Bestand

English translation: resources

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Bestand
English translation:resources
Entered by: philgoddard

13:39 Apr 15, 2014
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Manufacturing / Resources
German term or phrase: Bestand
Context:

"Ziel ist es, die für die Industrie relevanten Systeme in einer Weise zu nutzen, dass diese Systeme in ihren wesentlichen Eigenschaften erhalten bleiben und ihr Bestand auf natürliche Weise regeneriert werden kann."

The customer says that 'Bestand' is meant in the sense of existence / continued existence, but of course that can't be regenerated naturally. The industry in question is the rubber and elastomer industry.

* Sentence or paragraph where the term occurs: See above
* Document type: Sustainability charter
* Target audience: Industrial association
* Country and dialect (source): German
* Country and dialect (target): British English
David Williams
Germany
Local time: 11:02
Suggestion for the whole sentence
Explanation:
I think the German wording sounds rather strange, particularly in its use of the word "Systeme", which presumably refers to natural resources. "Für die Industrie relevant" is redundant, and I'm also assuming that this is a company talking about itself.

They're using a lot of words to convey a very simple idea, which is that they use resources sustainably.

I suggest rewriting the whole thing, and saying something like this.

"We aim to use resources in such a way that their long-term viability is maintained and they are able to regenerate naturally."
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thanks, Alison and Phil!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1existence
Peter Nutting
4Suggestion for the whole sentence
philgoddard
4and that this becomes a normal/standard procedure
David Hollywood
3constituent parts
Lancashireman
3supplies
Michael Martin, MA
3life
freekfluweel
2content
suew


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
constituent parts


Explanation:
diese Systeme ... und ihr Bestand > these systems and their constituent parts

http://www.dict.cc/?s=bestand
i.e. not so much 'continued existence' here as the other meaning: population, inventory

CL3 only because this conflicts with the client's explanation. However, as you yourself point, out 'continued existence' cannot be regenerated (at least, not in English)

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:02
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 47
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
supplies


Explanation:
"supplies of rubber"
I understand what the client is thinking. But if you're going to use verbs like to "regenerate/replenish" etc you have to find a more tangible object. I'll see if I can dig up a few examples later..

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 06:02
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
existence


Explanation:
The sentence may have been lifted from here (where "Bestand" in the English version is translated as "existence," which in reference to "system" does more or less makes sense):
"Allgemein ist Nachhaltigkeit die Nutzung eines Systems so, dass dieses System in seinen Strukturen und Eigenschaften erhalten bleibt und sein Bestand auf natürliche Weise regenerieren kann."
http://www.fenixgroup.cz/pages/files/pdf/de/forschungsberich...

Peter Nutting
United States
Local time: 06:02
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yorkshireman: I think you may well be right - in the sense of "continuing/ongoing existence is assured and can be regenerated by normal means"
2 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Suggestion for the whole sentence


Explanation:
I think the German wording sounds rather strange, particularly in its use of the word "Systeme", which presumably refers to natural resources. "Für die Industrie relevant" is redundant, and I'm also assuming that this is a company talking about itself.

They're using a lot of words to convey a very simple idea, which is that they use resources sustainably.

I suggest rewriting the whole thing, and saying something like this.

"We aim to use resources in such a way that their long-term viability is maintained and they are able to regenerate naturally."

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks, Alison and Phil!
Notes to answerer
Asker: It isn't actually a company talking about itself, but an industrial association/alliance of companies.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
and that this becomes a normal/standard procedure


Explanation:
I would say

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2014-04-16 04:12:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

pure and simple

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2014-04-16 04:17:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

if you want to use subjunctive "become"

David Hollywood
Local time: 07:02
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 68
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
content


Explanation:
In the first part of the sentence they're talking about the structure of the system, perhaps here Bestand is meant to mean the content (i.e. the data) - i.e. the hope is that the system and the data in it will be used, will evolve and will always be relevant.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2014-04-16 07:47:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

as in : Datenbestand

suew
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:02
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
life


Explanation:
regenerate life

freekfluweel
Netherlands
Local time: 11:02
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search