alimentary canal

18:30 Nov 27, 2004
English to Dutch translations [Non-PRO]
Zoology
English term or phrase: alimentary canal
Cats have a heightened sense of balance which is due to the workings of the alimentary canal of their inner ear. This allows them to correct their position in mid-air and land feet first.
Shouldn't "the alimentary canal" be "organ of balance"?
Thea


Summary of answers provided
5 +1should be halfcirkelvormige kanalen in Dutch
Zsanett Rozendaal-Pandur
4spijsverteringskanaal
Elise Jansen (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
spijsverteringskanaal


Explanation:
alimentary canal is the 'spijsverteringskanaal'. As far as I know, it has nothing to do with balace

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Note added at 42 mins (2004-11-27 19:13:43 GMT)
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Organ of balance seems to be the word you are looking for.
http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/KittenCats/Balance.html
http://www.zooclub.ru/eng/cats/sost/1.shtml

Elise Jansen (X)
Local time: 06:45
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
should be halfcirkelvormige kanalen in Dutch


Explanation:
Yes, you're right, and so is Elise, what they mean is definitely not the alimentary canal, but the semicircular ones, which are found in the inner ear.

If the question in your test/homework was "what's the problem with this text" then the answer is: "alimentary canal" should be "semicircular canal".

If you have to translate the text, no questions asked, I suggest you use "halfcirkelvormige kanalen" in the translation, and not "spijsverteringskanaal".

If you're expected to act like a translator in practice, I suggest you contact the outsourcer/or whoever gave you this assignment, and point out to them that there's an inconsistency in the text, and that you took the liberty of letting your knowledge of the real world override the source text in your translation. If they don't agree, they'll let you know.

http://www2.eur.nl/fgg/kno/patientenzorg/cochimp/gehoor.htm
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/eari.html


Zsanett Rozendaal-Pandur
Hungary
Local time: 06:45
Native speaker of: Hungarian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  11thmuse: erg hoor, je darmen in je oor
2 hrs

neutral  Leo te Braake | dutCHem: Andersom lijkt me ook niet aangenaam... ; Overigens, als het echt om zulke kanalen het evenwichtsorgaan gaat, denk ik dat de stijgbeugels bedoeld worden (vormt trio met hamer en aambeeld in het midden-oor)
18 hrs
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