Abiturient

English translation: grammar school graduate

18:12 May 30, 2006

German to English translations [PRO]
Education / Pedagogy / Gifted Education

German term or phrase: Abiturient

grammar-school graduate or
candidate for the General Certificate of Education
or pupils who have received the school-leaving certificate

cmgrimm (X) KudoZ activity Questions: 11 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 0 Switzerland
Local time: 08:19

English translation:grammar school graduate

Explanation:
I prefer grammar school for Gymnasium to distinguish among the various German secondary schools.

Abiturient

Träger eines Abiturs, der dazu berechtigt ist, seine Studien an einer »Hochschule aufzunehmen, meist als Abgänger eines Gymnasiums vor dem Eintritt in Hochschule, Ausbildung oder Wehrdienst.

http://www.student-online.net/dictionary/action/view/Glossar...

Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 00:19

Grading comment

Thank you for your help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

grammar school graduate

Kim Metzger

3 +1

(passed/successful) Alevel candidate.

muitoprazer (X)

matriculant

Richard Benham

3 +1

sixth-former (equivalent)

Lancashireman

2 +1

See explantion

hirselina

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

grammar school graduate

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 00:19
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 903

Grading comment

Thank you for your help.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Richard Benham: [...] The word "graduate" to my way of thinking implies holding a degree (L gradus), oder...?//Not in UK or Australia.//Yes.

34 mins

-> Since an Abiturient has an Abitur, he's a high school graduate, oder? / You mean graduate implies a university degree?

agree

lindaellen (X): Sorry I missed the Brit. bit - therefore I retracted my US comment

54 mins

neutral

Diana Loos: With Richard; this is a word I always have trouble with and I'm surprised there's not already a glossary term for it!!!

57 mins

neutral

Lancashireman: Sorry, Kim. 'Graduate' is not going to work for the asker's intended British readership. We have even forgotten what 'grammar schools' were.

1 hr

-> OK - it's perfect for US English, but I withdraw this proposal since it's BE we need here.

neutral

Brie Vernier: In the US, "grammar school" is generally synonymous with "elementary school"; in any case, it is NOT "high school" http://m-w.com/dictionary/grammar school//Yes, but I think we call those "prep schools" nowadays, if, in fact, anyone in the US learns L+G

4 days

-> Strange. 1 a : a secondary school emphasizing Latin and Greek in preparation for college. / You're right - not ideal for US audience.

7 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

See explantion

Explanation:
The German Abitur (das) is a high school diploma or secondary leaving certificate (A-level), received after passing a written and oral examination during the 12th or 13th year of school (depending on the state). It entitles a student to university attendance, although not necessarily in the field of his/her choice. Die Matura is the Austrian equivalent. Also see "graduation."
http://german.about.com/library/blvoc_educ2.htm

hirselina
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

French,

Dutch
PRO pts in category: 26

20 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

(passed/successful) Alevel candidate.

Explanation:
is hw i would render it.

muitoprazer (X)
Local time: 07:19
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 3

46 mins confidence:

matriculant

Explanation:
I always rather assumed that this meant a candidate in a matriculation examination, but I just checked Collins, and it says something like "person who has matriculated". So it looks pretty suitable.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-05-30 19:28:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hello everybody. Just a comment about the concept of a "high-school graduate". It sounds odd to me (actually it makes me wince, but that's my problem). The thing is that in the UK (as here in Australia), it is not the high school that issues the certificate, but a government body. That is apart from the general presumption that a "graduate" has a degree, and not just a fancy piece of paper issued by the local high school.

Of course, the distinction is tending to break down, with the globalisation of numbers and the weight of numbers of speakers of US English, but I still think it's best to use a term that's as neutral as possible, and one which suits a UK readership (I haven't seen the other question, but Kim says Christine has specified UK English).

Richard Benham
France
Local time: 08:19
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 32

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

neutral

muitoprazer (X): couldn't that be someone graduating from any course at any age?

18 mins

-> Well, the age is irrelevant. I have met a 17-year-old PhD candidate. A "matriculation" examination by definition is one that qualifies for university entrance.

neutral

Lancashireman: Take another look at this one. When you mean to post 'neutral' or even 'disagree' next to an answer ('graduate') return to the page to make sure you haven't clicked on 'agree' by mistake.

2 days 3 hrs

-> I was being charitable. Besides, there is nothing in the statement of *this* question that says UK English is required. BTW, what's wrong with my answer?

neutral

Brie Vernier: This may have been the better choice for BE, but wouldn't work for AE: http://m-w.com/dictionary/matriculant//Merely pointing it out for the benefit of future seekers, as Asker doesn't spec. if AE or BE, yet chose an A that is appar. unsuitable for both

4 days

-> Not sure of your point. The asker apparently wanted BE, and I don't think either Abiturient or matriculant implies going on to university, just that the exam is a university entrance exam.

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

sixth-former (equivalent)

Explanation:
Since you have previously specified *British* English. This term is widely understood to mean a candidate for the Advanced Level examination which qualifies him/her, amongst other things, for matriculation to university.
Abiturient is IMO more likely to be used for a candidate rather than for a student who has taken the exam and left school.

A student in the sixth form
http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/SIXTHFORMER
Students preparing for their A levels in their final two years of secondary education
http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/SIXTHFORM

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days4 hrs (2006-06-01 22:14:27 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

On your previous question you stated: “This is a Bavarian-to-British-English translation”. http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1386259 This question (Abiturient) must therefore refer to a separate job for a US readership.

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:19
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 370

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Abiturient

English translation: grammar school graduate

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