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stumm

English translation: silent / muted / taciturn

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:stumm
English translation:silent / muted / taciturn
Entered by: Ulrike Kraemer

08:36 May 30, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Kafka
German term or phrase: stumm
This is from Kafka's travel diary when he visited Paris:

"Das gestrichelte Paris: die aus den flachen Kaminen herauswachsenden hohen dünnen Kamine (mit den
vielen kleinen blumentopfartigen), **die äußerst stummen alten Glaskandelaber**, die Querstriche der Jalousien, denen sich in den Vorstädten die gestrichelten Schmutzabdrücke auf der Hauswand anfügen ..."

I'm confused - how can candelabra be "stumm"? Muted, speechless? Thanks for any ideas!
Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:45
silent
Explanation:
might be an option
Selected response from:

Ulrike Kraemer
Germany
Local time: 21:45
Grading comment
Thanks, LittleBalu!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +3silent
Ulrike Kraemer
2 +2muted/taciturn
Francis Lee (X)
3hier: soundless
Natalie Aron


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
stumm (here)
silent


Explanation:
might be an option

Ulrike Kraemer
Germany
Local time: 21:45
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks, LittleBalu!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Parzival
21 mins
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X)
2 hrs
agree  Stephen Reader: Seems obvious but rings well with 'extraordinarily' (e.g.). For orig. text: http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=159,152,1,1,1,0
6 hrs
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49 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
stumm (here)
hier: soundless


Explanation:
wäre auch eine Möglichkeit

Natalie Aron
Austria
Local time: 21:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
muted/taciturn


Explanation:
Given that he's talking about his visual impressions of Paris, I'm assuming he meant "stumm" in the sense of inconspicuous (i.e. not silent in the sense that they make no audible noise)

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 21:45
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Stephen Reader: Hi, F., Not so sure re. visual only. Follows notes on pics but whole is cursory notes made on a journey. Found orig. text - http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=159,152,1,1,1,0
4 hrs
agree  Mario Marcolin: "taciturn" would fit nicely :)
7 hrs
agree  Annette Urbschat: I like muted and agree with your interpretation of this being a visual impression.
1 day 59 mins
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