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Tech/Engineering - Automotive / Cars & Trucks / car diagnostics | | English term or phrase: CAM DRVN TO LCK PIN INT | CAM DRVN TO LCK PIN INT
I'm not sure about some abbreviations in this string
thanks for help |
|  Darko KolegaKudoZ activityQuestions: 2049 ( 14 open) ( 2 without valid answers) ( 80 closed without grading) Answers: 399
Croatia
| | Local time: 21:51
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| | English translation:Ask for clarification | Explanation:
The only reasonable option is to ask the client to provide a full version of these strings. Otherwise, it will be guesswork, which is extremely time-consuming on your part. Here you can have
cam = cam/camshaft
drvn = driven
to = to
lck = lock, locking
pin = pin
int = internal, integrated / ...
which are individually reasonable guesses in the field - but are not necessarily the only ones. And how to choose when there are more than one alternatives is a very difficult question. You will have to fully understand the string, and it takes a lot of time.
Plus: there are probably 20 other translators who have to do the same in their own languages. 20 people trying to decipher the same puzzle.
This is extremely error-prone. If you get the correct answer in 95% of the cases, which is quite high here, taking into account the lack of context, it means that one translator in 20 will probably make a mistake. With a mid-size list of 2000 such terms you (and every other translator) is expected to make 100 mistakes.
Instead, the client should clarify all such things beforehand. And a generic list that contains all options for each abbreviation will not do: if you know that "int" can be "internal", "integrated", "intercooler", etc., you still have to make a choice -- without adequate context. So, the only option is that the client provides a reference file, say, an Excel table, in which all such strings are deciphered, and even "of"s and the like are added, so that you don't have to guess.
Of course, you can try to crack all those nuts alone, and when you are in doubt, flag it separately to the PM. Say, you will flag 50 items. And so do all other translators. How much time does it take for the PM to handle all those queries? Way more than prepping the file adequately in advance.
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| Selected response from:
  Attila Piróth
Local time: 21:51
| Grading comment Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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46 mins confidence:  peer agreement (net): +3 | cam drvn to lck pin int Ask for clarification
Explanation:
The only reasonable option is to ask the client to provide a full version of these strings. Otherwise, it will be guesswork, which is extremely time-consuming on your part. Here you can have
cam = cam/camshaft
drvn = driven
to = to
lck = lock, locking
pin = pin
int = internal, integrated / ...
which are individually reasonable guesses in the field - but are not necessarily the only ones. And how to choose when there are more than one alternatives is a very difficult question. You will have to fully understand the string, and it takes a lot of time.
Plus: there are probably 20 other translators who have to do the same in their own languages. 20 people trying to decipher the same puzzle.
This is extremely error-prone. If you get the correct answer in 95% of the cases, which is quite high here, taking into account the lack of context, it means that one translator in 20 will probably make a mistake. With a mid-size list of 2000 such terms you (and every other translator) is expected to make 100 mistakes.
Instead, the client should clarify all such things beforehand. And a generic list that contains all options for each abbreviation will not do: if you know that "int" can be "internal", "integrated", "intercooler", etc., you still have to make a choice -- without adequate context. So, the only option is that the client provides a reference file, say, an Excel table, in which all such strings are deciphered, and even "of"s and the like are added, so that you don't have to guess.
Of course, you can try to crack all those nuts alone, and when you are in doubt, flag it separately to the PM. Say, you will flag 50 items. And so do all other translators. How much time does it take for the PM to handle all those queries? Way more than prepping the file adequately in advance.
| Attila Piróth
Local time: 21:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:  Hungarian
PRO pts in category: 4
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| | Grading comment | Selected automatically based on peer agreement. |
| Notes to answerer
Asker: you read my mind! I already asked for it - no answer so far; well, as soon I get payed, I'm out of this topic (it's sad but true)
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