Translation Help Needed
 

All,

I am under contract with wetdog publications to do a book on navy Lugers and their accoutrements. While I have done a good deal of research, I find that I am hitting a speed-bump in that many of the sources I wish to research or use are in German.

My G.I. Gasthouse German has decayed dramatically since 1988, so I am looking for an assist. As I am financing this out of pocket, my compensation limits are constrained. The successful applicant will, however, get a bunch of books and several bottles of very good vino, a few bucks, their name in print, along with my undying gratitude.

Anyone interested?

Tom A

Tom, I know you are probably looking for exact translations and this might be a job for someone who is familiar with German military vernacular. A rare bird as your average German speaker can not understand it. I have shown German military documents to native German speaking people and it is a foreign language to them.

For everyday translations I find several free translation sites work very well. It's best if you are able to copy paste from a web site so you don't have to type it all in. This is no help at all I know and I wish you luck in your search...Maybe RK? Jerry Burney

Tom, if you use Google most all of the german sites that come up will have an option for "translate this page" right near the subject line, you'll not get a totally correct translation but enought that you can correct the errors. An example page

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...es&btnG=Search

Thanks Herb; I'll give it a try. I am trying to get a transaltion of an article from Deutsches Waffen Journal.

Tom, I once had a native German speaker translate an article for me for an '84 Waffen Digest on non-factory Luger accessories. We found it easiest for him to read the translation into a tape recorder, and even then there were some technical terms that he was not framilar with, even as a gun collector. Tom H.

Case in point: http://www.gunboards.com/luger/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4510

tac,

It's titled GERMAN SPEAKERS NEEDED and is in the forum 1920 - 1933 Unit Markings, or something like that. Maybe you can get to it through your usual channels.

Tom,

Send me a PM. I've specialized in translating German technical documents as a little job on the side. After toying with German cars for over 8 years, I suddenly found my technical German to be relatively good :) Have been translating German manuals for a local mail order firm which has locations in Germany and the Netherlands. Translations ranged from DVD-players to vacuum cleaners, training equipment, toasters, etc...

At least I know how to translate selbstladepistole :D
Selfloading pistol, I believe ;)

A lovely language, zundhutchen, kniegelenk, schraubenfeder, kurbelwelle, leerlaufdrehzahl and my alltime favorite the zundkerz.

My german (and english) is a bit rusty, but I might be able to assist on this work if needed..

At least I know how to translate selbstladepistole
Selfloading pistol, I believe

Oh! And I thought it was a crude sexual reference from the Reichs Revover fans.

I have recently been dealing with this myself. I have been researching the original owner a luger in my collection. I was lucky enough to find a file of letters from his family members and even one he had written. (The letters are from 1907 to 1915.) I located them at a University in Germany by following a foot note in an article. They are written in the old Sutterlin. (I hope I spelled that correct). Anyway, I am being helped by a very knowledgable person and some of his family in Germany who have been kind enough to help. They are currently working on translating some of those items. Something I was considering that you might try is to find a graduate student at a local university. Look for someone who is studying German or who is bilingual and studying history or some other subject. They can usually use the money and should be resonable in their demands. They also like to see their name in print and it can help in their resume at school. Another avenue: Here in Seattle there is a German House society. I contacted them and had several members offer assistance. Perhaps there is such a society in your area or in a near by town. Good Luck.

All,

Thanks for the assistance. I believe I may have the problem solved.

Tom A.