Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
dwaallichtjes
English translation:
wisps, Will-o'-the-Wisps, fenlights, etc.
Added to glossary by
Johan Venter
Feb 15, 2006 13:27
18 yrs ago
Dutch term
Czech Republic
dwaallichtjes
Dutch to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Ghost stories
Het oude kasteel is spookachtig verlicht deze nacht.Door de hoge ramen schijnt groen en violet licht.De grote kasteelpoort staat wagenwijd open en de kasteeltuin wordt verlicht door witte dwaallichtjes die boven de grond zweven.De oude torenklok slaat twaalf uur.Opgeschrikt door de zware klok fladderen de vleermuizen en de torenuilen door de nacht.En precies na de laatste klokslag begint het spookfeest.Het grote botten-en beenderenorgel begint te spelen en in en rondom het spookachtig verlichte kasteel dansen witte spookgedaantes.
This is what Babylon gives me about Dwaallichtje: phosphorous light which hovers over the ground in marshy areas; something delusive or misleading (from Latin "foolish fire"). Obviously I can't use phosphorous light in children's literarure.
Does anyone perhaps have a better suggestion? FWIW, this is intended for the US market.
This is what Babylon gives me about Dwaallichtje: phosphorous light which hovers over the ground in marshy areas; something delusive or misleading (from Latin "foolish fire"). Obviously I can't use phosphorous light in children's literarure.
Does anyone perhaps have a better suggestion? FWIW, this is intended for the US market.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | wisps/ Will-o'-the-Wisps |
Björn Houben
|
| 4 +2 | will-o'-the-wisps |
Friso Holtkamp (X)
|
| 4 +1 | little white lanterns |
Theodora OB
|
| 4 | ghost lights |
D.K. Tannwitz
|
| 4 | magical lights |
Kate Hudson (X)
|
| 4 | will-o-wisp -> fire-flies (this context) |
Edward Vreeburg
|
Proposed translations
+2
5 mins
Björn Houben
Belgium
Belgium
Native in Dutch
Works in field
Belgium
Get the quality you need
Native in: Flemish 
, Dutch
Works in: English to Dutch, French to Dutch, English to Flemish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
wisps/ Will-o'-the-Wisps
Aka :, Faery Lights, Hobbedy's Lantern, St. Elmo's Fire, Elf Fire, Jack-o-Lantern, Will-o'-the-Whisp,, Willowisps, Will-o'-Light, Bob-A-Longs, Night Whispers, Fire Faeries, Jenny Burnt-Tail , Hunky Punky, Teine Sith, Huckpoten, Irrbloss, Les Eclaireux, Candelas, Ruskaly, fox fire, ignis fatuus
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thought I'd already closed this question... Never mind.
Thank you for all the contributions, gave me a lot to choose from."
+2
5 mins
will-o'-the-wisps
This is what Van Dale offers, with fenlights as a good alternative.
4 mins
D.K. Tannwitz
Germany
Germany
Specializes in field
Germany
Industrial diversity
Native in: German (Variants: Germany, Platt / Nieder (Low German), Bavarian, Austrian)
Works in: German to English, Dutch to German, English to German, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
ghost lights
fen fires
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Note added at 6 mins (2006-02-15 13:33:51 GMT)
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will-o'-wisps
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Note added at 6 mins (2006-02-15 13:33:51 GMT)
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will-o'-wisps
7 mins
magical lights
Depending on the age the story is aimed at you could use magical lights or lamps. That would keep the mood of the story - or mysterious lights .
1 hr
Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
Netherlands
Translate ED - the Dutch IT specialist
Native in: Dutch 
Works in: English to Dutch, French to Dutch, German to Dutch, and 4 more.
will-o-wisp -> fire-flies (this context)
Wikipedia : Een dwaallicht is een blauwachtig lichtje boven moerassen en kerkhoven. Volgens sommige volkssagen zouden het de zielen van ongedoopte en/of doodgeboren kinderen zijn. De dwaallichtjes zouden mensen het water in lokken.
De natuurkundige verklaring voor dwaallichtjes is de langzame ontvlamming van moerasgas, dat voornamelijk bestaat uit methaan
======
In dit geval is 'Will o wisp" iets wat toch bijzonder evil is, misschien iets te sterk zijn, ik denk in dit geval eerder aan fire-flies of iets dergelijks.
(A winged nocturnal light-producing insect usually producing a bright soft intermittent light without semsible heat by oxidation of luciferin.)
De natuurkundige verklaring voor dwaallichtjes is de langzame ontvlamming van moerasgas, dat voornamelijk bestaat uit methaan
======
In dit geval is 'Will o wisp" iets wat toch bijzonder evil is, misschien iets te sterk zijn, ik denk in dit geval eerder aan fire-flies of iets dergelijks.
(A winged nocturnal light-producing insect usually producing a bright soft intermittent light without semsible heat by oxidation of luciferin.)
+1
4 hrs
Theodora OB
Native in Dutch
&
English
Specializes in field
multilingual, with years of experience
Native in: Dutch , English
Works in: Italian to English, Dutch to English, Russian to English, and 1 more.
little white lanterns
will o' the wisp actually means elusive, deceptive thing, although I know dwaallichtjes is translated that way in the dictionary. Swaying lanterns is what the image in context conjures.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2006-02-15 18:24:46 GMT)
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'zweven' conveys the swaying.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2006-02-15 18:24:46 GMT)
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'zweven' conveys the swaying.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
vic voskuil
: it is difficult to imagine will o´the wisp in a garden, even if it´s a really big one
2 hrs
|
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