Hello Joann Joann wrote: > > I am indexing and, with my limited knowledge of German, trying to > translate the family history one of my distant cousins compiled > ["Betscharts von Muotathal," Kanton Schwyz, ca. 1480-present -- will > do lookups!]. Here's some translation questions that have arisen from > doing this. Answers to any or all are appreciated! :) > > * Regierundgesüchtiger. Regierund is "government" and gesüchtiger is > "addicted," but what do they connote when you put them together? > Dictatorial? Rigid? Controlling? Here's the context: > > Amman Hans, wie er genannt wurde, war ein grober [grosser?], > unbescheidener und regierundgesüchtiger, bissiger Mann gegen > Geistlichen und Weltlichen, gegen welche er kein Respekt hatte. > Trotzdem war er Richter gewesen. > "Amman Hans, as he was known, was a crude, immodest, rigid, bitter > man who had no respect for either clergy or the laity. Nevertheless, > he was a judge." > > I know it's not complimentary -- see my sig line for the tentative > translation. Fortunately for me he is a distant cousin and not a > direct ancestor. Your translation is good, only two of the adjectives need a small correction: I wouldn't translate regierungssüchig with rigid, dictatorial is much better, it means something like he is addicted to / always wants to order everyone around, bissig is not really bitter more something like biting, sarcastic, incisive. > > * Hof. Translates as "yard," but if that's the case, then several of > my cousins owned yards. Whoopie. (On the other hand, it seems as > though every time someone buys a house, it is noted. Is it that big a > deal in Switzerland to own your own home?) Yes that's right but it has other meanings as well. Probably in this case it is short for Bauernhof meaning farm. > > * Wirtspatent. Seems to have something to do with restaurants. My > great-great uncle Xaver seems to have inherited the "Wirtspatent" > from my great-great grandfather, but he is also said to have > inherited the restaurant itself at a later date. In Switzerland an innkeeper has to have a Wirtspatent in order to be allowed to lead a restaurant or inn. It is something between a permit and a certificate which says that you have all the necessary skills to lead an inn. As far as I know it's not possible to inherit a Wirtspatent, at least not nowadays. > > * Schreinerei. Schreiner is a carpenter, I know, but I'm not sure > what a Schreinerei would be... The Schreinerei is where the carpenter works and / or it is the business of a carpenter. What is that in English? I couldn't find it in my dictionary. > > * Heimen vs. Haus. What's the distinction? Is a "Heimwesen" a country home? It depends a little on the context. Your Heim is your home, not only your house. Furthermore Heim is a little old-fashioned. > > * Alpfahrt. The journey to the alps with the cattle (or sheep) to the summer meadows. > > * Landwirtschaft -- I can't figure out if this is a farm or a real > estate business or something else all together. It's not the farm itself but the farming, the agriculture. > > * Matt. Turns up several times: Buobenmatt, Hausmatt... It depends a little on the context. Originally a Matte is a special kind of meadow. > > * Güter. "Er besass Vaters Güter." It depends a little on the context. It could mean the farms, or just some general goods. > > * Er [Josef Martin Betschart, 1761-1844] war der letzte Kastenvogt > des Landes Schwyz. Der Kastenvogt hatte die Aufgabe den Kasten > "Kriegskasse" zu bewahren. > I know the first sentence means "He was the last Kastenvogt of > Schwyz," and the following sentence has something to do with his > duties as Kastenvogt, but beyond that... I have no idea what a Kastenvogt was or what the meaning of Kasten in that context is, are you sure that it is spelled like this? Perhaps the Kasten means a cashbox. The rest of the sentence means: The 'Kastenvogt' had the task / duty to guard the 'Kasten' war cashbox. It probably means he had to administrate the war funds. > > Also: does anyone know why Schwyz (if not the entire country) > abolished the office of Kastenvogt? Perhaps too specific? ;-) > > I have GOT to learn how to read German, at least... :) > > Joann Betschart (Lunzä Schützenhaus) | http://www.c-zone.net/merlaan > "Amman Hans, as he was known, was a crude, immodest, rigid, bitter > man who had no respect for either clergy or the laity. Nevertheless, > he was a judge." > -- Brief biography of Hans Betschart (ca. 1580-1650) > > ==== SWITZERLAND Mailing List ==== > Support RootsWeb! Help provide FREE genealogical resources on the > Internet: http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html Hope this helps. Regards, Regula -- Regula Nebel Reinach BL, Switzerland