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French to English translations [PRO] Geography / Guide randonnée
French term or phrase:lacet
I know what a "lacet" is in general - but I'm stuck as to how to express its various manifestations in my text, three among many of which are as follows:
... le sentier continue à monter en face et rejoint une petite route qui décrit une épingle. Sans emprunter la route, engagez-vous sur le sentier qui la domine et monte en petits **lacets** dans un bois de chênes pubescents. Le chemin fait un grand **lacet** à gauche et monte en direction de la chapelle San Roccu.
... Passez devant la fontaine avant d'attaquer un **lacet** pentu qui rejoint le bas du village de Speloncato. Il n'y plus qu'à remonter vers la place en empruntant les ruelles.
Explanation: :) Not my usual explanation, but that is simply what they are.
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i.e. a very tight bend that almost doubles back on itself, just like the shape of a hair pin (not a hair "grip", which actually does double back on itself).
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"Start at Ashcombe car park in Simonsbath. From the upper car park, follow the public footpath uphill though deciduous woodland. As you exit above the trees, the path bends in a hairpin to the left. Follow the steps down into a shady combe, carpeted with ferns." http://www.countryfile.com/route/exmoor
"Then the trail climbs sharply, becoming briefly very steep towards the crest of the hill, but after this, the walking is very easy. Just beyond the hairpin bend, another seat offers a pleasant view of the floodplain." http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/AllByUNID/DDFB4AE704...
When appropriate (most of the time) I used the construction "hairpin road/path", otherwise, for shallower bends, "winding". Oh, that was another brain-teaser: sentier, piste, etc. I used "trail", "path" and sometimes "lane" if in a village.
I'm intrigued by the interest this has aroused! In fact, althoug the translation was sent months ago, I was discussing it with my bilingual sister-in law only a couple of weeks ago. She is a keen walker. The term occurred in several descriptions, and looking at the map provided, I clearly had to choose each time between zigzag road, winding road and hairpin road. I considered mountain road too, but didn't use it.
I'm following your contributions with interest; I am surprised (and grateful) at so many suggestions. I originally chose the 2 terms hairpin bend (for just one) and switchback (for a complete series) - but as the context is Europe I think there may be more British English speakers than American (always a tricky decision in this sort of text). So I think I'll end up using "hairpin bend" and "hairpin sections" as appropriate. deadline 9h00 tomorrow morning, Monday!
As the word "épingle" also has to be translated, I now think that "hairpin" should be saved for that and that the "lacets" are zig-zags. Zig-zag would be used for a series of sharp bends close together. A "winding" path is much gentler. A "grand lacet" sounds like what I like to have flavoured with tamarind in an Indian restaurant, but could otherwise be a "sharp change of direction".
Though you'll have to mix and match because, as I think you understand, lacet(s) refers to 1) individual straight bits in a series of zigs and zags, 2) a whole series of zigs and zags, 3) a "change-in-direction" bit between a zig and a zag, and 4) 1 & 3 as above combined, depending on context. It may often be better to get away from the word entirely and say something about "the track winds its way up/down the hill in a series of tight bends", as appropriate.
I'd keep that for roads - here it's "Sans emprunter la route, engagez-vous sur le sentier", so for a trail/hill-walking I'd go for winds, meanders... trails snake too.
- maybe check the trail on a map? Trail might be good enough.
Thanks yet again for your rapid help here. I've actually been using the term "hairpin", but felt that this refers only to the bends, whereas "lacets" is I think, (in the image of a shoelace) the succesive ever-higher stretches of road. Maybe I'll use "hairpin stretches" or indeed zigzags.
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Answers
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bend
Explanation: or twists and/or turns
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maybe meanders.
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or winds or maybe meanders.
A Road Meanders and Winds Through a Forest on the Island at Sunset, Prince Edward Island
kashew France Local time: 18:06 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
The translation workplace 
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