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German to English translations [PRO] Medical - Linguistics
German term or phrase:sich auszeichnen
This is a linguistic question.
I want to make sure that I understand the German correctly: "sich auszeichnen" here means "to stand out" and not "to be characterized by", correct? Both fit the context, hence my hesitation.
"[Drug name] retard besitzt cholinerge Eigenschaften; es gehört zu den Hemmstoffen der Cholinesterasen. Unter diesen Substanzen zeichnet es sich durch gute Verträglichkeit, schonenden Wirkungseintritt, gleichmäßigen Wirkungsverlauf, lange Wirkungsdauer und allmähliches Abklingen der Wirkung aus. "
Apologies. The pamphlet I was quoting, quite popular in its time, was called "Lukasburger Stilblüten". It immortalised howlers perpetrated by pupils of the Ludwigsgymnasium in Munich. Just to set things straight.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hello Joseph
06:29 Jun 21, 2012
All parameters have leeway, after all, we're dealing with language here! And yes, you will get used to it, just hang in there. And welcome to Kudoz, the best game in town - win some, lose most, learn scads. Be well.
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
20:34 Jun 20, 2012
@lirka. I am just new here and I find this forum very difficult to use and get used to. I notice people demand a kind of exactness they don't really need or want and I'm sometimes quite astonished about the results. (I think, in the context, that Michael's answer was as useable as Vikki's or mine. So I don't have a problem with the selection.) I'm just addressing this more out of simple and more general confusion than anything else.
@Ramay Indeed all questions here are on some level linguistic, but not primarily, thus if someone specifically says "linguistic" I understand "primarily" linguistic.
I'll get used to it. A very good night to you all, depending on where you are. And thank you both for giving me a hint.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@ Joseph
20:04 Jun 20, 2012
linguistics (according to Webster's): the study of human speech, including the units, nature, structure and modifications of language.
linguistic (according to Oxford): the study of languages, of language
Basically ALL Kudoz questions are linguistic, aren't they? There just isn't always time to go into depth when there's a deadline to be met.
I classified it as a linguistic Q because I know from prior experience that it would have been moved had I posted under medical. Your suggestion and explanation were very precise and a pleasure to read, thank you for that. I selected Michael's answer just because "has the advantage of" is encountered very often in medical/pharmaceutical texts.
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
19:45 Jun 20, 2012
I thought you said this was a linguistics question. No much linguistic about your needs there, I have to say.
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
14:52 Jun 19, 2012
But someone/thing can also sich auszeichnen through its/his stupidity, unwieldiness, clumsiness, etc. Sich auszeichnen durch does not have to be positive. That is the point I was making with regard to advantage.
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
14:50 Jun 19, 2012
Seems to me to be a text for a professional target reader, or a very complex introduction to a text for the drug consumer. I.e. the part at the beginning of the prescription page which nobody understands except the manufacturer, the chemist and the semi-professional patient.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Selling, or describing without marketing intent?
10:59 Jun 19, 2012
Who is the target reader? It is obviously a comparison. Stands out, stands above, is noted for, is distinguished by, excels, is comparably more/better.., is outstanding, rises above and simply "is better...."
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
09:31 Jun 19, 2012
Sounds OK Michael. Or perhaps,
among those substances it is (particularly) notable for
among those substances it is (particularly) of note for
"noted" makes me wonder "noted by whom?"
I would just add it is noted for its... , when compared with the other substances.
Among those substances, it is noted for its... /it is noted for its... , compared with the other substances.
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
04:40 Jun 19, 2012
Michael's proposal: not really many objections, should be a plural, but also here I would need has the following advantages over these others: (bit unwieldy as a plural) cp: .....has the advantage of /... ...has the advantages of....... ...., however if I want to use the term elswhere, not only in this text, then it might cause problems since it is only useful as a qualitatively positive comparison. It is also a little bit salespitchy for a pharmaceutical text.
Horst Huber (X)
United States
Yes, Joseph, quite.
22:17 Jun 18, 2012
The German somehow manages to say both, "stand out" and "is characterised". I never argue against anyone's proposals. The quote is local (Munich) humor, apologies!
Incidentally, how do you feel about Michael's proposal? Any objections?
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
17:57 Jun 18, 2012
I am not quite sure what you mean @Horst Huber. I am talking about the difference between two English phrases. How such formal questions are solved in German is a totally different question.
Your example with the whale in fact displays irony in that it uses zeichnet sich aus, which I understand as an educated use of language, in a ridiculous context. Very funny in some circles, I suppose, but not really relevant to the question of formality in English documentation, where stand out simply does not fit in this particular context. If that is what you were trying to address.
Horst Huber (X)
United States
One classic example
17:46 Jun 18, 2012
comes from "Ludwigsburger Stilblüten": "Der Wal zeichnet sich durch sein unhandliches Format aus." I have to disagree, the difference between your two readings is not as great as it may seem.
Joseph Given (X)
Germany
to distinguish itself from
16:52 Jun 18, 2012
to stand out among others is too casual for a chemical or pharmaceutical context, therefore to distinguish itself from
Alexander Ryshow Belarus Local time: 01:57 Native speaker of: Russian
Notes to answerer
Asker: outline of the mountains against the sunset?
:)
56 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
to be distinguished by
Explanation: This means that these are the characteristics that separate it from other similar drugs.
That said, I couldn't find any especially suitable examples!
Example sentence(s):
While ecstasy also potentiates the effects of norepinephrine and dopamine, it is distinguished from other psychostimulants by its strong affinity for serotonin transporters
Vikki Pendleton United Kingdom Local time: 22:57 Native speaker of: English
1 hr confidence:
to distinguish itself from
Explanation: it distinguishes itself from these others by ....
es zeichnet sich aus unter diesen anderen durch ....
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2012-06-18 16:50:12 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
important here is the comparison to another similar substance
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2012-06-18 19:26:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
References, both pharmaceutical and general
www.aptalispharma.com/en/corporate_profile By combining its marketing expertise with its research and development experience, Aptalis distinguishes itself from specialty pharmaceutical companies that ...
ww.burrillreport.com/article-hepatitis_c_remains_a_hot_play.html 23 Feb 2012 – Novartis is hoping that Enanta's experimental drug can distinguish itself from the pack by providing broad range effects across all three ...
lauravanessa.com/side-effects-from-viagra/ 6 Jun 2012 – This was located in an material to distinguish itself from its services, and to perform service coastline. side effects from viagra. side effects from ...
endo.endojournals.org/content/146/9/3999.full by BS Komm - 2005 - Cited by 115 - Related articles Due to the presence of some undesirable side effects (6), efforts to improve on ..... but it does distinguish itself from these other SERMs, supporting the concept ...
http://www.geotransinc.com/publications.html GEO distinguishes itself from the competition by its continued invitation by the USEPA to write state-of-the-practice guidance manuals on site characterization and remedial design.
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