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I cannot make sense of the schon wieder in the excerpt below.

In der Redensart „Chapeau!“ beziehungsweise „Hut ab!“ ist diese Geste des Respekts erhalten. Auch das konkrete „Den-Hut-Ziehen“ gibt es noch. Unter Hutträgern. Aber wer trägt heute noch Hut? Diese bürgerliche Begrüßungsgeste blickt zwar auf ein relativ junges Alter zurück, ist jedoch schon wieder im Aussterben begriffen.

The last sentence seems to be saying that a particular gesture is in the process of becoming extinct again. Why the "again"? (FWIW, no earlier disappearance of the gesture is discussed anywhere before in the original source.)

Does schon wieder have a translation other than again?

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5

Yes, in this specific context schon wieder can also be translated as already. The excerpt states that the salutation of taking off one's hat is relatively young, but it is already disappearing from society.

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  • 1
    The repetition wieder states here is the cycle of birth and death of that trend. Schon states its death came somewhat early.
    – Janka
    Jul 18 '18 at 23:29
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The reason is given in the very same sentence:

Diese bürgerliche Begrüßungsgeste blickt zwar auf ein relativ junges Alter zurück...

Translates to:

this civil gesture of greeting locks back on a relatively young age..

So: the gesture (taking the hat of) is not very old (it does not state how old exactly), but already is becoming forgotten.

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