5 hrs
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
hat eine Mottozeile bekommen
epitomised by Goethe's line


Explanation:
I'd find this more in keeping with the register of the text

Deborah Shannon
Germany
Local time: 12:08
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lancashireman: Yes, it is.
3 days 1 hr
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