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xxx Lake

English translation: Lake xxx

04:39 Apr 10, 2017
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Geographical names
English term or phrase: xxx Lake
About a name of lake, should it be said Lake xxx?
xxx Lake is used, in many cases.

Thank you for your advice.
Mitsuko Yoshida
Local time: 07:54
Selected answer:Lake xxx
Explanation:
I don't know if any hard-and-fast rule on this, but I'd say that 'Lake xxx' is probably slightly more widespread, and certainly applicable when the lake is well-known and actually has a name: Lake Windermere / Lake Tahoe / Lake Erie / Lake Geneva / Lake Titicaca.

There is possibly some case to be made, in the case, say, of a lake that is not so well known on a worldwide basis, for using the form 'xxx Lake' — I would say that tends towards the meaning 'the lake that is located at xxx' instead of 'the lake named xxx'.

Of course, in the (occasional) cases where the lake name does not correspond to the actual place where it is located (it might be descriptive, say), then you will probably need the 'xxx Lake' form — I can't offhand think of an example with the name of a lake, but near where I lived in the UK, we had a place called 'Blue Pool' (which might well, I suppose, have been called 'Blue Lake'!)

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Note added at 11 heures (2017-04-10 15:44:56 GMT)
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Just to make it crystal clear: while there is no single general rule that fits all cases, we might say that generally the 'Lake xxx' format is perhaps commoner than 'xxx Lake', with certain factors affecting the relative probability of one or the toher.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 heures (2017-04-10 19:50:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Chris makes an important point, in that "both" are found — BUT that is not to be said that "either" can be used in any given situation.

For lakes in EN-speaking countries, lakes will generally have well-established names, and it will almost invariably sound odd if the "wrong" version is used.

The situation is less clear, of course, for lakes in non-EN-speaking countries, where the translator will need to be guided by pre-existing translations, if any exist. If not, then I think the rule of thumb that has been given here can be a good guide: if the name is purely geographic, then 'Lake xxx' is almost always an acceptable solution; however, if the name is primarily descriptive, the form "xxx Lake" might well sound better to an ENS's ears. Some fictional examples to illustrate my point:

Lake Kyoto
Lotus Lake

In the absence of a set "rule", I would suggest following this "rule-of-thumb" guide unless it contradicts a pre-existing translation.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 00:54
Grading comment
Many thanks!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +5Lake xxx
Tony M
3 +2Lake xxx
Port City
4Both
AllegroTrans


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
xxx lake
Lake xxx


Explanation:
I would go with Lake xxx, unless xxx is an adjective (although a part of a proper noun) such as Great Salt Lake or Blue Lake.

Port City
New Zealand
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: Snap!
15 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Edith Kelly
1 hr
  -> Thank you!
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
xxx lake
Both


Explanation:
I agree that in English, Lake xxx is somewhat more commonly seen than xxx Lake, but I don't think there is any logic to be found in the naming. It's not always the case that smaller lakes tend to have the xxx Lake format.
If this is a matter of translating from a name in another language then it would be wise to see what English websites, guidebooks, maps etc. use. I tried this and actually found (for Tibet) both forms (xxx Lake and Lake xxx) in use for the same lake. So this may not be an exact science afterr all.

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 52

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: What you say is not wrong, however, it could be misleading, since it is not true to say "both" can be used interchangeably — certainly not for lakes in EN-speaking countries. Obviously, non-EN lakes have to be translated by different translators...
1 hr
  -> no, not interchangeably, at least not in the English-spkg countries
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44 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Lake xxx


Explanation:
I don't know if any hard-and-fast rule on this, but I'd say that 'Lake xxx' is probably slightly more widespread, and certainly applicable when the lake is well-known and actually has a name: Lake Windermere / Lake Tahoe / Lake Erie / Lake Geneva / Lake Titicaca.

There is possibly some case to be made, in the case, say, of a lake that is not so well known on a worldwide basis, for using the form 'xxx Lake' — I would say that tends towards the meaning 'the lake that is located at xxx' instead of 'the lake named xxx'.

Of course, in the (occasional) cases where the lake name does not correspond to the actual place where it is located (it might be descriptive, say), then you will probably need the 'xxx Lake' form — I can't offhand think of an example with the name of a lake, but near where I lived in the UK, we had a place called 'Blue Pool' (which might well, I suppose, have been called 'Blue Lake'!)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 heures (2017-04-10 15:44:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just to make it crystal clear: while there is no single general rule that fits all cases, we might say that generally the 'Lake xxx' format is perhaps commoner than 'xxx Lake', with certain factors affecting the relative probability of one or the toher.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 heures (2017-04-10 19:50:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Chris makes an important point, in that "both" are found — BUT that is not to be said that "either" can be used in any given situation.

For lakes in EN-speaking countries, lakes will generally have well-established names, and it will almost invariably sound odd if the "wrong" version is used.

The situation is less clear, of course, for lakes in non-EN-speaking countries, where the translator will need to be guided by pre-existing translations, if any exist. If not, then I think the rule of thumb that has been given here can be a good guide: if the name is purely geographic, then 'Lake xxx' is almost always an acceptable solution; however, if the name is primarily descriptive, the form "xxx Lake" might well sound better to an ENS's ears. Some fictional examples to illustrate my point:

Lake Kyoto
Lotus Lake

In the absence of a set "rule", I would suggest following this "rule-of-thumb" guide unless it contradicts a pre-existing translation.

Tony M
France
Local time: 00:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 309
Grading comment
Many thanks!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty
33 mins
  -> Thanks, Jack!
agree  Edith Kelly
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Edith!
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Yasutomo-san!
agree  Armorel Young
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Armorel!
agree  AllegroTrans: GENERALLY, but if a lake is called xxxLake say on a map, one should not change the name// and indeed asker would be wise to check on map anyways; just thought of "Broadlands Lake" near Romsey, Hants. and "Roadford Lake", Devon, there must be many others.
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, C! Yes, indeed — I overlooked that key point; though presumably if Asker had a map in front of them, they wouldn't need to ask this question. / Absolutely!
neutral  Tina Vonhof (X): You really need to check a map. In Canada, for example, we have Windermere Lake, Columbia Lake, etc., but Lake Superior, Lake Huron, etc., so it varies.//Edited: omit "don't".
9 hrs
  -> I think I made that clear, Tina: I would say it is more usually 'Lake xxx' where it relates to a geographical place, but very often 'xxx Lake' where it is a description, especially for smaller lakes, like Chris's examples.
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