Erläuterungen zu
Es geschah im
Nachbarhaus
von Willi Fährmann
S. 5, Z. 5: Peter-und-Pauls-Tag: day
commemorating Sts. Peter and Paul: 29 June
6: Pumpe:
water pump, usually in the town square; typically a gathering place
beisammen=zusammen
8: fröhlicher
Ausgelassenheit: joyful exuberance
10:
haschte: reached, grabbed
12:
Goldener Apfel: Name eines Gasthauses
14:
Hinterhaus: back of the premises
19:
redete… ein: talked persuasively to
Satzfetzen:
sentence fragments
21: den rechten Bauern…: bowling terminology in nine-pin bowling,
different from ten-pin bowling
S. 6, Z. 2: Schyffer: Familienname
4: Hölzer: pins
5: Kranz:
bowling term
Kegeljunge: boy setting the pins
6: gelungenen
Wurf: successful throw
13:
Spreu: chaff: threshed husks of wheat
or other grain
21:
beschnitt den Docht: trimmed the wick
S. 7, Z. 7: Sie haben ihm…: They
slit his throat
13:
hättest… bleiben sollen: should have
stayed
14:
Hoffentlich…: Hopefully they won’t
pin that on us
15:
Keulenschlag: blow from a club,
crushing blow
16:
Mit einem Male=Plötzlich
17:
bezichtigt: accused (of—with
genitive)
18:
lief…: the rumor followed him to his
grave
20:
Häckselmesser: scythe for cutting
chaff
21:
schaukeln: to swing
22:
abgerutscht: slipped
23:
So…: Thus they exchanged this and
that conjecture
27:
Kann… gefallen sein: Might… have
fallen
34:
Grippewinter: flu season
war niemals…: had never got(ten) over it
S. 8, Z. 1: steckt=ist
5: Wirtschaft=Gasthaus
voller Neugieriger: full of curiosity
seekers
10:
hockte: was squatting
14:
strich ihr…: rubbed her hand over her
back, in a gently consoling manner
19:
Natron: baking soda (as antacid)
21:
tuschelte=flüsterte: whispered
22:
als…: when he had taken care of his
task
-2-
S. 8, Z. 25: wie wenig...: how little neighborly consolation was able to do, and
took their leave
27: Dieser
und jener: This and that person
30:
Öchschenschlachten: literally:
slaughtering of a little ox
32:
herumgefuchtelt habe: had been
brandishing
habe=hat(te)
Ihr sei damals ganz anders geworden: She
was close to fainting at the time
34:
die sonderbarste=die sonderbarste
Einzelheit: the strangest detail
S. 9, Z. 11: Schließlich…: They end up pinning it on a gypsy or Jew
17:
der sich…: who sticks out from their
community
18:
Sei es auch nur: Even if it’s only
19:
ängstliches…: stepping fearfully out
of the way on the sidewalk
21:
die Geschäfte…: business falls off
25:
Nicht, dass…: Not that he would have
used a noose
35:
Irrsinn=Wahnsinn: (it’s) madness
S. 10, Z. 1: schwirrrten die Gerüchte:
rumors were flying
2: scharten
sich: flocked around
6:
sei=war
8:
seit
eh und je: for ever (and a day)
9: ein
zugewiesener Preuße: a Prussian assigned to the area
mochte...: might have had a different
opinion
10:
aber ihm…: but they avoided him
12:
versteigert: auctioned (off)
13:
Stare: starlings (a type of bird)
14:
herbeizuschaffen: to bring to the
spot
16:
da fand…: he wasn’t to be found
19:
Die Vermutung…: The conjecture was
raised
21:
Genaueres: anything more exact, more
exact details
Auch wollte…gesehen haben: In addition, this or that person claimed to have
seen
22:
Landstreicher: vagabonds, bums
23:
wie das…: as is typical of vagrants
25:
bereitet=gemacht
Aber gleich…: But new ones immediately
surfaced
26: Nach…:
After much reflection the vagabonds were considered the likeliest possibility
28: zumal:
especially since
29: hatten…:
had forbidden her to open her mouth
S. 11, Z. 1: Gier nach: eagerness (to hear) about
5: allereli Kindergut: all
types of things that belonged to the children
6: Kandiszucker: sugar candy
10:
fand erst: only came to an inglorious
end
-3-
S. 11, Z. 12: mit seiner…: with his finger-thick hazel switch gave him three
lashes across the seat of his pants
17: fuhr…an: snapped at
26:
Falte: furrow (in his brow)
28:
am helllichten Tage: in broad
daylight
29: keiner=niemand
32:
Hochamt: high mass
S. 12, Z. 2: schaltete sich ein:
joined in (the conversation)
3:
die
Grabsteine…zu schlagen: carve tombstones
10:
Steinmetz: stone mason
11:
manchen Griff: some tips (about
stonework)
18:
Lachfältchen: little laugh lines
27:
ins schiefe…: come into a bad light
33:
streut aus: is spreading rumors
35:
habe=hat
S. 13, Z. 1: weiß der Kuckuck: who
knows?
Es wird gemunkelt: Rumor has it
3:
Passah:
Passover
9:
um
seines Blutes willen: because of, for his blood
17:
Keiner…: No one will believe us
capable of a murder
23:
Knecht: worker
25:
der Neue=der neue Polizist
hinter uns her: after us
29:
Meiner=Mein Vater
31:
Soll er: Let him
32:
ließ sich… schmecken: enjoyed
S. 14, Z. 1: Schächter: kosher
(Jewish) butcher
12:
büffeln: cram
16:
brummelt: is rumbling
17:
Das wird…: That will have been/That
was probably a wagon
19:
Von dort oben aus: From up there
21:
Dicht…: The houses crowd closely
together in a hollow
25:
im Bogen: in an arch
28:
zupfte=pflückte
29:
Da zuckte ein Blitz auf: A bolt of
lightning shot up
31:
Sie rauschten auf: They (the
treetops) rustled
33:
und…: and set on their way
36:
schwer herniederschlugen: fell down
heavily
-4-
S. 15, Z. 1: Wir schaffen es nicht mehr:
We won’t make it
5: der Ewige Jude: the
Wandering Jew: in literary and popular legend, a Jew who mocked or mistreated
Jesus while he was on his way to the cross and who was condemned therefore to a
life of wandering on earth until Judgment Day.
8: prasselte herab: pattered, pelted down
9:
Hainbuchenhecke:
hedge of hornbeam (of the birch family)
12:
Durchschlupf: hole, way through
13:
Ein Spalt…: A crack opened up
16: wich… aus:
avoided
und
strebte…: and strove toward the gigantic tree
17: Totenackers=Friedhofs
bildete:
formed, made up
19:
zwängte sich: squeezed himself
21:
sich zurechtgesetzt hatten: had
settled in
24: Durch den
Spalt…: Through the crack glistened the dazzlig light of the lightning
bolts.
Die Donnerschläge…: The thunderclaps
followed one right after the other
25:
rückten…: scooted up right next to
each other
27:
Linde: linden tree
29:
Karl…: Karl was content with the situation
32:
aufzuckte: see note to p. 14, l. 29
35:
eine gespreitzte Hand: a hand with
the fingers spread apart
S. 16, Z. 1: Zeigefinger: index
finger
3: und
machte es ihm vor: and showed (demonstrated to) him how
18:
Es ging…auf: It was a matter of
19:
der Euren: one of your kind, one of
your people
21:
23:
Sie sollten…: They supposedly brought
about the disaster
26:
fielen…her: attacked
31:
mahnen: admonish
fremdes Volk: foreigners
das sich…: that armed, readied itself
for a crusade
32:
Es hätte…: It would not have taken
much
35:
Judensteuer: tax on Jews
36:
Darlehen in Geldnöten: loans in times
of monetary need
S. 17, Z. 2: des Bistums: of the
bishopric
3: Aufgehetzte:
Incited, Provoked
12:
Was hast du: What’s the matter
14:
deiner=dein Freund
16: Baumspalt: crack in the tree
17:
Es hat eingeschlagen: Lightning’s
struck
21:
bergenden: sheltering
25:
Spritze: fire engine
Niederung: lowland, low-lying area
26:
Pferdegespann: horse-drawn wagon
Schläuche: hoses
-5-
S. 17, Z. 28: Jungs=Jungen: boys,
fellows
Brandmeister: fire marshall, chief
zeigt…show what your arms can do
S. 18, Z. 1: Pumpenbalken: arms of
the pump
2: zwängten
sich zur Verstärkung: forced their way as reinforcement
4: peitschte…:
whipped along the rhythmn
Zubringerschlauch:
feeder hose
9: stieß…hervor: emitted, blurted out
11: Pumpenzügen: pumping motions
12: waren… vergangen: faded, died out
17: schlappmachen:
slack off, give up
19: Notdienst:
emergency duty
zufassen:
lend a hand
23: dampfte:
gave off steam
24: Aufseufzend:
Letting out a (big) sigh
29: Zügeln:
reins
32: Schellenriemen:
the strap for ringing the bell
34: es…ginge=sie…gingen:
were going
S. 19, Z. 2: befand sich=war
Ladenschelle:
the bell in a store that rings when the door is opened
6: Klöppel: clapper (of the bell)
9: Sekretär: writing desk
14: zum=ging ich
zum
18: herausgerutscht:
slipped out
20: fuhr
zusammen: gave a start, was startled
Scher dich
hinaus: Go away, Get out of here
24: Rechenschaft
geben: give an account
27: dicht:
close(ly)
33: Aber…:
But we have to make an effort, take pains
36: habe=hat
sei=ist
S. 20, Z. 11: Hochamt: see note to p. 11, l. 32
17: Franziskanerbruder:
Franciscan brother (monk)
19: gewesen
sein muss: must have been
20:
Engel des Herrn: the angelus, a
prayer in the Catholic church
21:
Stundennachweis…: hourly record of
the mother’s whereabouts
23:
mochte gehört haben: might have heard
25:
auf: for
28:
bange: fearful, anxious
31:
Todestag…: anniversary of my mother’s
death
32: Jahrzeitlicht anzustecken: to light a commemorative candle marking
the year since his mother’s death
-6-
S. 21, Z. 4: davon=weg
Sigi…: Sigi laughed at them as they went
away
5: Stein=Grabstein:
tombstone
7: Arglos…: Unsuspecting he
ran his eyes over the first signs of the (city) walls that rose up around him
10: Unwetter=Gewitter:
storm
13: des
Vortages: of the previous day
14: Luken:
dormer windows, trapdoors
16:
ausgestorben: dead, like a morgue
23:
Messdiener: acolytes
voran: in front
24:
der Leichenzug: funeral procession
wollte…: just would not end
25:
schien…teilzunehmen: seemed to have
agreed to take part in the funeral
27: Was…: Regarding the women, fewer than thirty weren’t present
28: waren…: were represented less numerously
Bruderschaften: workers’ fraternities, organizations
S. 22, Z. 4: die Perlen des Rosenkranzes: the beads
of the rosary
6: das Kaddisch-Gebet: Jewish mourners’ prayer in praise of God
8: Wall: rampart
zum Friedhof hin: in the direction of the cemetery
9: Gittertor: iron gate
15: manch verwunderter: many a surprised
22: schaute…hinweg: peered
over
24: gerade richtig: at just the right moment
27: schmal: slender, thin
31: ehe=bevor; Noch ehe: Even before
35: verklingenden: fading
S. 23, Z. 1: brummelte…: he muttered to himself
5: muß…gewesen sein: see
note to p. 20, l. 19.
noch toller: even crazier
6: Anwesen: property
13: bislang: up to then
18: schwappte…über: splashed,
spilled over
netzte: wetted, got wet
19: Tischplatte: tabletop
21: fuhr…an: snapped at
31: glitzernde Spuren: glittering, sparkling traces, tracks
33: schnäuzte…sich: blew his nose
S. 24, Z. 2: Mief: bad air, stench
5: übertönte: drowned out
7: Er hat…: He had foregone
his usual gossiping with
9: meldete sich: came
forward
10: Silbentrennung: syllable
division
-7-
S. 24, Z. 11: das Pult: lectern
Haselnussstock: see p. 11, l. 12 and note
13: wird es bald: I’m waiting
15: dabei: while doing so
(saying it)
21: Das bekam…: He felt that all too well.
23: vorläufig: for the time
being
27: Och=Ach
28: Schlußtag: final day of
school
32: Der Lehrer…: The teacher ignored the remark
33: Los ging es…: Then it all started
S. 25, Z. 2: vergrault: is ruining, spoiling
7: aufgefordert: called on
him
8: Baggerloch: dredged pit
dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft: steamship line
kapitän: captain
9: das Kribbeln: tingling,
i.e., he got weak in the knees
18: Selbstlauten: vowel
22: mit mühsam verhaltener Stimme:
in a voice he could barely restrain
24: wie…: as the teacher up to
now had wished for in vain
26: keck: daring
28: wie gebannt: as though
spellbound
29: Frechdachs: cheeky,
impudent rascal
30: Männchen…: sat up begging
and stroked its beard
33: verfehlte: missed
34: machte einen Satz: leaped
up
35: hätte…: wouldn’t have even
needed to give the command “catch it”
36: Das Geschrei…: The uproar was equal to that of a real battue (i.e.,
a hunt whereby the bushes are beaten to drive out game)
S. 26, Z. 2: wie irr: crazily
6: die Gunst: favor,
advantage
10: hätte… nicht vermutet:
wouldn’t have ever suspected you as part of this uproar
12: Krach: Slam
14: Oje: short for O Jesus
das Gewitter…: the storm wasn’t long in coming
16: beschrieben: written up
ungehobelt: uncouth
begriffsstutzig: obtuse, slow-witted
lahm: feeble, sluggish
23: unerwünscht: unwelcome
26: ausgerechnet: precisely
22: nachsitzen: stay after
class
24: unerbittlich: unyielding
25: eine Bitte um Gnade
anzubringen versuchte: tried to offer a plea for mercy
27: Konferenz: teachers’
conference
-8-
S. 26, Z. 27: müsse: would have to go
28: laufen lasse: would
let them go
29: Lauter...: Nothing but
whole numbers
30: Langweiliger Kram: boring
stuff
33: mit Donnergetöse: with the
deafening roar of thunder
34: ausgelassen: unruly
S. 27, Z. 3: schnupperte: sniffed
11: Kessel: kennel, cage
14: herbeigeschrien wurde: was
(not) attracted by the yelling
Geschimpfe: cursing
15: verbissen: grim, obstinate
18: Zickzack: zigzag(ging)
24: Knicker: pocket knives
26: Muttersöhnchen: Momma’s
boy
29: davon=weg
30: Wurfgeschoss: projectile,
missle
S. 28, Z. 7: Tierquälerei: cruelty to animals
8: Quer… schlug es auf:
Right across the back… it struck
9: wälzte sich: rolled
quoll: streamed
11: gut gezielt: good shot
15: gemein! Hundsgemein!: awful, vile
19: fuhren um: quickly turned
around
S. 29, Z. 4: abgemacht: agreed
6: vereinbart: agreed upon
schafften: managed, did
9: Streuselkuchen: crumb
cake
16: warf den Kopf in den Nacken:
threw back his head
17: begütigte: placated
20: Kriminalkommissar: police
inspector, detective
Licht…bringen: shed light
24: Tatort: scene of the crime
25: mit gewaltigem Schnauzbart:
with an enormous moustache
vervollständigte: completed
26: Sieht eher…: Looks more
like a blacksmith
27: Kaka: doodoo
Kakadü: a play on Kakadu:
cocatoo
32: schmunzelte: smirked,
grinned
34: wegfahre=wegfährt; gehe=geht
36: derweil: in the meantime
Dann war es so weit: Then the time had come
S. 30, Z. 2: ließ es sich nicht nehmen: insisted on
6: ließ…: put up with his
aunt’s warnings
-9-
S. 30, Z. 8: alles…: it had all happened before
10: Bahnhofsvorsteher:
stationmaster
12: behäbiger: easy-going
14: verschmähte: disdained
15: Nebenabteil: second class
16: bumste ins Schloss: banged
shut
17: ruckte an: lurched
18: äffte…nach: aped, imitated
29: Du spinnst: You’re crazy
31: stieren: stare
36: Blödmann=Idiot
S. 31, Z. 3:
4: Unterhaltung=Gespräch,
Konversation
7: entrüstete sich eine Frau:
a woman replied indignantly
8: Herr: gentleman
Fine: Name der Frau
11: tuschelte: see note to p.
8, l. 21
12: machte lange Ohren:
listened inquisitively
16: Mediziner: medical student
23: beobachtet hätte: had
observed
24: gelockt worden ist: was
enticed
25: fuhr…dazwischen:
intervened
26: ehrlich…: honest to the
core
27: Er käme zu nichts: He’s
not after anything, i.e., money
33: Kakadü…: With a few
“wells” and “ahas” Kakadü was content with keeping the torrent of gossip from
the ladies flowing
36: dass die Wunde…: folk
superstition had it that the wounds of a murdered person would begin to bleed
again when the murderer was present
S. 32, Z. 2: nachsagen: reproach
3: mir nichts, dir nichts:
without much thought, boldly