German Translation Research Articles

Artur Leist o literaturze (nie tylko) gruzińskiej

Arthur Leist (8 July 1852, Breslau – 22 March 1927, Tiflis) was a German writer, journalist, and translator of Georgian and Armenian literature. He was born and educated in Breslau. In Poland he published, among other works, The Sketches from Georgia (Warsaw 1885; German edition: Georgien: Natur, Sitten und Bewohner, 1885). He died in Tiflis and was buried in the Didube Pantheon. This paper presents Leist’s statements about Georgian literature and Western European, Russian, and Armenian literature, based on The Sketches from Georgia and the article About the Georgian Literature (Ateneum 1884). The paper consists of four chapters: 1. Preface (Leist’s biography, Andrzej Woźniak’s research, Leist’s publications in Poland, etc.); 2. The echoes of European literature (Russian romantics – A. Pushkin, M. Lermontov – about the Caucasus, A. Griboyedov, G. Byron and Byronism, translations of Mickiewicz’s poetry into Georgian, etc.) 3. Georgian literature (Shota Rustaveli, N. Baratashvili, I. Chavchavadze, etc.) 4. Around the opinions of literary critics. Instead of a conclusion, the paper includes reviews of The Sketches from Georgia in periodicals such as Ateneum, Kurier Codzienny, and Przegląd Literacki, as well as Leist’s relationship with Friedrich Bodenstedt and his journalistic style.

Transtextual Paths: Dream of the Red Chamber as a Source of Borgesian Labyrinth

Abstract With a book review published in the Argentine magazine El Hogar in 1937, Jorge Luis Borges was arguably the first author to introduce the Chinese classic Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦) to the Spanish-speaking world. By investigating Borges’s under-examined book review, this article starts with a comparative analysis of the German translation and Borges’s reception of Dream. First, I demonstrate how omissions and interpretations by the German translator Franz Kuhn contribute to Borges’s partial reading of this Chinese novel. Next, leveraging Gérard Genette’s concepts of transtextuality, my analysis situates Dream of the Red Chamber as a hypotext of Borges’s canonical short story “El jardín de senderos que se bifurcan” (“The Garden of Forking Paths”). I argue that “El jardín” not only inherits the narrative and philosophical essence of its Chinese source, but the figurative labyrinth created therein transcends Borges’s initial equivocations about the translated text. Ultimately, I contend that Borges’s ‘transreading’ of Dream of the Red Chamber shapes the crucial themes of dream and doubleness in his later works. Although the translator’s mediation results in Borges’s partial interpretation of the Chinese novel, the Argentine writer constructs a unique labyrinth – his philosophical and literary quintessence – in his creative rewritings and adaptations.

Registered Report: Self-Control Beyond Inhibition—German Translation and Quality Assessment of the Self-Control Strategy Scale (SCSS)

Self-control is crucial for goal attainment and related to several beneficial outcomes, such as health and education. For a long time, it was predominantly understood in terms of inhibition, namely the ability to suppress immediate urges for the sake of long-term goals. Still, research on other self-control strategies has a longstanding tradition and recent research has moved towards a broader approach, integrating different strategies of self-control (e.g., reappraisal or pre-commitment) to gain a more comprehensive perspective on relevant processes in goal protection. The current study aimed to translate and validate the Self-Control Strategy Scale (SCSS, Katzir et al., 2021) to enable its application in German speaking populations while assuring high measurement quality. Across 5 studies (N = 3,400), we assessed the internal structure, reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. Additionally, the strategies’ relationship with several self-control outcomes (e.g., achievement, health behavior, or pro-environmental behavior) were tested. The assumed eight-factor structure was confirmed, internal consistency and retest reliability were sufficient for most subscales and the model was invariant between gender and age groups. Convergent and discriminant validity were overall adequate. Different associations emerged between strategies and outcomes, depending on the outcome domain. Thus, the SCSS appears to be a valid and reliable measure, which can be used in German. The results provide a good starting point for future research on the utility of self-control strategies in different domains.

Response accuracy of GPT-4 across languages: insights from an expert-level diagnostic radiology examination in Japan.

This study aims to investigate the effects of language selection and translation quality on Generative Pre-trained Transformer-4 (GPT-4)'s response accuracy to expert-level diagnostic radiology questions. We analyzed 146 diagnostic radiology questions from the Japan Radiology Board Examination (2020-2022), with consensus answers provided by two board-certified radiologists. The questions, originally in Japanese, were translated into English by GPT-4 and DeepL and into German and Chinese by GPT-4. Responses were generated by GPT-4 five times per question set per language. Response accuracy was compared between languages using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction or the Mann-Whitney U test. Scores on selected English questions translated by a professional service and GPT-4 were also compared. The impact of translation quality on GPT-4's performance was assessed by linear regression analysis. The median scores (interquartile range) for the 146 questions were 70 (68-72) (Japanese), 89 (84.5-95.5) (GPT-4 English), 64 (55.5-67) (Chinese), and 56 (46.5-67.5) (German). Significant differences were found between Japanese and English (p = 0.002) and between Japanese and German (p = 0.022). The counts of correct responses across five attempts for each question were significantly associated with the quality of translation into English (GPT-4, DeepL) and German (GPT-4). In a subset of 31 questions where English translations yielded fewer correct responses than Japanese originals, professionally translated questions yielded better scores than those translated by GPT-4 (13 versus 8 points, p = 0.0079). GPT-4 exhibits higher accuracy when responding to English-translated questions compared to original Japanese questions, a trend not observed with German or Chinese translations. Accuracy improves with higher-quality English translations, underscoring the importance of high-quality translations in improving GPT-4's response accuracy to diagnostic radiology questions in non-English languages and aiding non-native English speakers in obtaining accurate answers from large language models.

„Hál’ Istennek abban a könyvben, amibe belekezdtem, nincs Rezeda Kázmér...”

Functional cognitive linguistics and cognitive stylistics provide the linguistic background and methodological foundations of this paper. The most significant tenet of cognitive stylistics is the proposition that the formation of linguistic structures does not function merely as stylistic embellishments; instead, style represents an integral aspect of textual meaning. Names created by literary naming can be interpreted and analysed as defining elements of style. Following an introduction to the theory of language and style, the paper examines the fundamental issues of translating literary proper names. The most relevant question is whether it is necessary or possible to translate proper names in literary works. The following section presents an analysis of the significance of naming in Krúdy’s prose, followed by an examination of the main types of Krúdy’s names with ironic stylistic purpose. The third section analyses the German translations of Krúdy’s ironic names. In conclusion, it can be stated that the appropriate reproduction of Krúdy’s ironic names, which reflects the stylistic effect and meaning formation of the source language, is a particularly challenging task for translators. It is not uncommon to observe that connotational meanings and shades of meaning present in source language texts are not fully conveyed in translation. In certain instances, pre-existing linguistic coincidences (e.g., Hungarian Rezeda ‘reseda’ – German Reseda ‘reseda’) can assist in the translation process. In other cases, however, the translator’s professionalism, linguistic sophistication, and creativity are crucial to ensure such names’ accurate and effective translation.

A Delphi method approach to consensus - based translation of ‘Second Victim’ definition into German

Abstract Background Healthcare providers involved in unanticipated adverse patient events, unintentional healthcare errors, or patient injuries, and who become negatively impacted, are defined as ‘Second Victims’. The term Second Victim has gained substantial attention since its inception around 2000, yet lacks a standardized definition in the German context. This study addresses this gap by proposing a consensus-based translation of the term into German, aiming to foster understanding and facilitate research comparability. Methods A Delphi method approach was employed, engaging a panel of German-speaking, clinically and scientifically active Second Victim experts. The study was conducted using an online survey and commenced with the reference of the consensus- and evidence-based definition from the European Researchers’ Network Working on Second Victim (ERNST) published in 2022. Results Nine out of eleven invited experts participated in the study, contributing to a robust consensus-building process. Through three Delphi rounds, a consensus rate of 90% was attained for the translation of the international definition of a Second Victim. The resulting definition provides a comprehensive understanding of the term within the German context. Conclusions This Delphi study establishes a formal consensus among recognized experts, delivering a German-language, evidence-based definition of the term Second Victim. It serves as a crucial foundation for understanding and further researching the Second Victim phenomenon within the German-speaking healthcare community. Key messages • Consensus-based German translation of Second Victim enhances clarity in healthcare discourse. • Delphi method with German experts yields unified definition, promoting the coherence of patient safety research.

Depression symptoms, wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and diabetes-related distress in novel subtypes of recent-onset diabetes in Germany: a 5-year observational follow-up study.

The subjective experiences of individuals living with diabetes is commonly assessed with patient-reported outcomes (PROs; eg, depression symptoms, wellbeing, health-related quality of life [HRQOL], and diabetes-related distress). Cluster analyses have identified novel diabetes subtypes differing in phenotypic and metabolic characteristics. We aimed to investigate associations between these subtypes and PROs and whether subtype predicted PROs 5 years later. Baseline (<12 months after a diabetes diagnosis) and 5-year follow-up data were collected from German Diabetes Study (GDS) participants. Multiple regressions were applied to analyse associations between diabetes subtypes and depression symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), wellbeing (WHO-5), HRQOL (SF-36), and diabetes-related distress (Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale). Cluster analyses at baseline (n=1391) identified participants with severe autoimmune diabetes (SAID, 417 [30%]), severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD, 33 [2%]), severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD, 150 [11%]), mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD, 354 [25%]), and mild age-related diabetes (MARD, 437 [31%]). At baseline, multiple regression analyses showed that participants with SIRD had higher depression symptoms than participants with MARD and lower physical HRQOL than all other subtypes. Participants with SAID reported higher depression symptoms and lower mental HRQOL than participants with MARD, higher physical HRQOL than participants with MARD and MOD, and higher diabetes-related distress than most other subtypes. At the 5-year follow-up, clustering predicted no statistically significant changes in PROs after adjustment for multiple testing, whereas descriptive analyses demonstrated that individuals with SIRD were more likely to experience clinically relevant depression symptoms (16% vs 6%) and low wellbeing (31% vs 14%), respectively, than individuals with MARD. Diabetes subtypes already differ in PROs at diabetes diagnosis. Our analyses had limited predictive power during follow-up. However, our findings suggest that clustering could predict future changes in depression symptoms. The GDS was initiated and financed by the German Diabetes Center, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to the German Center for Diabetes Research. For the German translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Validating scores from the short form of the Music Self-Perception Inventory (MUSPI-S) with seventh- to ninth-grade school students in Germany

The Music Self-Perception Inventory-Short (MUSPI-S) is a theoretically based instrument consisting of 28 items with subscales that assess music self-concept globally and in six specific areas. The present study sought to validate a German translation of the MUSPI-S using a sample of 444 secondary school students. In addition to participants’ scores from the German translation of the MUSPI-S, associated data included demographic background variables, self-reported school grades in various subjects, and interest in the school subject of music. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesized factor structure and measurement model for MUSPI-S scores. Latent factor correlations among MUSPI-S subscale scores and correlations of these scores with school grades and interest in the school subject of music aligned well with theoretical expectations and previous research. Findings also provided evidence for strict measurement invariance of scores in the German MUSPI-S across subgroups of gender, school year (i.e., grade level), and musical activity. MUSPI-S subscale factor-level means did not reliably differ among seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade students but favored females over males and musically active over non-active students on nearly all subscales. Overall, this evidence supports the use of the German translation of the MUSPI-S in assessing a wide range of important self-perceived musical abilities for research and practical assessment purposes.

Comparison of loudness calculation procedures according to ISO 532-1 and DIN 45631/A1

In 2017, the standard ISO 532-1:2017 "Method for calculating loudness - Part 1: Zwicker method" was published. The method described in this standard for calculating loudness of time-varying sounds is based on the algorithm published in DIN 45631/A1:2010 "Calculation of loudness level and loudness from the sound spectrum - Zwicker method - Amendment 1: Calculation of the loudness of time-variant sound". With the publication of the German translation of ISO 532-1:2017 (DIN ISO 532-1:2022) in 2022, there are currently two DIN standards available that describe the calculation of loudness using the Zwicker method for time-varying sounds. In this paper, the two methods, described in ISO 532-1:2017 and in DIN 45631/A1:2010, are compared and the extent to which the calculated loudness of the two methods differs is investigated. These results are used to check whether the results of ISO 532-1:2017 are within the tolerances for loudness calculation described in DIN 45631/A1:2010.

Effect of the i2TransHealth e-health intervention on psychological distress among transgender and gender diverse adults from remote areas in Germany: a randomised controlled trial

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people in remote areas face challenges accessing health-care services, including mental health care and gender-affirming medical treatment, which can be associated with psychological distress. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-month TGD-informed e-health intervention to improve psychological distress among TGD people from remote areas in northern Germany. In a randomised controlled trial done at a single centre in Germany, adults (aged ≥18 years) who met criteria for gender incongruence or gender dysphoria and who lived at least 50 km outside of Hamburg in one of the northern German federal states were recruited and randomly assigned (1:1) to i2TransHealth intervention or a wait list control group. Randomisation was performed with the use of a computer-based code. Due to the nature of the intervention, study participants and clinical staff were aware of treatment allocation, but researchers responsible for data analysis were masked to allocation groups. Study participants in the intervention group (service users) started the i2TransHealth intervention immediately after completing the baseline survey after enrolment. Participants assigned to the control group waited 4 months before they were able to access i2TransHealth services or regular care. The primary outcome was difference in the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)-18 summary score between baseline and 4 months, assessed using a linear model analysis. The primary outcome was assessed in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population, which included all randomly assigned participants. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04290286. Between May 12, 2020, and May 2, 2022, 177 TGD people were assessed for eligibility, of whom 174 were included in the ITT population (n=90 in the intervention group, n=84 in the control group). Six participants did not provide data for the primary outcome at 4 months, and thus 168 people were included in the analysis population (88 participants in the intervention group and 80 participants in the control group). At 4 months, in the intervention group, the adjusted mean change in BSI-18 from baseline was -0·65 (95% CI -2·25 to 0·96; p=0·43) compared with 2·34 (0·65 to 4·02; p=0·0069) in the control group. Linear model analysis identified a significant difference at 4 months between the groups with regard to change in BSI-18 summary scores from baseline (between-group difference -2·98 [95% CI -5·31 to -0·65]; p=0·012). Adverse events were rare: there were two suicide attempts and one participant was admitted to hospital in the intervention group, and in the control group, there was one case of self-harm and one case of self-harm followed by hospital admission. The intervention was clinically significant in averting worsening psychological distress in service users, outperforming the wait list control group. These findings support the effectiveness of e-health services in TGD health care, specifically for people from remote areas. Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee. For the German translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Peace, equanimity and acceptance in the cancer experience: validation of the German version (PEACE-G) and associations with mental health, health-related quality of life and psychological constructs

BackgroundSystematic reviews and meta-analyses reveal the importance of an accepting attitude towards cancer for mental health and functional coping. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the German translation of the Peace, Equanimity, and Acceptance in the Cancer Experience (PEACE) questionnaire (Mack et al., 2008) and to investigate its associations with mental health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related constructs.MethodsThe German version of the PEACE (PEACE-G) was created and validated with cancer patients in a cross-sectional two center questionnaire study. Construct validity was tested with confirmational factor analyses (CFA); Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine internal consistency of items. We further examined associations with depression (PHQ-8), anxiety (GAD-7), distress (NCCN distress thermometer), HRQoL (SF-12), psychological flexibility (AAQ-II), resilience (RS-11) and acceptance scales, to evaluate concurrent and divergent validity.ResultsN = 213 cancer patients with different tumor entities participated in this study. Results of the CFA replicated the two-factor solution of the original PEACE (peaceful acceptance and struggle with illness) with satisfactory psychometric properties. Peaceful acceptance showed negative associations with depression, anxiety, distress, psychological inflexibility, and positive associations with HRQoL, acceptance, resilience, and mindfulness. Results of sensitivity analyses indicate a third factor (injustice/anger).ConclusionsThe results demonstrate the validity and reliability of PEACE-G in cancer patients and point to the essential role of acceptance- and mindfulness-based interventions in psycho-oncology. Further studies are needed to investigate the different facets of struggle with the cancer illness.

"Über den Ausgang des Heiligen Geistes": Eine Schrift eines anonymen Russen als Beilage im Brief von Simon Budny an Heinrich Bullinger vom 18. April 1563

Simon Budny (ca. 1530–1591) was a Reformed pastor who became a wellknown leader of the Anti-Trinitarian movement in Lithuania. In 1563, Budny wrote a letter to Heinrich Bullinger asking for his opinion on the filioque, which was the object of intense discussion in Lithuania. Budny enclosed a small work written by an anonymous Russian Orthodox author titled De processione Spiritus sancti that contains the main exegetical and theological arguments against the filioque (Zurich Staatsarchiv, E II 367, 231–242). This contribution includes an historical introduction, an edition, a German translation, and a text analysis. I propose that the anonymous author of this text may be the famous Russian theologian Maksim Grek (1470–1556) or one of his students, because the language, the content, the argumentation, the Biblical and Patristic proofs are similar to his Anti-Roman-Catholic works written between 1518 and 1525.

Strategies for self control: German translation and evaluation of the Self Control Strategy Scale

Strategies for self control: German translation and evaluation of the Self Control Strategy Scale

Validation of the German Purpose in Life Questionnaire (PLQ) in a healthy population and patients with cardiovascular disease

In this cross-sectional study, a German translation of the subscale “Purpose in Life” (PLQ) from the Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB) was validated in a representative sample of participants from healthy and cardiovascular populations. The main objectives were to assess the reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity using a large and representative sample (N = 466 healthy sample, N = 247 patients with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), N = 70 patients with a cardiovascular disease (CVD)).The findings indicated that the German PLQ is a reliable and valid measure of positive psychological well-being, showing a positive correlation with health-related quality of life, optimism, and positive affect. In turn, the PLQ score was significantly and negatively correlated with depressive symptom severity, anxiety, pessimism, and negative affect, while being distinct from these constructs. The comparability of the measurement properties of the German PLQ with the original English version further supports the validity of the translation. Additionally, the unidimensional structure of the German version mirrored that of the English PLQ.As this study used a large and representative sample, it provides the most up-to-date normative population value for the subscale of the SPWB. Moreover, this study represents the first known exploration of the questionnaire in a cardiovascular sample, revealing relationships between health-related quality of life, optimism, positive affect, and the German PLQ. However, in patients with ICD, the positive correlation between the PLQ and the physical component of the SF-12 did not reach significance. Despite these valuable findings, future research to enhance the understanding of the PLQ and its implications is warranted.

German translation and cross-cultural comparison of a mobility questionnaire (MobQues47) for ambulant children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

German translation and cross-cultural comparison of a mobility questionnaire (MobQues47) for ambulant children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Fire-Faith and the Gnostic Neo-Templars

Abstract The article analyses the early development of Aleister Crowley’s (1875–1947) Gnostic Catholic Mass and its c. 1917 German translation by Theodor Reuss (1855–1923), the founder and first international head of the initiatory fraternity Ordo Templi Orientis. Crowley’s Gnostic Mass is an influential and important example of esoteric group ritual still celebrated across the globe today. Reuss’s translated ritual holds historical interest, being the first published version of the ritual (1918) and containing a number of editorial innovations. The article discusses Crowley’s and Reuss’s collaboration and their respective masses in context, suggesting Reuss’s innovations to the Gnostic Mass shed light on his own interests in phallicism and neo-Gnosticism as well as his wish to promote Crowley’s teachings to the continental European esoteric milieu.

Poetic License, Textual Fidelity and the Liturgical Impulse in Aleksandr Sumarokov’s Early Spiritual Verse

The present essay considers the paraphrases of Psalms and other biblical and liturgical texts that Sumarokov composed between 1744 and 1769. He initially treated his paraphrases primarily as literary exercises: while taking care not to distort the Church Slavic and ipso facto Greek (Septuagint) source texts, he had no qualms about both expanding and abridging the original texts within the confines of traditional metrical and stanzaic structures. Subsequently in the 1760s, he began to experiment with variable iambic and trochaic lines in spiritual verse, though such forms are typically associated with less lofty genres such as fables and epigrams. His experiments in turn allowed him to achieve greater fidelity to the Church Slavic texts targeted for paraphrasis, and to bring his texts stylistically closer to the liturgical norms associated with the Church Slavic originals. At the same time, he strove to improve the fidelity of his own paraphrases of the Psalms by consulting German translations of the Hebrew (Masoretic) originals. Thus, Sumarokov paradoxically brings to his new translations of the 1660s the philological Protestant sensibility of German translations of the Psalter, and an Orthodox sensibility that favors the traditional Church Slavic register associated with the Psalter as a liturgical text. These new translations in free and frequently unrhymed iambs set the stage for the final, more radical experiments undertaken in 1773–1774.

German translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Vestibular Schwannoma Quality of Life Index (VSQOL)

BackgroundVestibular schwannomas (VSs) are benign tumors of the vestibulocochlear nerve that often cause significant neurological and functional impairment. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life (QoL), are essential for understanding the overall impact of VS and its treatment. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Vestibular Schwannoma Quality of Life (VSQOL) Index into German to expand its relevance to German-speaking populations.MethodsWe used a qualitative approach including translation and cognitive interviews with 10 patients who underwent VS surgery. The translation process followed the TRAPD protocol to ensure linguistic and conceptual accuracy. Cognitive interviews assessed the comprehensibility and relevance of the translated questionnaire.ResultsThe translation showed remarkable consistency between translators, with minor discrepancies resolved by consensus. Cognitive interviews provided valuable insights that led to refinements in item wording. Participants emphasized the importance of an additional item on physician referrals, reflecting differences in health care systems between the United States and Germany.ConclusionsThe German VSQOL provides a comprehensive tool for assessing QoL in patients with VS that integrates patient-centered dimensions. A Validation study is underway to establish its reliability and validity.

German translation, cultural adaptation for Austria and validation of the Neurological Sleep Index - Multiple Sclerosis (NSI-MS).

To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Neurological Sleep Index - Multiple Sclerosis (NSI-MS) for use in Austrian German-speaking populations with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Following established guidelines, the NSI-MS diurnal sleepiness (DS), non-restorative nocturnal sleep (NRNS), and fragmented nocturnal sleep (FNS) scales underwent forward-backward translation, with content and face validity, and cultural adaptation to Austria established. Construct validity was evaluated using Rasch analysis. Known-groups validity was examined, and comparisons were made with scales measuring MS fatigue, daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach's alpha, Person Separation Index, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient, measurement error, and floor and ceiling effects. Data were merged with a historic English dataset for comparison between English/German language versions. The translation and cultural adaptation of the NSI-MS-G were successful. Pretesting involved 30 pwMS, while the validation included 400 pwMS with mild-to-severe disability. The DS, NRNS, and FNS scales exhibited good fit parameters, were unidimensional, and invariant. NSI-MS-G scales demonstrated excellent convergent and known-groups validity, internal consistency, person separation reliability, test-retest reliability, adequate measurement error, and low floor and ceiling effects. Pooling English and German datasets revealed that person estimates for the NRNS and FNS scales are equivalent across versions, unlike the DS scale. The NSI-MS-G demonstrates validity, reliability, and responsiveness in assessing DS, NRNS, and FNS in pwMS, generating interval-level data, and shows equivalence between its English and German versions. Register: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS); URL: https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00025573; Identifier: DRKS00025573.

On Chopin Editions as Discrete Sources: The Baudissin-Henkel-Pusch Exemplar of the Etudes, Op. 10

While scholarly writing on printed sources of Chopin’s music typically focuses on the class to which that source belongs (say, the second state of the French first edition of the Ballade, Op. 23), this article proposes to tackle the reception history of Chopin through a discrete, individual printed source. The article proposes a brief microhistory of an individual exemplar, to situate it in a network that does not necessarily afford the composer a governing role. The source in question is a copiously annotated exemplar of the Kistner edition of the Etudes, Op. 10. Inscriptions on the title page inform us that Wolf Graf von Baudissin presented it as a gift to Heinrich Henkel in 1838. At some later date, Heinrich Henkel gave it to his daughter Sophie Henkel, who in 1931 presented it to her colleague Henri Pusch. The annotations in the edition help uncover interesting stories, narratives that reveal a largely unrecognized connection between Chopin and an important German diplomat and translator, and that help us understand better how pianists actually engaged with Chopin’s musical texts in the first century of their existence.