Ãœber discussion
Posted: January 12th, 2006, 11:11 pm
(from wikipedia)
Misleading loan-translation
The translation of Übermensch as "superman" may compound the misconception. Über can have a variety of meanings, as in Überwindung ("overcoming"), überstehen/durchstehen ("come through"/"get over"), übersetzen ("translate"/"take across"). Some scholars therefore prefer the translation as Overman, since the point of the Übermensch is that man needs to overcome himself.
The German adverb "übermenschlich" is common and used in contexts such as "mit übermenschlichen Kräften gelang es ihm…": "with a force no human being is capable of he managed to…" or "with superhuman force…", the connotation is that of leaving the human sphere. Parallel constructions can be found in übernatürlich ("no longer natural", "transcendental"), überirdisch ("heavenly", literally "unearthly"). "Superman" lacks the German connotation of a sphere beyond human knowledge and power. In addition, Mensch is less specifically male than the English man, closer at times to the English human. Mensch is to be understood as a neuter form of a noun.
Misleading loan-translation
The translation of Übermensch as "superman" may compound the misconception. Über can have a variety of meanings, as in Überwindung ("overcoming"), überstehen/durchstehen ("come through"/"get over"), übersetzen ("translate"/"take across"). Some scholars therefore prefer the translation as Overman, since the point of the Übermensch is that man needs to overcome himself.
The German adverb "übermenschlich" is common and used in contexts such as "mit übermenschlichen Kräften gelang es ihm…": "with a force no human being is capable of he managed to…" or "with superhuman force…", the connotation is that of leaving the human sphere. Parallel constructions can be found in übernatürlich ("no longer natural", "transcendental"), überirdisch ("heavenly", literally "unearthly"). "Superman" lacks the German connotation of a sphere beyond human knowledge and power. In addition, Mensch is less specifically male than the English man, closer at times to the English human. Mensch is to be understood as a neuter form of a noun.