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"So bewegt er sich in den ersten 250 km (von insgesamt 650 km Länge) frei, das heißt ohne Eindämmung."
Talking about the navigability of a river. I imagine this means that it follows a natural course and/or is tidal for the first/final 250 km (from its source or from the coast?), but I'm not sure.
* Sentence or paragraph where the term occurs: See above * Document type: Description of inland navigation in various countries * Target audience: Inland navigation-related readership * Country and dialect (source): German * Country and dialect (target): British English
but other people provided the same information before I did. I actually think for long stretches sounds fine, it is what I would have put, although here I might favour free-flowing (and since the German also changes I think that makes it easier to deviate in the English too): is free-flowing over long stretches.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@David
14:37 Sep 26, 2011
how about: predominantly follows its natural course, flows freely for the greater part or to variate: flows naturally for many kilometers.
Hi Ramey. I am not going to put this in as an answer, as my comment was really intended to agree with David's own draft, which had it pretty well right from the start. If I had posted an answer it would have ben free-flowing, so I won't b e offended if you go ahead and post follows its natural course;-)
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@Nicola
12:17 Sep 26, 2011
Could you post "follows its natural course" as a suggestion? Tht was my first thought, as well, and you've got my agreemen!
For what it's worth, my immediate thought was free-flowing, but I also liek follows its natural course, and I also read it as meaning the first 250km from the source.
palilula (X)
United States
David
10:47 Sep 26, 2011
"moves freely" but I missed the beginning of your text that it is related to a river; however, here is something in support to my first idea:
1. glide, sail, drift, move gently, bob, coast, slide, be carried, slip along barges floating quietly by the grassy river banks http://www.thefreedictionary.com/float
I think "follows its natural course" sounds good, but of course at the end of the day it doesn't matter if the way you say it is slightly imprecise, because it is explained right afterwards (the German is not exactly using technical terminology!).
Auf den folgenden 400 km sind flussbauliche Maßnahmen getroffen worden welche die Befahrbarkeit des Flusses ermöglichen.
Draft translation: For instance, the first 250 km (out of its total length of 650 km) is free/free-flowing/follows its natural course, i.e. not artificially contained in any way. The subsequent 400 km have been subjected to hydraulic engineering measures in order to make the river navigable.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
2 hrs confidence:
flows undammed
Explanation: If you put it this way, then you need not translate the "...das heißt ohne Eindämmung" part of your sentence.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2011-09-26 14:18:15 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
As per your discussion post, you're "thinking along the lines of 'follows its natural course...' but can't really find any quotes that use that phraseology." Try 'flows' instead of 'follows' and voilà:
He then makes a statement which completely contradicts Blake’s by saying the “The river glideth at his own sweet will”, this meaning that the river still flows its natural course, unlike what Blake said which is that it is mapped out as with the city. http://tinyurl.com/3qd5wtr
Example sentence(s):
The Flint is one of 40 rivers nationwide that still flow undammed for more than 200 miles.
Asker: It is more to do with the course of the river being artificially contained by dikes etc. than dams. Eindämmung is a false friend in tis respect.
Asker: No. I can't find any quotes that say "follows its natural course for long stretches". It is "in weiten Abschnitten" I am pondering now.
Asker: “The river glideth at his own sweet will” is beautifully peotic, but I'll be damned if I use such language in a technical document about shipping.
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