Article in German

[Susanka]

I speak and write a little German (I took German lessons for 2 years), but I would like to ask a question in English. I was reading Einstein's diary and found "the creativity is the key" in German. As I translated it into English, I noticed that in English, it is "Creativity is the key". Could anyone explain this? Thank you.

 

[BarbInArk]

I'm sorry, I don't understand your question. What is it you would like to know? You gave us two phrases in English....what do you want us to translate?

 

[Ainuhina]

I think in German it is "Die Kreativität ist der Schlüssel" and in English the first article is missing .....

I think it might just be that it sounded better when translated like this....it happens a lot that things like booktitles etc. get changed when translated - like for example the film "finding netherland" is named "wenn Träume fliegen lernen" (when dreams learn to fly) in German...

Hope that answers your question....

be blessed

 

[Susanka]

Dear Ainuhina:
Thank you! You answered my question. So, you would not say that translation "the creativity is the key" is wrong then.

 

[Ainuhina]

no, I would say it's perfectly alright to translate it like you did ...

 

[soda]

I agree. it is alright.
...viele wege führen nach Rom...

 

[GodOwnsMe]

it's just grammar rules. In English, I think you don't use the d. article with abstract nouns, while you can in German. I think "Kreativität ist der Schlüssel" (without the d. article) would be fine in German, too, though.

 

[Ainuhina]

Yes, it would be fine without the article in German too

 

[Susanka]

Thank you both. I did not know that.