There are special problems in translating works like PR. First and foremost, it is pulp fiction and not exactly at a high literary standard, but that's alright, I really don't want to be reading a Hemingway story for light entertainment. And for me, that's the key about translating PR. It is light entertainment. But when this light entertainment is translated into English, it can become cumbersome and awkward.
If a translator tries to remain literal (as in the case of a technical translation), the result is about as interesting as reading an English translation of Chinese instructions on how to put together a bookshelf. If the translator tries to convey, for example, what a STRAHLER is, and how it operates comical/awkward sounding constructions can result. A STRAHLER is derived the German verb, strahlen, which means to beam, to radiate, to sparkle, to shine, etc. But the German reader has the idea that is some sort of energy weapon. To call it a beamer, although technically correct, reminds me of a BMW. It's essentially a raygun, but who calls these things rayguns anymore? You could make up a descriptor like PHASER like in STAR TREK. But here again you're essentially trying to come up with a cool word for a technological artefact that only exists in the imagination of the writer.
Another problem word for me is BEIBOOT. These are essentially ships transported on board larger ships, similiar to SHUTTLECRAFT on board the ENTERPRISE. But, there are a variety of types in the PR universe including Space-Jets, Corvettes, light cruisers and mosquito jets. BUT if you look up BEIBOOT in the dictionary it says DINGHY. Anyone who has read PR knows these things are not DINGHYS. So, whenever Perry Rhodan orders a BEIBOOT to land on a planet or be dispatched somewhere, you need to know what KIND of BEIBOOT it is. I sometimes choose the descriptor "auxilary craft" when the writer doesn't indicate the type of BEIBOOT.
Two verbs and their derivatives also cause problems, schleusen and einpeilen. Schleusen is used whenever something is moved from outside to inside the ship or vice versa. BEIBOOTE are ausgeschleust, sent OUT of the ship, or eingeschleust, brought into the ship. Both ein- and ausschleusen are quite clear in GERMAN, but need a bit of writing around for an English translation. I usually select the word DEPLOYED for transfer out of the ship, and RECOVERED for bringing back onto the ship. However, people can also be ein- and ausgeschleust causing some difficult in translation.
Einpeilen is not really even a German word, although it appears to be one. Peilen is to locate or to detect. Einpeilen seems to mean "get a bead on" or "to track an object". Peilen is usually done in the ORTUNG department. ORTUNG on its own means DETECTION. But it the context of PR, it means more SEARCH and DETECTION. SENSORS is probably the best way to translate these two in combination. Occasionally you will read ORTERPEILING, which indicates a "dection was made by the locator". Again a case for using SENSOR.
I think if these stories had originally been written in English, there would be a neato word for STRAHLER, like phaser. The scifi author would probably make up a word for BEIBOOT, or use some acronym (like LEM).
Dr. Ranier Nagel discusses these problems and more in his essay, "Perry Rhodan in Übersetzung" in the excellent book Spurensuche im All. I translated this essay a few months back, and Dr. Nagel has graciously given permission for the translation to be shared with anyone who is interested in reading it.
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