German language
#1
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German language
I had to chuckle when I looked at the receipt I got at a German brew-pub recently. They had a little tag-line at the bottom which said 'Vielen Dank und einen guten Heimweg'. I get the idea well enough -- and it's a nice thought -- but how does one render that second part in idiomatic English?!?
#3
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Sorry, but as a native speaker of English (with a post-graduate degree in linguistics), I'm afraid 'have a good way home' is simply not idiomatic; i.e., it is not something that an English speaker would say. In Ireland one hears 'Safe home!', which gets to the safe / nice meaning you mention. 'Have a good trip home'? Maybe, if the trip involved some distance -- but not if, for example, someone was walking 100-200 metres home from the pub. It's tricky.
#6
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Well, it means 'have a save trip home', not 'take care'.
It is somewhat unusual in German as well. You might say something like 'drive carefully' to a friend but it's quite unorthodox for a pub to express something along those lines.
It is somewhat unusual in German as well. You might say something like 'drive carefully' to a friend but it's quite unorthodox for a pub to express something along those lines.
#7
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a tub tub would not mention driving after drinking
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Sorry, but as a native speaker of English (with a post-graduate degree in linguistics), I'm afraid 'have a good way home' is simply not idiomatic; i.e., it is not something that an English speaker would say. In Ireland one hears 'Safe home!', which gets to the safe / nice meaning you mention. 'Have a good trip home'? Maybe, if the trip involved some distance -- but not if, for example, someone was walking 100-200 metres home from the pub. It's tricky.
I would not translate this as a trip or journey implying longer distances - this would be a Heimreise or Heimfahrt involving greater distances and some kind of mechanical assistance in completing this.
(And yes, given some circumstances, a 100m walk back home from the pub can be quite tricky!)
#10
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i know it is something that can't be translated as such as all more literal translations don't capture the spirit
#11
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Sorry, but as a native speaker of English (with a post-graduate degree in linguistics), I'm afraid 'have a good way home' is simply not idiomatic; i.e., it is not something that an English speaker would say. In Ireland one hears 'Safe home!', which gets to the safe / nice meaning you mention. 'Have a good trip home'? Maybe, if the trip involved some distance -- but not if, for example, someone was walking 100-200 metres home from the pub. It's tricky.
I'll assert that einen guten Heimweg does, in fact, mean "Get home safely" in the same context you would use "drive carefully", "be safe on your way home", "be safe on the road".
Is it familiar in its usage? Sure, but businesses are more and more familiar with their customers every day--for example, using the pronouns "du" and "euch" in direct statements to the customer, etc. Campaigns aimed at the under-30 crowd are often familiar and frech. It's relatable and it sells.
#13
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#14
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Where is the confusion? It is simply wishing you: "have a safe trip home" or "look after yourself" or "take care", depending on where you are from. As a native English and German speaker I see no problem here.
#15
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Originally Posted by LondonElite
... It is simply wishing you: "have a safe trip home" ...