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French to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Ships, Sailing, Maritime / speedboat description
French term or phrase:commande de gaz au pied
On se familiarise vite avec cette forme de conduite mais on apprécierait mieux d’avoir une commande de gaz au pied. Can I say something like "One becomes quickly familiar with this way of driving, but a foot gas throttle would be better" ?
Robert gently squeezed down the accelerator pedal and looked intently ahead of him as the boat lifted its nose and sped towards the flimsy curtain of mist which receded into the distance as fast as he approached it. homepage.ntlworld.com/trevor_green/ffb9.htm
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 hrs (2009-05-31 09:14:37 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
There is no fundamental difference between the two terms in my view however 'accelerator' relates to speed, and therefore appropriate for a speedboat skimming across the water, whereas 'throttle' refers to the flow of fuel and would be more appropriate on a displacement craft which pushes its way through the wet stuff
2. a. A valve controlling the flow of fuel, steam, etc., in an engine. Also more fully throttle-valve. E19.
b. A lever, pedal, or other control, esp. with its related apparatus, for opening or closing a throttle-valve. Also more fully throttle control, throttle-lever. M19. OED
I don't honestly think it has a lot to do with that end result, really, Barbara; to my way of thinking, we call it an 'accelerator' on a car because it has a spring return, which means the car naturally slows down, and only accelerates when you press the pedal; it is associated with a 'brake' pedal.
But on a boat, we are more concerned about the engine speed, not the literal speed through the water — and boats don't have brakes, as many of us know to our cost ;-)
I think it is just a case of usage, where accelerator is traditionally associated with vehicles only; I suppose the argument could be used that once it becomes a foot pedal, it can be likened to the automotive context (my Dad always referred scathingly to people with motor-boats as "marine motorists"!), but I don't believe that is in widespread usage.
I bow to Tony's greater knowledge of boats. I was also wondering whether there might be a different logic operating here: acceleration is the resulting speed effect, throttle is about the supply of fuel to the engine. On land vehicles, there is a pretty direct relationship between the two, on boats the relationship isn't so direct as current or waves etc. intervene; this might be a reason for "throttle" being more appropriate?
I would disagree, Barbara; 'accelerator' is widely used for vehicles, yes... but 'throttle' is more common on boats; the only difference really is that when it is a pedal, it usually has a spring return (though not necessarily, since 'balanced pedals' do also exist...), whereas when it is a hand lever (boats / planes), it isn't
I now think that, for a pedal, accelerator is better than throttle. The throttle lever on a tractor is not an accelerator as it is not just for acceleration, but also for throttling down and engine braking. A pedal is only positively operated by the driver when accelerating.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
6 mins confidence:
gas pedal
Explanation: It is saying that it would be preferable to have a pedal to control the gas fow, and, therefore, the speed
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 mins (2009-05-30 20:44:44 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
That should read: "gas flow". Also it only works in North America (gas)
Marco Solinas Local time: 18:59 Native speaker of: English, Italian PRO pts in category: 20