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Sep 21, 2014 12:23
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

Walnut oil decanter

Non-PRO English Other Food & Drink Oil
Hi! I do not understand this construction. The question is it a bottle already filled with oil. Or is it a bottle for the oil to be filled with oil.

The question seems easy, but I asked a similar question in another language pair and received different answers so I am still not sure

Here is some example with
http://nutholding.ru/maslo.html
In the second picture there is oil in a decanter

Thanks in advance
Responses
4 +8 (walnut oil) carafe
5 it's irreverent if it is filled with oil or not
References
Decanter or carafe?
comment
Change log

Sep 21, 2014 13:52: Aleksandra Kleschina changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): Carol Gullidge, Max Deryagin, Aleksandra Kleschina

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Discussion

Terry Richards Sep 22, 2014:
Going against the trend Grammatically, it should be a container FOR walnut oil.

However, as there is no special feature that distinguishes a container for walnut oil from a container for any other oil, it can only become a walnut oil container when it is filled with walnut oil!

Hence, logically, it has to be a container OF walnut oil.

This is not the same case as a wine glass which is distinguishable from any other glass whether it is full or empty.

It could, of course, be container for oil made of walnut wood but I don't believe that is in question here. Certainly, the picture given as context clearly (sic) shows a glass container.
Lingvosphere (asker) Sep 22, 2014:
But I wouldn't expect of anyone to be so rude. It's my own business what I ask.
Sheila Wilson Sep 22, 2014:
Ambiguity I don't think it applies a jot here but before opening the question itself I did wonder whether the issue was whether this a decanter (probably glass) for holding walnut oil, or an oil decanter made of walnut wood. Should the second type exist then that would be a tricky one to call with no more context.
Sheila Wilson Sep 22, 2014:
An English learner's question? In EFL teaching, Katsy's wine glass vs glass of wine example is a classic. The term questioned refers to the purpose of the decanter (it's for holding oil). This is not the same as a "decanter of walnut oil", which indeed must actually contain some oil.
But I wouldn't expect it to be a question asked by someone who translates INTO English.
Carol Gullidge Sep 21, 2014:
the term "Walnut oil decanter" is simply that. It does NOT specify or even imply that the decanter is either full or empty.

Only the context (which is not provided here) or - preferably (if you are worried) - the client can answer that, and, indeed, whether the question is relevant or not. I'm afraid this is not apparent on the face of it :(
Tina Vonhof (X) Sep 21, 2014:
With oil I agree with other answers that usually a decanter means the bottle, regardless of whether it is full or not. But in the picture it seems clear that the decanter is sold with the oil in it; it is simply a different (nicer) bottle than the first one and it is has the advantage of being refillable.
katsy Sep 21, 2014:
As Carol says, this structure implies that it is a decanter whose purpose is to hold walnut oil (whether full or empty). A wine glass is a glass for holding wine.... regardless of whether there is wine in it.
If one wanted to make it absolutely clear that this is a decanter with walnut oil in it, one would say " a decanter of (full of/filled with/containing) walnut oil"
Lingvosphere (asker) Sep 21, 2014:
Ok, Max. How can I do it?
Max Deryagin Sep 21, 2014:
This is a non-pro question, and it should be marked as such.
Carol Gullidge Sep 21, 2014:
it's simply an oil decanter and without any further context (surrounding text??) it seems immaterial whether or not it's full or empty. As someone has pointed out, a bottle/glass/decanter is a bottle/glass/decanter regardless of whether contains anything at the time. Here, the term in question suggests to me exactly that: a decanter whose purpose is to hold walnut oil.

But maybe there's something in the context that has been omitted that might suggest otherwise? If so, it''s important that you supply this, along with your explanation regarding the relevance of the empty/full question!
Lingvosphere (asker) Sep 21, 2014:
Oh, thanks) I was confused because I had never known before about the existence of oil decanters
Lingvosphere (asker) Sep 21, 2014:
Sorry, I wrote several time the same about oil. What I want to ask is, does the expression "walnut oil decanter" mean that the bottle is full or empty?

Responses

+8
12 mins
Selected

(walnut oil) carafe

That's how I see it; it does not really matter whether it is full or empty. A bottle is still a bottle with or without content, isn't it? :)

"Carafe" is a synonym; the Russian word is "графин", AFAIK.

Hope this helps, Rafal.
Peer comment(s):
agree Mark Nathan : although I am not aware of decanters for walnut oil having any special characteristics that would differentiate them from other oil decanters.
7 mins
Thx; probably there are none. Otherwise it's splitting hairs :)
agree Carol Gullidge : I too don't see what the problem is! It's simply a decanter intended to hold walnut oil
48 mins
Thx :)
agree Aleksandra Kleschina
1 hr
спасибо :)
agree katsy
1 hr
Thx :)
agree writeaway : http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/decanter
1 hr
Thx :)
agree Yvonne Gallagher
1 hr
Thx :)
agree B D Finch : What is shown in the picture is definitely a carafe rather than a decanter.
21 hrs
tHX :)
agree Charlesp
2 days 17 hrs
Thx :)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 days 17 hrs

it's irreverent if it is filled with oil or not

It is what it is.

Though if it was filled with something else, say water, or wine, it might be a bit odd to say "would you pour me some more wine from the Walnut oil decanter" As we all know, wine and oil doesn't mix.

I have to also comment that it depends upon context. It if was in a grocery store, or a gift shop selling glass things.
==
ON THE OTHER HAND, it might be a wooden decanter that was oiled with walnut oil.
In which case it may nor may not be used for oil.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Rachel Fell : irrelevant, rather
8 hrs
agreed!
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

22 hrs
Reference:

Decanter or carafe?

The picture in the link given by the Asker shows a carafe, not a decanter. Walnut oil is indeed decanted during the manufacturing process, to separate it from water used in its manufacture. However, it seems extremely unlikely that consumers would have any reason to use a decanter for walnut oil, particularly as they'd want to prevent rather than encourage oxidation.

"The manufacturing procedure has several phases. The fruits are de-pulped and the stones are crushed. The kernels are then grilled and ground, mixed and hand pressed with the addition of warm water before decanting the oil. When one is talking about argan oil, rapeseed, hazelnut, walnut or sesame, it is this part of the procedure that gives the oil its brilliant aspect."
http://www.huilerievigean.com/english/oldstyle
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2 days 12 hrs
Reference:

comment

the picture provided by the Asker shows a bottle. A decanter would be a container into which the oil was poured for later dispensation, but for oil I probably wouldn't use the word "decanter" but maybe "pourer" (unless it was simply just a bottle):

http://www.johnlewis.com/home-garden/kitchen/utensils-gadget...
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