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Mienenarbeit / Minenarbeit

English translation: sabotage / subterfuge

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Mienenarbeit / Minenarbeit
English translation:sabotage / subterfuge
Entered by: Timoshka

04:05 May 14, 2023
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History
German term or phrase: Mienenarbeit / Minenarbeit
From a letter, written in 1945 in Budapest, by a non-native German speaker:

"In Ungarn ist die Valorisation gut gelungen, wenn auch einige Symtomen sind, die verdächtig waren, wir hoffen das die Regierung genug stark sein wird jede Mienenarbeit der Reaktion um unser Geld wertlos zu machen unmöglich macht."

My proposed translation: "In Hungary, valorization has been quite successful, even if there are some indications that were suspicious. We hope that the government will be strong enough to render every [undermining effort???????] of the reactionaries to make our money worthless impossible."

I don't know if "Minenarbeit" refers to terrorist activity of some sort or just "undermining efforts" of the reactionary forces in Hungary at that time.
Timoshka
Local time: 05:29
sabotage / subterfuge
Explanation:
"sabotage" or "acts of sabotage" is probably the more accurate translation - with the connotation of physically blowing something up. "subterfuge" would be a good alternative, though, with the connotation of conspiratorial work to undermine something.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2023-05-14 11:07:35 GMT)
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I think "Mienenarbeit" or "Minenarbeit" is being used metaphorically here rather than referring to terrorists physically blowing things (or people) up.
Selected response from:

Gordon Matthews
Germany
Local time: 12:29
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2sabotage / subterfuge
Gordon Matthews
3subversive (underhand) effort
Adrian MM.


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
sabotage / subterfuge


Explanation:
"sabotage" or "acts of sabotage" is probably the more accurate translation - with the connotation of physically blowing something up. "subterfuge" would be a good alternative, though, with the connotation of conspiratorial work to undermine something.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2023-05-14 11:07:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think "Mienenarbeit" or "Minenarbeit" is being used metaphorically here rather than referring to terrorists physically blowing things (or people) up.

Gordon Matthews
Germany
Local time: 12:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter: Yes, it's used figuratively/metaphorically in this context. For the English, I'd also think of "obstruction".
5 hrs
  -> Thanks for agreement and comment.
agree  philgoddard: Sabotage.
6 hrs
  -> Thanks for your agreement.
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Minenarbeit
subversive (underhand) effort


Explanation:
NB HUN/ENG: *miénk* dolgoz = our work

'Valorization' might well be currency revaluation.


    Reference: http://de.stardewvalleywiki.com/Minenarbeit
Adrian MM.
Austria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: I think you're probably right about valorisation.
4 hrs
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