German: Translation of the opening phrase

[Peter Stevens]

Original: We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it.

German:  Wir erschließen bessere Wege, Software zu entwickeln, indem wir es selbst tun und anderen dabei helfen.

Last year, I had a long talk with Alistair Cockburn at Scrum Day Portugal about the meaning of the first sentence. He explained to me that there is a lot packed in there, and I have come to believe that the German translation misses the mark.

"We are uncovering better ways" -- the metaphor was an archeologist, digging and discovering new stuff. The archeologist doesn't create the artifacts, just unearths them. The good ideas are already there, waiting to be discovered. So the authors of the manifesto, are like everyone else: practitioners digging in the dirt, occasionally discovering something precious, and learning from each other by sharing with each other.

The current German translation, "Wir erschließen bessere Wege..." translates back to "we are opening up better ways..." and conjures images of trailblazers, going boldly, where no one without a bulldozer has gone before ;-) It kind of puts the 17 up on a pedestal, which was not the intention of the original text.

I don't have a suggested alternative, but I am hoping someone here (with stronger German credentials than I have) can suggest a better phrasing.

Best,

Peter (S)

[Ilja Preuß]

Hi Peter,

it doesn't quite evoke the same image for me. For me, it's more that of scouts going through uncharted territory, drawing maps for everyone who comes after them.

But even with your image, I don't see how it would put the 17 on a pedestal. Just grab your own bulldozer and join in! ;)

Having said that, I don't think it's a perfect translation. I just can't think of a better one...

Love, Ilja