Nov 11, 2015 16:39
8 yrs ago
5 viewers *
German term
funktionsfähig
German to English
Tech/Engineering
Government / Politics
Zum Beispiel bedarf es für ein klimaangepasstes Stadtviertel einer Anzahl von Verkehrswegen, Grünflächen, Energiesysteme, Wohnungen und Arbeitsmöglichkeiten. Diese Elemente bzw. Sektoren sind nur im Zusammenspiel funktional bzw. ***funktionsfähig***; sie können daher in Hinsicht auf ihre Klimafolgen nur integriert betrachtet, bewertet und entwickelt werden.
Normally I'd use 'functional', but the funktional bzw funktionsfähig is throwing me. I'm not quite sure if functionable is a word. Maybe something like 'feasible' is meant? Hilfe.
Normally I'd use 'functional', but the funktional bzw funktionsfähig is throwing me. I'm not quite sure if functionable is a word. Maybe something like 'feasible' is meant? Hilfe.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +4 | work |
Stephan Elkins
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| 3 +2 | serve or are capable of serving a purpose/function |
Lancashireman
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| 3 +1 | (effective or) practical |
Michael Martin, MA
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Proposed translations
+4
40 mins
Stephan Elkins
United States
United States
Native in German
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
Social scientific expertise
Native in: English 
, German
Works in: English to German, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
24
Selected
work
In this particular case, perhaps a simple solution would work:
All of these elements only work as a(n interacting) whole.
All of these elements only work as a(n interacting) whole.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
: Good idea. You don't need to turn two near-identical German words into two near-identical English ones.
18 mins
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Thanks!
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| agree |
AllegroTrans
4 hrs
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Thanks!
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| agree |
oa_xxx (X)
: Able to/capable of
7 hrs
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Thanks!
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| agree |
Phong Le
2 days 17 hrs
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Thanks!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
1 hr
Michael Martin, MA
United States
United States
Native in German
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
Creativity wins in the long run
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) , English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
76
(effective or) practical
The German expression doesn't seem to translate well into English in this context. That's why I would veer away from a literal translation and think instead of what one might say in the same SITUATION:
"These elements or sectors are only effective or practical in combination with one another."
"These elements or sectors are only effective or practical in combination with one another."
+2
14 mins
Lancashireman
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Related KudoZ points
:
208
German term (edited):
sind ... funktional bzw. funktionsfähig
serve or are capable of serving a purpose/function
https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=aHFDVpb2LPCq8wffx5rgD...
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Note added at 12 days (2015-11-23 21:51:28 GMT)
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Hello there. This question will be closed automatically in a couple of days based on voting so far. This may or may not coincide with your preferred solution. Any possibility that you might close it yourself?
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Note added at 12 days (2015-11-23 21:51:28 GMT)
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Hello there. This question will be closed automatically in a couple of days based on voting so far. This may or may not coincide with your preferred solution. Any possibility that you might close it yourself?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Björn Vrooman
: Although I do like my use of inversion in the discussion post...Cautionary note about "bzw.": I think they mean "and," not "or" - their combination should bring forth both, not just one or the other (I think "bzw." has actually been misused here).
2 hrs
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Thank you for your usual insightful contribution, Björn. Some days the literal approach is lauded, others it is castigated.
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| agree |
oa_xxx (X)
7 hrs
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Thanks, Orla. Phong Lee ("I am a lawyer so I have a significant general knowledge") has gone for the other option.
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Discussion
These elements only work or are only workable in their entirety/ as an integrated system....
1) work = does not work (pardon the pun), because it omits "fähig"; it also seems to be the wrong register
2) practical = is actually "funktional," the second word not asked.
The use of "bzw." is a bit odd, see my agreement to Lancashireman. The Duden says "oder/oder genauer gesagt," but funktionsfähig does not have to specify funktional here. I'll leave that decision to my respected colleagues. I'd probably use "and," regardless, but "or" should not be wrong.
Only in concert will all these components serve a purpose and can work as intended.
funktional = auf die Funktion bezogen, der Funktion entsprechend; zweckmäßig
-> practical/serving a function
funktionsfähig = in der Lage, fähig, dem Zweck entsprechend zu funktionieren
-> in working order/capable of working as intended