Jul 21, 2009 22:30
14 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Dutch term
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Poldermodel [joke re]
Dutch to English
Art/Literary
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
I understand what poldermodel means, but can someone explain this joke please? It's a female TV game show presenter talking about the Netherlands.
"Het land van flitspalen, koeien, coffeeshops, Sinterklaas, abortusboten en het poldermodel. Waar ik zelf een uitstekend voorbeeld van ben."
Why is the presenter a great example?
"Het land van flitspalen, koeien, coffeeshops, Sinterklaas, abortusboten en het poldermodel. Waar ik zelf een uitstekend voorbeeld van ben."
Why is the presenter a great example?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | model from the polder |
Ron Willems
|
| 3 | connotation of dumb blonde country girl |
Textpertise
|
| 3 | polder model |
Jennifer Barnett
|
Proposed translations
+2
5 mins
Ron Willems
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
Netherlands
Your IT translation partner for Dutch
Native in: Dutch (Variant: Netherlands) 
Works in: English to Dutch
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
model from the polder
I guess she's pretty like a "model", and she's "from the polder" (i.e. from the West of the country, or from just anywhere in NL - the polder could refer to the country as a whole)
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Note added at 34 mins (2009-07-21 23:05:54 GMT)
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she could of course also simply *be* a (former) model.
a second explanation could be that she's the result of "polderen", i.e. some kind of "negotiated compromise between two parties", which in NL is considered to be typically Dutch. in order for her to make the joke in that sense, she would have to be of mixed race or something...
I agree with Michael Beijer that it would be helpful to know her name, perhaps the joke can be explained in even more different ways once we know who this "poldermodel" is.
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Note added at 34 mins (2009-07-21 23:05:54 GMT)
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she could of course also simply *be* a (former) model.
a second explanation could be that she's the result of "polderen", i.e. some kind of "negotiated compromise between two parties", which in NL is considered to be typically Dutch. in order for her to make the joke in that sense, she would have to be of mixed race or something...
I agree with Michael Beijer that it would be helpful to know her name, perhaps the joke can be explained in even more different ways once we know who this "poldermodel" is.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Michael Beijer
: I would need to know who she is first (is she an allochtoon or an autochtoon, enz. ;), but I suspect it's simple, and what Ron suggested.
34 mins
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|
thanks
|
|
| agree |
Chris Hopley
: I think it simply refers to the fact that she is a (former) model from Holland. Just a really simple play on words.
9 hrs
|
|
thanks, although (if it is her) Linda de Mol is not a former model. still, "model" could also just mean something like "type/brand/make" - she's a typical polder type
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Actually, all of your replies were helpful (and I'm not just being polite). I was a bit alarmed when people turned detective, found pictures of this woman and decided she didn't look like a dumb blonde! Points to Ron because his answer was the first and most detailed."
30 mins
Textpertise
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Highest WWA rating in Europe for NL-EN
Native in: English
Works in: Dutch to English, Hebrew to English
connotation of dumb blonde country girl
Agree with Ron Willems but because the term polder model when used seriously means a debate where people take forever to reach agreement, it has gained the meaning of slowness of thought - having slow thought processes or slow to get to the point. If the presenter is a blonde female, then dumb blonde might be an approximation. Also on the analogy of "polderjongen" which is often translated into English as a "navvy" - connotation being a lower class young man with rough and ready manners, who mucks in with his mates. Definite working class implications.
Reference:
9 hrs
Jennifer Barnett
France
France
Native in English
France
Cultural heritage, visual arts, food
Native in: English
Works in: Dutch to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
polder model
Surely this is untranslatable?! It is very much an in-joke. As the term has passed into the English (political) language, I would leave it as it is. Even if readers don't know about the Dutch consensus meaning, they will at least understand that the lady is a country girl (having looked up what a polder is). 'Reclaimed swamp model' would be hilarious but that veers off into horror territory - the creature from the reclaimed swamp!
Discussion
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ik_hou_van_Holland
http://rtl.nl/shows/ikhouvanholland/home/index.xml
(Kind of makes me miss silly Dutch TV;)