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Armaturenschlosser
Endloskontrakt
Nov 10, 2010 18:19
13 yrs ago
German term

Vorfeld

German to English Social Sciences Government / Politics terrorism and intelligence
From an academic article discussing investigative and intelligence techniques for predicting terrorist acts:

"Das derart ausgeleuchtete Vorfeld terroristischer Anschläge bildet gegenwärtig ein wichtiges Anwendungsfeld polizeilicher Präventionsstrategien."

Perhaps "preliminary stage"? I think the author is talking about the planning/preparatory phase of the terrorist act.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions....
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 phase/stage prior to terrorist attacks [leading up to terrorist attacks]
4 +4 the run-up
4 preparatory actions, preparations
4 setting or scenario
3 preliminary stage/ pre-attack stage
Change log

Nov 10, 2010 20:38: Ingo Dierkschnieder changed "Term asked" from "Vorfeld (in this context)" to "Vorfeld"

Discussion

Ann Marie Ackermann, JD (asker) Nov 11, 2010:
Preceding sentence Here is is, in case it helps:

In diesem Kontext könnten sog. Voranschlagsindikatoren dazu beitragen, die Verlässlichkeit von Prognosen zu verbessern.
philgoddard Nov 10, 2010:
There's no way of knowing what "derart" refers to, so this is difficult to translate. What comes before this?
Jenny Streitparth Nov 10, 2010:
Agree, that's tautologous! I was too focused on the comparison of the "davor" renderings. This suffices: "preliminary stage of terrorist attacks".
Steffen Walter Nov 10, 2010:
@ Jenny In my opinion, "preliminary" is redundant when writing "phase/stage leading up to terrorist attacks".
Jenny Streitparth Nov 10, 2010:
@ G. Schenkel I don't see how "prior to" is in any way better than "preliminary" [preparatory to; in advance of; from Latin prae "before" ].
So, IMHO "preliminary stage leading up to terrorist attacks" works just fine.
meirs Nov 10, 2010:
Maybe "spearhead" ?

Proposed translations

+2
31 mins
German term (edited): Vorfeld terroristischer Anschläge
Selected

phase/stage prior to terrorist attacks [leading up to terrorist attacks]

That's how I'd paraphrase this tricky German term in this case.
Peer comment(s):
agree Guido Schenkel : Vielleicht auch "preceding terrorist attacks". Zentral ist m.E. aber genau das zeitliche "davor", das in dieser Wendung besser durchkommt als bei der "preliminary stage".
34 mins
agree Teresa Reinhardt : just a fancy way of saying "vor"
8 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Bravo, Steffen, that's perfect! Run-up is good too, but in my opinion a bit too colloquial for an academic article"
1 hr
German term (edited): Vorfeld (in this context)

preparatory actions, preparations

hope this is helpful
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

preliminary stage/ pre-attack stage

Your suggestion is fine.

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision, with respect to any specified preliminary stage of proceedings for a scheduled offence,...
http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=NqsvyvaA6m4C&pg=PA222&lpg...

Alternatively: pre-attack stage

as used by Interpol, EU, NATO and mentioned in numerous books.
Something went wrong...
+4
4 hrs

the run-up

The run-up to terrorist attacks...

India admits security mistakes in run-up to Mumbai terrorist attack
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5292...

MI5 'starved of funds' in run-up to July 7 attacks
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/mi5-starved-of-fu...

"Al-Qaida and al-Qaida associated networks remain the greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. and to its partners," said Ronald D. Schlicher, the State Department's acting coordinator for counterterrorism.

Schlicher said core al Qaeda has exploited the FATA as a safe haven, reminiscent of Afghanistan in the run up to the 9-11 attacks, which could be used to plan future terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies. Al Qaeda's franchises also continued to leave a bloody trail throughout many countries during 2008.

http://www.securitymanagement.com/news/terrorist-incidents-a...
Peer comment(s):
agree casper (X) : good suggestion
6 hrs
Thanks
agree British Diana : This is absolutely dead on , but how did you happen on it?//Ah yes, this is where a flesh and blood translator triumphs over the biggest imaginable dictionary....
11 hrs
Thanks, Diana - just came to me, you know how it is .../Although it does seem to feature on dict.cc: http://www.dict.cc/?s=vorfeld
agree mill2
12 hrs
Thanks, mill
agree conny
18 hrs
Thanks, conny
Something went wrong...
1 day 20 hrs

setting or scenario

While agreeing to all other suggestions with the usual translation of 'Vorfeld' I think in this instance it might be better to use 'scenario' because what is really meant is the stage before any action has taken place, i.e. the setting or environment out of which the anticipated terrorist actions will evolve.
Something went wrong...
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