May 21, 2018 13:53
5 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
United Kingdom
Fluent, accurate translation DE/FR > EN
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English
Tension de prise
Not for points
French to English
Tech/Engineering
Energy / Power Generation
Description of an electricity network
It's a definition in a list of definitions at the start of a technical specification. I'm not technically-minded and am just supposed to be checking the English, but the translation given makes no sense.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 | tap voltage |
Tony M
|
| 5 -1 | No-load voltage at outlet socket |
Johannes Gleim
|
| 3 | [Output] socket voltage |
Terry Richards
|
Proposed translations
22 hrs
Selected
tap voltage
Though actually need to consider the expression as a whole, which will probably require the word order to be tweaked.
Here in this power generation context, 'prise' is nothing to do with si;ple power sockets; as you would have found from a term search, 'prise' also refers to the 'taps' used to select voltage (etc.)
The existing translation is clearly wildly wrong, to the extent that it calls seriously into question the technical knowledge / expertise of the original translator. In order to cover yourself, I would very strongly recommend suggesting to your customer that they should have the translation proofed on a technical level, as ultimately it is YOU who, having validated the translation, will take the can back when they discover the errors they surely will.
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Note added at 1 day 16 hrs (2018-05-23 06:45:59 GMT) Post-grading
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The term 'prise en service' is perhaps significant here; were it to mean a 'prise de courant' = 'socket outlet', why would they be talking about its being 'in service' -- this would on the face of it be contradictory with the 'a vide' explanation: it cannot logically be 'a vide' AND 'en service' at the same time. And why would one say 'la prise en service' -- is there some other 'prise' that would be not 'en service'?
However, if we consider a larger system that uses transformer taps to set the output voltage, then 'la prise en service' makes sense as 'the active tap', 'the tap that is in use'.
Of course, all these answers should be given in your specifications -- not least because I would assume that at some point actual figures must be given, which would be conclusive.
In any event, as you rightly say, the original term used is quite simply wrong, as it misinterprets the FR word order: at best, it might have been understood as 'socket voltage', as others have said; but qualifying it as the 'voltage socket' seems to imply there might be some other kind of socket, which is pretty unlikely!
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Note added at 1 day 16 hrs (2018-05-23 06:53:36 GMT) Post-grading
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Furthermore, if I have understood your context correctly, the text you quote seems to be the definition of the headword term, which further tends to reinforce my interpretation -- subject, of course, to the wider context.
Here in this power generation context, 'prise' is nothing to do with si;ple power sockets; as you would have found from a term search, 'prise' also refers to the 'taps' used to select voltage (etc.)
The existing translation is clearly wildly wrong, to the extent that it calls seriously into question the technical knowledge / expertise of the original translator. In order to cover yourself, I would very strongly recommend suggesting to your customer that they should have the translation proofed on a technical level, as ultimately it is YOU who, having validated the translation, will take the can back when they discover the errors they surely will.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 16 hrs (2018-05-23 06:45:59 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
The term 'prise en service' is perhaps significant here; were it to mean a 'prise de courant' = 'socket outlet', why would they be talking about its being 'in service' -- this would on the face of it be contradictory with the 'a vide' explanation: it cannot logically be 'a vide' AND 'en service' at the same time. And why would one say 'la prise en service' -- is there some other 'prise' that would be not 'en service'?
However, if we consider a larger system that uses transformer taps to set the output voltage, then 'la prise en service' makes sense as 'the active tap', 'the tap that is in use'.
Of course, all these answers should be given in your specifications -- not least because I would assume that at some point actual figures must be given, which would be conclusive.
In any event, as you rightly say, the original term used is quite simply wrong, as it misinterprets the FR word order: at best, it might have been understood as 'socket voltage', as others have said; but qualifying it as the 'voltage socket' seems to imply there might be some other kind of socket, which is pretty unlikely!
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Note added at 1 day 16 hrs (2018-05-23 06:53:36 GMT) Post-grading
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Furthermore, if I have understood your context correctly, the text you quote seems to be the definition of the headword term, which further tends to reinforce my interpretation -- subject, of course, to the wider context.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kim Metzger
2 hrs
|
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Thanks, Kim!
|
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| disagree |
Johannes Gleim
: Does not match the additional context!
4 hrs
|
|
I can't see why you think that? 'prise en service' definitely suggests a 'tap', and how many generating facilities do you know that supply power via a SOCKET??!!
|
Comment: "Many thanks Tony! I've already informed the customer (twice) that I cannot be answerable for the technical terms, but will only check the general understanding and the English :)"
9 mins
Terry Richards
France
France
Native in English
Works in field
France
30 years in IT, Engineering degree.
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK, US)
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
47
[Output] socket voltage
Once again, no context so lower confidence.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: See comments in my answer, Terry
22 hrs
|
| agree |
GILLES MEUNIER
1 day 21 hrs
|
-1
22 hrs
Johannes Gleim
Specializes in field
40 years Engineer, 20 years translations
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to German, and 6 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
56
No-load voltage at outlet socket
Due to the new context I have to post a different term:
No-load voltage at all outlets as long as no current is flowing through any cabling connected to the secondary terminals of the transformer. Otherwise the voltage drop has to be calculated or measured.
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Note added at 22 Stunden (2018-05-22 12:21:04 GMT)
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or "no-load voltage at socket outlet"
Hazards can also occur when one drills into a power cable, unintentionally damages a cable or lightning strikes. All this is prevented when one has installed the safe and convenient socket outlets from Busch-Jaeger.
https://www.busch-jaeger.de/en/products/product-solutions/so...
Note: In USA the term "receptacle" is used instead of socket-outlet.
No-load voltage at all outlets as long as no current is flowing through any cabling connected to the secondary terminals of the transformer. Otherwise the voltage drop has to be calculated or measured.
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Note added at 22 Stunden (2018-05-22 12:21:04 GMT)
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or "no-load voltage at socket outlet"
Hazards can also occur when one drills into a power cable, unintentionally damages a cable or lightning strikes. All this is prevented when one has installed the safe and convenient socket outlets from Busch-Jaeger.
https://www.busch-jaeger.de/en/products/product-solutions/so...
Note: In USA the term "receptacle" is used instead of socket-outlet.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: The 'prise' here is nothing to do with a 'prise de courant'
38 mins
|
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I posted first "tapping voltage or tapped voltage ... if it refers to the voltage at a transformer coil tap" Then the asker supplied additional context: "Tension délivrée à vide ... aux bornes de la prise en service." I had to change the answer.
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Discussion
What is this a set of technical specifications FOR?
What type of 'groupe de production' is this? Do you have any details of its power output, for example?
The fact that it mentions 'transformer' very strongly suggests the notion of 'tap', as in larger generating facilities the 2 often go hand-in-hand. Conversely, on a larger-scale facility, power is not usually output via a socket of any kind.
All the necessary information ought to be able to be gleaned from your wider document.
I understand you have forewarned your customer, but I think you should go further, by cautioning them of the fact that it is VERY LIKELY that their document does contain technical errors.