English translation: LED message/destination board/display
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French to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Transport / Transportation / Shipping / signalétique dans les trains
French term or phrase:bandeau lumineux
bandeau fait de diodes qui peuvent être allumées ou éteintes une par une afin de constituer des mots, statiques ou défilants, indiquant la destination du train
Explanation: This is certainly one commonly-used term; it is usual to specify LED (or other technology) to differentiate it from a simply paper message board!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-03-08 20:08:24 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Well, if you don't want a technical term, then just leave off the LED, if the context makes it clear enough what they are referring to.
I'd say that a lot of people would be familiar with 'LED', since it has been adopted in so miuch modern technology; perhaps less technologically-savvy members of the older generation would be perplexed by it.
However, diode is definitely out; I doubt if very many people at all would even know what this is, let alone associate it with LEDs and 'things that light up'. You should note that 'diode' is used in FR in this context a lot more often than in EN.
I think Natasha's point is very valid: you don't need to describe the technology used, as long as it is clear what object you are referring to; as so often, FR describes the form of the item, whereas EN describes its function (and often vice-versa too!)
If this board is only used for destination information, then 'destination board' would work for me; if however it may be used for other custom messages as well, then it might be as well to keep it fairly general.
I think Pauls' own suggestion of 'LED destination display' is fine, as long as it is definitely destination and only that; otherwise, it could be over-interpretation, since there is no specific implication of destination in the source text.
J'ai trouvé ce terme qui pourrait sans doute convenir à tous les passagers. Ce panneau est à l'intérieur. Le fait qu'il soit lumineux est significatif, parce que cela attire l'attention et qu'il y a ou qu'il peut y avoir d'autres petits panneaux donnant des indications, une carte géographique, etc.
Dans ce cas, nul besoin de préciser LED / Diode ou autre. Le fait que le panneau soit lumineux ne change rien au sens et n'ajoute pas grand chose. Par contre, vous dites "the train they are IN". Cela veut donc dire que le bandeau est à l'intérieur du train et non sur le devant?
The point is telling the passengers to make a check on the "panneau lumineux" to verify the destination of the train they are in, and there is only one "panneau lumineux" in this train. So, it would be a pity to perhaps perplex or mislead some passengers using a term they don't understand if there is an other one more sure. You may see that LED or diode are not in the French term, but only in my explanation of what the object consists in.
I would say no to Diode. As for LED, I'm not sure since we cannot assume any degree of intelligence. I assume your text has other context to help understand exactly what is meant by "bandeau lumineux" though, because without your explanation I would have interpreted it differently. You could probably drop the LED bit if your sentence is something like "Check destination on the information display located at the front/side of the train". Can you give us the exact sentence you are translating?
Natasha Dupuy France Local time: 21:11 Meets criteria Specializes in field Native speaker of: English, French PRO pts in category: 4
2 hrs confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
on-board (passenger) information system/information panels
Explanation: DSTA offers on-board passenger information systems. It is a market leader in its national economy and provides over ten years' experience in the manufacture of information panels for trains.
Explanation: This is certainly one commonly-used term; it is usual to specify LED (or other technology) to differentiate it from a simply paper message board!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2011-03-08 20:08:24 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Well, if you don't want a technical term, then just leave off the LED, if the context makes it clear enough what they are referring to.
I'd say that a lot of people would be familiar with 'LED', since it has been adopted in so miuch modern technology; perhaps less technologically-savvy members of the older generation would be perplexed by it.
However, diode is definitely out; I doubt if very many people at all would even know what this is, let alone associate it with LEDs and 'things that light up'. You should note that 'diode' is used in FR in this context a lot more often than in EN.
I think Natasha's point is very valid: you don't need to describe the technology used, as long as it is clear what object you are referring to; as so often, FR describes the form of the item, whereas EN describes its function (and often vice-versa too!)
If this board is only used for destination information, then 'destination board' would work for me; if however it may be used for other custom messages as well, then it might be as well to keep it fairly general.
I think Pauls' own suggestion of 'LED destination display' is fine, as long as it is definitely destination and only that; otherwise, it could be over-interpretation, since there is no specific implication of destination in the source text.
Fair enough, Paul; I feel sure you're right in this instance, though future users of the glossary might need to watch out on this point.
Tony M France Local time: 21:11 Does not meet criteria Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 137
Notes to answerer
Asker: You are right Tony, there is no specific implication of destination in the source text, but as far as I know it is only used to indicate the destination.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +1
