Talk:poltergeist

Etymology

Please change

German Polter (“rumble”) + Geist (“spirit”).

to

German Polter (“rumble”) + Geist (“ghost”).

The German source 'Geist' has both translations 'spirit' and 'ghost', but here it is clearly 'ghost', compare to definition of 'poltergeist':

A ghost which makes noises and causes disruption.

LEO translations of 'Geist' [1]

Following the argument under 'Etymology':

Related terms

• zeitgeist

'zeitgeist' is certainly a related term, but putting it here suggests that 'Geist' in 'zeitgeist' is the same 'Geist' as in 'poltergeist'.

It is not. One is the 'spirit of the time' (abstract) and the other one an actual ghost-like figure haunting some house. Therefore, getting back to the first point: Please change German Polter (“rumble”) + Geist (“spirit”). to German Polter (“rumble”) + Geist (“ghost”). because it is about the ghost figure, not about the abstract spirit.

English spirit has both meanings; German (deprecated template usage) Geist has both meanings. Therefore, English spirit is a better translation for Geist, even though ghost is a cognate. The English meaning of ghost no longer carries the same breadth of senses present in German Geist'. --EncycloPetey 03:30, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

I agree with the comment of the anonymous user. Why use a more broad translation when the specific one in this context is better? BTW, the first part is derived from the verb poltern (“to rumble”). The German noun Polter does not have the meaning "rumble"; it means a storage area for timber (see the German Wikipedia), this is completely unrelated to Poltergeist --Zeitlupe 03:44, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

I made a mistake by not realising that spirit even had this broader sense and also meant:

- A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel. Thank you for letting me know that.

But still (thanks for the support, Zeitlupe) 'Geist' alone has a broarter sense and should be translated 'spirit', which has the same broad sense.

However, in 'Poltergeist' '..geist' is clearly specified as the supernatural being. Quoting Zeitlupe: Why use a broader translation when a more specific one in this context is available? The '..geist' in 'poltergeist' does not have any of the other possible meanings of 'spirit', only the one: ghost. --Steven (formerly known as anonymous user) 04:09, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Zeitlupe is right. 'Polter' in German: [2]

Geist means both spirit (liquor) and ghost. e.g. 'himbeergeist' (raspberry spirit) a schnapps made from raspberries.