← The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 7

English → De CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

The first division contains the married men, who in their dances frequently exhibit feats of arms, and the representation of a battle.

Die erste Abteilung enthält die verheirateten Männer, die in ihren Tänzen häufig Waffentaten und die Darstellung einer Schlacht vorführen.

To these succeed the married women, who dance in the second division.

Auf diese folgen die verheirateten Frauen, die in der zweiten Abteilung tanzen.

The young men occupy the third; and the maidens the fourth.

Die jungen Männer besetzen die dritte Abteilung; und die Mädchen die vierte.

Each represents some interesting scene of real life, such as a great achievement, domestic employment, a pathetic story, or some rural sport; and as the subject is generally founded on some recent event, it is therefore ever new.

Jede stellt eine interessante Szene aus dem wirklichen Leben dar, wie etwa eine große Heldentat, häusliche Beschäftigung, eine ergreifende Geschichte oder einen ländlichen Sport; und da das Thema im Allgemeinen auf einem jüngsten Ereignis beruht, ist es daher stets neu.

This gives our dances a spirit and variety which I have scarcely seen elsewhere[B].

Dies verleiht unseren Tänzen einen Geist und eine Vielfalt, die ich kaum anderswo gesehen habe[B].

We have many musical instruments, particularly drums of different kinds, a piece of music which resembles a guitar, and another much like a stickado.

Wir haben viele Musikinstrumente, insbesondere Trommeln verschiedener Art, ein Musikstück, das einer Gitarre ähnelt, und ein weiteres, das einem Stickado sehr ähnlich ist.

These last are chiefly used by betrothed virgins, who play on them on all grand festivals.

Diese letzteren werden hauptsächlich von verlobten Jungfrauen verwendet, die sie bei allen großen Festen spielen.

As our manners are simple, our luxuries are few.

Da unsere Sitten einfach sind, sind unsere Luxusgüter gering.

The dress of both sexes is nearly the same.

Die Kleidung beider Geschlechter ist nahezu gleich.

It generally consists of a long piece of callico, or muslin, wrapped loosely round the body, somewhat in the form of a highland plaid.

Sie besteht im Allgemeinen aus einem langen Stück Kattun oder Musselin, das locker um den Körper gewickelt ist, etwas in der Form eines schottischen Plaids.

This is usually dyed blue, which is our favourite colour.

Dieser wird gewöhnlich blau gefärbt, was unsere Lieblingsfarbe ist.

It is extracted from a berry, and is brighter and richer than any I have seen in Europe.

Er wird aus einer Beere gewonnen und ist leuchtender und satter als alles, was ich in Europa gesehen habe.

Besides this, our women of distinction wear golden ornaments; which they dispose with some profusion on their arms and legs.

Darüber hinaus tragen unsere vornehmen Frauen goldene Schmuckstücke, die sie in reicher Fülle an ihren Armen und Beinen anlegen.

Vocabulary

erste
First in order or sequence
Abteilung
Division, department, or section of a group
enthält
Contains or includes something within it
verheirateten
Married, referring to people who are wed
Männer
Men, adult male persons
Tänzen
Dances, plural of Tanz (dance)
häufig
Frequently, often, or commonly occurring
Waffentaten
Acts of arms, feats performed with weapons
Darstellung
Representation, depiction, or portrayal of something
Schlacht
Battle, a large-scale military engagement
vorführen
To perform, demonstrate, or present to an audience
folgen
To follow, come after, or succeed in order
Frauen
Women, adult female persons
zweiten
Second in order or position
tanzen
To dance, move rhythmically to music
jungen
Young, referring to youth or age
besetzen
To occupy, fill, or take up a position
dritte
Third in order or sequence
Mädchen
Girls, young female persons
vierte
Fourth in order or sequence
stellt
Presents, represents, or depicts something
interessante
Interesting, capturing attention or curiosity
Szene
Scene, a depicted moment or setting
wirklichen
Real, actual, or true life
Leben
Life, existence or everyday living
etwa
Approximately, for example, or such as
Heldentat
Heroic deed or act of bravery
häusliche
Domestic, relating to home or household
Beschäftigung
Occupation, activity, or employment
ergreifende
Moving, touching, or emotionally gripping
Geschichte
Story or history, a narrative account
ländlichen
Rural, relating to the countryside
Sport
Sport, physical recreational activity
Thema
Theme, topic, or subject of discussion
Allgemeinen
General, in general or overall sense
jüngsten
Most recent or latest, superlative of 'jung'
Ereignis
Event, occurrence, or happening
beruht
Is based on or rests upon something
daher
Therefore, consequently, or for that reason
stets
Always, constantly, or at all times
neu
New, fresh, or recently encountered
verleiht
Lends, grants, or bestows a quality upon something
Geist
Mind, spirit, or intellect
Vielfalt
Variety, diversity, or wide range
kaum
Hardly, scarcely, or barely
anderswo
Elsewhere, in another place
gesehen
Seen, past participle of 'sehen' (to see)
viele
Many, a large number of something
Musikinstrumente
Musical instruments used to produce music
insbesondere
In particular, especially, or specifically
Trommeln
Drums, percussion instruments beaten with sticks
verschiedener
Various, of different kinds or types
Art
Kind, type, or sort of something
Musikstück
Piece of music, a musical composition
Gitarre
Guitar, a stringed musical instrument
ähnelt
Resembles or is similar to something
weiteres
Another, further, or additional one
ähnlich
Similar, resembling in appearance or nature
letzteren
The latter, referring to last-mentioned items
hauptsächlich
Mainly, primarily, or chiefly
verlobten
Betrothed, engaged to be married
Jungfrauen
Virgins or maidens, unmarried young women
verwendet
Used, employed, or applied for a purpose
Festen
Festivals or celebrations, festive occasions
spielen
To play, perform on an instrument or game
Sitten
Customs, manners, or social practices
einfach
Simple, plain, or uncomplicated
Luxusgüter
Luxury goods, expensive non-essential items
gering
Scarce, minimal, or of little quantity
Kleidung
Clothing, garments worn on the body
beider
Of both, referring to two groups together
Geschlechter
Genders or sexes, male and female
nahezu
Nearly, almost, or virtually identical
gleich
Equal, same, or identical
besteht
Consists of, is composed of something
Stück
Piece, a portion or section of something
Kattun
Calico, a plain-woven cotton fabric
Musselin
Muslin, a lightweight loosely woven cotton cloth
locker
Loosely, not tightly fitted or fastened
Körper
Body, the physical form of a person
gewickelt
Wrapped, wound around something
etwas
Somewhat, something, or a little
Form
Form, shape, or style of something
schottischen
Scottish, relating to Scotland or its culture
Plaids
Plaids, large tartan woolen shawls or blankets
gewöhnlich
Usually, ordinarily, or as a common practice
blau
Blue, the color blue
gefärbt
Dyed, colored with a pigment or dye
Lieblingsfarbe
Favorite color, preferred color choice
Beere
Berry, a small juicy fruit
gewonnen
Obtained, extracted, or won from a source
leuchtender
Brighter, more vivid or radiant in color
satter
More saturated or richer in color intensity
Europa
Europe, the continent
Darüber
Moreover, beyond that, or in addition
hinaus
Beyond, further, additionally (with 'darüber')
tragen
To wear or carry something on one's person
vornehmen
Distinguished, noble, or upper-class persons
goldene
Golden, made of or resembling gold
Schmuckstücke
Pieces of jewelry or ornamental accessories
reicher
Rich, abundant, or in great abundance
Fülle
Abundance, plenty, or a large amount
Armen
Arms, the upper limbs of the body
Beinen
Legs, the lower limbs of the body
anlegen
To put on, wear, or attach an accessory
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