https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/bus-financial/47710-leistungsspektrum.html?

Leistungsspektrum

English translation: range/variety/scope/fields/spectrum of service(s)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Leistungsspektrum
English translation:range/variety/scope/fields/spectrum of service(s)
Entered by: Dan McCrosky (X)

02:17 May 5, 2001
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial
German term or phrase: Leistungsspektrum
This term is from a contract for the formation of a community of interests association. This portion is explaining with which activities the association will involve itself. "Scope of activity", "range of services", "functional spectrum" or "fields of activity" are all I have thought of so far for "Leistungsspektrum".

Here is the context:

"Die Mitglieder der Vereinigung haben Ihr Leistungsspektrum in den Bereichen Projektentwicklung, Projektplanung, Projektrealisierung, Projektmanagement, Wirtschaftsberatung, Markt- und Standortanalysen sowie Durchführung von Konferenzen und Weiterbildungsprogrammen und Forschungsaufträgen.

Die Vereinigung ist im Bereich Akquisition von Projekten zu dem oben genannten Leistungsspektrum, auch im Kontext der verschiedenen Programme der Europäischen Union, tätig. Die Bearbeitung von Projekten erfolgt in aufgabenspezifischen Arbeitsgemeinschaften, welche aus den Mitgliedern der Vereinigung gebildet werden, oder durch Übernahme einer Generalunternehmerfunktion durch ein Vereinigungsmitglied."

Any better ideas?

TIA

Dan
Dan McCrosky (X)
Local time: 14:08
“activity spectrum,” “spectrum of activities,” or “range of activities”
Explanation:
To begin with, the expressions you came up with are all excellent, apt renditions. One can hardly improve upon them. The same goes for the renditions already suggested by other contributors. All I propose to do here is offer additional, not necessarily better, alternatives, and contribute some theoretical comments.

The term "Leistungsspektrum" is clearly a borrowed one. In its rather arcane original domain, the term is usually translated as “power spectrum.” Look at this citation:

http://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/bu/people/sib/diplom/node13....

“Fouriertransformation und Leistungsspektrum:

Zur Charakterisierung regulärer oder chaotischer Bewegungsabläufe ziehen wir als weiteres Werkzeug das Leistungsspektrum (“power spectrum”) heran. Das Leistungsspektrum wird aus der Fourieranalysen berechnet, um die Frequenzzusammensetzung der zeitlichen Variation der dynamischen Variablen aufzuzeigen.”


The context you have obviously is of a different field. Surprisingly, some translators have used the expression “power spectrum” even when the context clearly calls for a different rendition. Look for example at this web page:

http://www.menke-funkenerosion.de/deutsch/Leistungsspektrum....

“Von der Programmierung über das Fertigen von Startbohrungen zum Erodieren. Bei der Nachbearbeitung durch Läppstrahlen oder das Schleifen von Anbindungen bis hin zum Vermessen auf der Meßmaschine bieten wir Ihnen den "Rundum-Service". Machen Sie sich ein Bild von unserem Leistungsspektrum in den verschiedenen Bereichen.”

The English translation of this page is found here:

http://www.menke-funkenerosion.de/english/Leistungsspektrum....

“We supply to you programming, manufacturing starting holes and eroding. After eroding by honing-lapping jets, sharpening and measuring on the measuring machine. This is the " round around service " we offer to you. Look at our power spectrum in the different areas.”

I think that is in dire need of a good editing job.


When the intended meaning is to describe a company’s range of services, the term commonly used is “service spectrum” or “spectrum of services.” Here is an example from a bilingual page:

http://www.inggr-hsp.com/

German: “Leistungsspektrum: Planung, Berechnungen, Bauüberwachung, Abnahme, Bauabrechnung, Leistungsmessung, Beratung, Studien, Gutachten,Technische Software”

English: “Service spectrum: planning, calculations, construction supervising, inspection, construction accounts, efficiency tests, consultion studies, expert opinions, technical software.”


I would have suggested “service spectrum” for your context, except that the type of work being described did not strike me as the kind that we would call “services.” I would be more comfortable calling them “activities,” hence “activity spectrum” or “spectrum of activities.” If you see that the work being described is better called “services,” then I would recommend “service spectrum” or “spectrum of services.”

Why insist on “spectrum”?

Indeed why, and yet why not? The term “spectrum” is clear, evocative, and, as pointed out by a prior contributor, seems to be a favorite of the writer. So why not aim for an additional measure of authenticity by preserving that element of the text, especially since such a preservation will not detract from the clarity of the text or its smooth-flowing English style.

At the same time, I see no harm in using “range” instead of “spectrum.” After all, that is what a spectrum is anyway. The same goes for “scope” and “field.”

Of course, all the rephrasing possibilities suggested by the prior contributors are valid as well, within the boundaries of faithful translation. They may work in some sentences, but not in all.


Fuad
Selected response from:

Fuad Yahya
Grading comment
Thank you all very much. In the end, I wrote a combination of all your answers so I would like to give the points to the contributor who appeared to have done the most work on my question. Besides that, I am collecting the URLs of poorly written GE/EN sites for a direct mail campaign someday when I get the time. Thanks again, Dan
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
nafocus/emphasise
Dr. Sahib Bleher
narange of service(s)
Vesna Zivcic
naSee below
Randi Stenstrop
narange of services - but two sentences
Matthew Harris
na“activity spectrum,” “spectrum of activities,” or “range of activities”
Fuad Yahya
naanother suggestion
Beth Kantus


  

Answers


9 mins
focus/emphasise


Explanation:
As a straight translation I favour "range of services", but in this text you might paraphrase it to read "they focus their services on" or "emphasise within their range of services".
HTH


    n/a
Dr. Sahib Bleher
Local time: 13:08
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 219
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28 mins
range of service(s)


Explanation:
1. ... (their) range of services encompasses the areas of...

PricewaterhouseCoopers Switzerland - Our range of services encompasses:

2. range of service / range of services




    Reference: http://www.pwcglobal.com/ch/eng/about/svcs/
Vesna Zivcic
Local time: 14:08
Native speaker of: Croatian
PRO pts in pair: 571
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30 mins
See below


Explanation:
I get the feeling that Leistungsspektrum is a favourite word with the author, who is liable to use it a little too often. Anyway, who says you must communicate the idea using exactly the same word(s) every time it crops up? Here is what I would do:

The members of the association provide (consultancy) services within the fields of project development etc. etc. ...

The objective of the association is to secure contracts within the above-mentioned (consultancy) categories ...

HTH - and good luck.


Randi Stenstrop
Local time: 14:08
Native speaker of: Danish
PRO pts in pair: 265

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

Elizabeth van der Veen
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36 mins
range of services - but two sentences


Explanation:
The German sentence is not „finished“ or „happy“ with „haben“ in my opinion. The „Leistungspektrum“ is normally set off as a sentence like „We make a wide range of services available / to offer.“ That means a convenient break. Then saying: „These cover the areas of ... OR The members of the association specialize in consulting in the areas of project development and and planning, project management, business consulting, market ... etc.

Dan, I hope this „re-cast“ helped. Otherwise, we can just have a drink, since we’re from the same town, nearly.
Matthew13



    n/a
Matthew Harris
Germany
Local time: 14:08
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 88
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12 hrs
“activity spectrum,” “spectrum of activities,” or “range of activities”


Explanation:
To begin with, the expressions you came up with are all excellent, apt renditions. One can hardly improve upon them. The same goes for the renditions already suggested by other contributors. All I propose to do here is offer additional, not necessarily better, alternatives, and contribute some theoretical comments.

The term "Leistungsspektrum" is clearly a borrowed one. In its rather arcane original domain, the term is usually translated as “power spectrum.” Look at this citation:

http://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/bu/people/sib/diplom/node13....

“Fouriertransformation und Leistungsspektrum:

Zur Charakterisierung regulärer oder chaotischer Bewegungsabläufe ziehen wir als weiteres Werkzeug das Leistungsspektrum (“power spectrum”) heran. Das Leistungsspektrum wird aus der Fourieranalysen berechnet, um die Frequenzzusammensetzung der zeitlichen Variation der dynamischen Variablen aufzuzeigen.”


The context you have obviously is of a different field. Surprisingly, some translators have used the expression “power spectrum” even when the context clearly calls for a different rendition. Look for example at this web page:

http://www.menke-funkenerosion.de/deutsch/Leistungsspektrum....

“Von der Programmierung über das Fertigen von Startbohrungen zum Erodieren. Bei der Nachbearbeitung durch Läppstrahlen oder das Schleifen von Anbindungen bis hin zum Vermessen auf der Meßmaschine bieten wir Ihnen den "Rundum-Service". Machen Sie sich ein Bild von unserem Leistungsspektrum in den verschiedenen Bereichen.”

The English translation of this page is found here:

http://www.menke-funkenerosion.de/english/Leistungsspektrum....

“We supply to you programming, manufacturing starting holes and eroding. After eroding by honing-lapping jets, sharpening and measuring on the measuring machine. This is the " round around service " we offer to you. Look at our power spectrum in the different areas.”

I think that is in dire need of a good editing job.


When the intended meaning is to describe a company’s range of services, the term commonly used is “service spectrum” or “spectrum of services.” Here is an example from a bilingual page:

http://www.inggr-hsp.com/

German: “Leistungsspektrum: Planung, Berechnungen, Bauüberwachung, Abnahme, Bauabrechnung, Leistungsmessung, Beratung, Studien, Gutachten,Technische Software”

English: “Service spectrum: planning, calculations, construction supervising, inspection, construction accounts, efficiency tests, consultion studies, expert opinions, technical software.”


I would have suggested “service spectrum” for your context, except that the type of work being described did not strike me as the kind that we would call “services.” I would be more comfortable calling them “activities,” hence “activity spectrum” or “spectrum of activities.” If you see that the work being described is better called “services,” then I would recommend “service spectrum” or “spectrum of services.”

Why insist on “spectrum”?

Indeed why, and yet why not? The term “spectrum” is clear, evocative, and, as pointed out by a prior contributor, seems to be a favorite of the writer. So why not aim for an additional measure of authenticity by preserving that element of the text, especially since such a preservation will not detract from the clarity of the text or its smooth-flowing English style.

At the same time, I see no harm in using “range” instead of “spectrum.” After all, that is what a spectrum is anyway. The same goes for “scope” and “field.”

Of course, all the rephrasing possibilities suggested by the prior contributors are valid as well, within the boundaries of faithful translation. They may work in some sentences, but not in all.


Fuad


    See citations above
Fuad Yahya
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 128
Grading comment
Thank you all very much. In the end, I wrote a combination of all your answers so I would like to give the points to the contributor who appeared to have done the most work on my question. Besides that, I am collecting the URLs of poorly written GE/EN sites for a direct mail campaign someday when I get the time. Thanks again, Dan
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 4 hrs
another suggestion


Explanation:
All of the contributors had good sugestions.
When I read your source text, though, the first thing that occurred to me was that the members of the association specialize in (the areas of)....
You could always use that "spectrum" term in the next paragraph, where it talks about them actively acquiring projects within the scope/framework of (or involving) the above defined spectrum of services/performance ...

Just a suggestion - hope it helps!

Beth Kantus
United States
Local time: 09:08
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 924
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