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seuil


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21:22 Jan 29, 2012
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Construction / Civil Engineering / Hydraulic engineering
French term or phrase: seuil
"Un seuil sur la rivière permettra d’avoir un plan d’eau de 4m suffisant pour le pompage."

Is there any way of knowing whether this should be translated as a "weir" or as a "low-head dam"? Would it be safer to hedge my bets by translating it as "weir or low-head dam"?

I really want answers only from people who specialise in civil engineering, particularly hydraulic engineering. Guessing and Googling will really not be useful.
B D Finch
France
Local time: 02:30


Summary of answers provided
4sill
David Hayes
Summary of reference entries provided
seuil = weir???mimi 254

Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
sill


Explanation:
Since we are not certain of the exact way in which 'seuil' is being used in your document (It would appear that 'seuil' is often used as a 'catch-all' term), why not hedge your bets by using a similarly 'catch-all' term in English? I would put 'sill'.

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Note added at 16 hrs (2012-01-30 14:06:59 GMT)
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Yes, but only if the term is being used absolutely correctly. How do you know the author was not using the term somewhat loosely? The following reference (for rivers and not in the USA) uses the terms interchangeably: http://www.wwa-m.bayern.de/projekte_und_programme/isarplan/d...
Little disclaimer: It is not stated that the document is a translation, but it's worth bearing in mind that it may be.


    Reference: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/00221694929...
David Hayes
France
Local time: 02:30
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 11
Notes to answerer
Asker: Because the sill is the edge of a weir, not the whole structure (at least in UK English). Your reference relates to a swamp and a particular structure in the US and I suspect that it is not at all the same sort of structure as one would have on an ordinary river channel.

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Reference comments


11 hrs
Reference: seuil = weir???

Reference information:
Not a specialist, but this might help

small overflow dam

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seuil_(barrage)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dam
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weir

upcommons.upc.edu/pfc/bitstream/2099.1/6249/4/03.pdf

http://www.agroparistech.fr/coursenligne/hydraulique/degoutt...

sierm.eaurmc.fr/sdage/documents/guide-tech-4.pdf

engees.unistra.fr/site/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/shu/TD_1_Fluent.pdf

mimi 254
Cameroon
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 19
Note to reference poster
Asker: Thanks mimi. I think that I am going to go for "weir".

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