German: Ebene English translation: plateau 
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| GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | | German term or phrase: | Ebene (as Austrian geographic feature) | | English translation: | plateau | | Entered by: | Rowan Morrell |
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German to English translations [PRO]
Science - Geography / Historical Trail Audio | | German term or phrase: Ebene | "Frau X – Sennerin von 1958 bis 1968 auf der Motineralm in der ***Tinklebene*** erinnert sich:
'Bis ganz nach hinten wurden die Almen beweidet, bis zum Tauernhaus. Ganz hoch oben waren die Schafe und ein wenig darunter die Ochsen. Solange ich Sennerin war, waren immer Ochsen oben. Da waren über einhundert Ochsen oben. Man musste auch helfen, die Ochsen zu treiben. Das war sehr gefährlich. Wenn man da nicht aufgepasst hat, da war alles zu spät.'
Bei Schlechtwetter musste die große Ochsenherde hinunter auf die ***Ebenen*** der ... Almen getrieben werden. Dabei gab es eine strenge Regelung, wie lange die Tiere auf welcher ***Ebene*** –sozusagen als Gäste - weiden durften. Sobald es das Wetter wieder erlaubte, wurden die Tiere zurück auf die Ochsenalm an der Westseite des Tales gebracht. Der 78-jährige Herr Y erzählt:
'Auf der Ochsenalm waren über 100 Ochsen oben und meistens ein bis zwei Hirten. Wenn es geschneit hat, haben sie die Ochsen auf die tiefere Alm getrieben. Das war genau geregelt. Unsere Alm ist links heraußen die erste Alm. Da mussten wir die Ochsen 1 Tag dulden. Am nächsten Tag mussten die 100 Tiere eine ***Ebene*** weiter um zu weiden. Wie das ausgeschaut hat! Und so ging das, solange Schnee war, bis zum Tauernhaus nach hinten weiter.' "
More from my historical trail audio. Here they're talking about handling cattle. This passage leads me to believe that "Ebene" has a very specific meaning in relation to Alpine regions. Some of these "Ebenen" even have names (e.g. Tinklebene). But I'm just not sure what the correct term would be. Plateaus, perhaps? I also wondered about plains, but plains are generally lower down. These "Ebenen" are right up in the mountains. They're not merely "levels"; they're a particular geographic feature. TIA for your help. |
| | Clarification request(s) and responseMarcus Malabad: 2:16am Mar 16, 2007: Rowan, please only the source term in the question box. Thanks, M
Angelika Joast: 8:37am Mar 16, 2007: Imo bezieht sich Ebene auf verschiedene Hoehenlagen. Die Kuehe koennen nicht in einem Tag zum Tauernhaus gehen bzw. vom Tauernhaus ins Tal. Sie muessen bei den verschiedenen Almen Zwischenstopps einlegen.
Angelika Joast: 8:48am Mar 16, 2007: Nur als Info: auf S. 14 f sind Almen nach Lage etc. aufgelistet. Vielleicht hilfts irgendwo weiter ...
http://alpwirtschaft.com/Dateien/1vo_screen.pdf
Rowan Morrell: 9:25am Mar 16, 2007: The Sound of Music - Take a little break from work and have a look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHnISKZKY18
OK, now back to work. ;-) My reason for bringing this to your attention is that The Sound of Music was filmed on location in the Austrian Alps, and it suddenly occurred to me that Julie Andrews is on an "Ebene" in that opening sequence. Do you reckon that is an "Ebene" there? I suppose "plain" could work if it is ...
David Moore: 9:30am Mar 16, 2007: I hardly think so; in my English dictionary at least a plain is defined as "a large area of relatively smooth, flat land without significant hills or valleys", and you'll probably find something like that in any other...
Angelika Joast: 9:35am Mar 16, 2007: Nice little movie ;)
What we see there looks like a plateau to me though ..
Angelika Joast: 9:37am Mar 16, 2007: And another link: http://utah.sierraclub.org/ogden/powder/index.html
Rowan Morrell: 10:03am Mar 16, 2007: Another Occurrence - From a little bit further on in the text:
"Früher war der Almauftrieb streng geregelt, die Bauern der einzelnen Ebenen mussten gemeinsam auftreiben."
So it seems that different Alpine farmers live on individual "Ebenen" ...
Angelika Joast: 10:17am Mar 16, 2007: It's quite tricky I have to admit.
Found a good glossary of terms - might me useful: http://www.agrarkulturerbe.de/almen_glossar.php?buchstabe=A
Rowan Morrell: 11:12am Mar 17, 2007: Yet Another Occurrence - "Almen in der ***Fruschnitzebene***
Aufgeschichtete Steine und etwas Holz – außer den spärlichen Fundamentresten steht hier nichts mehr. 1947 und im Winter 1950/51 wurden die vier Almen der ***Fruschnitzebene*** von verheerenden Lawinen weggerissen."
So now we have a "Fruschnitzebene" with "vier Almen" (four alps?). There is a Fruschnitz in Austria, but quite what the "Fruschnitzebene" is escapes me. Fruschnitz plain? Fruschnitz plateau?
It really is driving me dotty, this word. But I do thank everyone who has assisted thus far.
Angelika Joast: 11:18am Mar 17, 2007: 4 Almen bezieht sich IMO auf die Almhuetten. @Ebene: I simply don't know if you can have several plains on one mountain.
Rowan Morrell: 11:46am Mar 17, 2007: Hmm - You might be right about "Almen" here actually meaning "Almhütten". It would help if they spelt it out though, because "Alm" on its own has several different meanings (Alpine pasture, alp etc.).
Angelika Joast: 2:01pm Mar 17, 2007: We actually never say Almhuette: "Der "Innsbrucker Almenweg" laedt zu reizvollen Wanderungen ein: von der Muttereralm (1608m) zur Raitiser Alm (1553 m) und zur Kreither Alm (1608m) [..]." Das sind alles Huetten und keine patures.
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| | (next/lower) mountain pasture / (lower) alp plateau (level) | Explanation:
variations:
mountain pasture -or- alpine pasture -or-
(next/lower/alpine) pasture zone
alp - or - alp level -or- alp region
I would go for plateau (highland), an area separated from other plateaus, but by itself, it could be a very large area and does not necessarily imply pastures or meadows.
But tectonically speaking, it would be correct.
I would not use meadows because the term denotes vegetation.
the "Ebene Reichenau" in Austria is such a plateau/(Hoch) Ebene (see
wikipedia link) and has the "Ebene" even in its name
http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/eliechtenstein_main_sites/por...
pasture zone
http://www.stanglwirt.com/en/mountain-pasture.html
mountain pasture
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichenau_an_der_Rax
http://www.reichenau.at/
For your text here, I think what is implied is exactly what you see in the opening scenes of the Sound of Music - although it's a "meadow" and not necessarily a "pasture area/zone". But it's located in the mountains, it's an alp region (Alm), it's a relatively flat "plateau-like" area.
In your account, it's where animals are grazing, so I would suggest "mountain pasture" in regards to the animals, and "alp(ine) plateau" as a neutral term which would restrict the size of the area to an alp which I think is meant here. Add "lower" or "next" if you need to.
"Ebene" as it is used is basically land of one alp, and there are many such alps/alp levels/alp regions
http://www.clasohm.com/photodb/photo?photo_id=11553
picture of alpine pasture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simmental_Cattle
alp pasture
http://www.gotzenalm.de/Mountain-Bike/mountain-bike.html
Almplateau
http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/dings.cgi?lang=en&noframes=1&serv...
mountain pasture, alpine pasture, alp, alpine meadow
http://www.woerterbuch.info/?query=meadow&s=dict
alpine meadow
http://www.lavendelfoto.de/de/kat-alpen.htm
alpine meadow vegetation
http://www.natz-schabs.info/de/sehenswertes/index.html
Apfelhochplateau Natz-Schabs
http://www.geo.de/GEO/reisen/europa/2465.html?t=print
Alp-Flix Hochplateau
http://www.suedtirol.info/SINFO/VILLANDERS/HOLIDAYRESORT/EN_...
alpine pastures Bavaria/Merlboden plateau
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Note added at 20 hrs (2007-03-16 21:24:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
similar to what David has already suggested, I think "alpine levels" can work in certain regards.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2007-03-16 21:31:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
however, it has other connotations (with skiing) and doesn't get hits for this meaning. Maybe "alp region" or alp zone" would better denote the area of an alp.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days16 hrs (2007-03-18 16:48:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
A few more suggestions for “Ebene.”
I personally like “alp” or “alp region/zone” (very neutral and denotes the area at a specific altitude).
or-
“alpine farm,” “alp-area” (no hits), “alp-pasture”
(“alp-meadow”)
I collected a few more links that might come in handy for your text.
If you need a word for “Almhütte” – you will find suggestions below.
“alp-hut” would be my favorite.
B
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cow
Simmental cow on alp pasture (Engstligenalp)
Alp pasture
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/offer-Activities_Excursions-...
alpine farm
http://www.dict.cc/?s=Alm
alpine pasture / alp
Alp plateau
http://www.bergfex.com/tauplitz/
Landschaftsebene – level of altitude
Almenregion – alpine grassland area
Hochplateau – high plateau
http://www.alpensicht.com/oesterreich-ramsau.htm
Vor der imposanten Kulisse des Dachsteinmassivs verbringen Sie in Ramsau einzigartige Ferien auf drei Landschaftsebenen. Vom Ramsauer Hochplateau (1200 Meter) geht es über die Almenregion bis in die hochgelegene Gletscherregion. Schön gelegene und bestens ausgestattete Ferienwohnungen, Ferienhäuser und Hotels werden den Gästen hier angeboten.
http://www.alpensicht.com/English/austria-ramsau.htm
In front of the imposing scenery of the Dachstein Massive you spend in Ramsau unique holidays on three levels of altitude. From the Ramsau high plateau (1,200 meters) it goes across the alpine grassland area up to the high-lying Dachstein Glacier region. Beautifully located and very well furnished holiday apartments, holiday houses and hotels are offered to the guests.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alm
alpine grassland
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/euaustria.htm
alpine meadow
http://www.matterhornstate.com/en/Valais-AlpWellVS-RegProdVS...
life on an alpine pasture (Älplerleben)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12438703@N00/281665319/
alp hut
http://www.tirol-huette.at/
mountain hut
The Wascher mountain hut is located at 1800m above sea level, on the Zettersfeld plateau, the East Tirol´s sun roof
The recently re-built bio log cabin is situated right in a hiking and skiing region, which makes it the perfect starting point for walks, easy hikes, and demanding mounatineering trips alike during summer.
In winter, our self-catering hut is a mere five-minute walk away from the Zettersfeld skiing region. You can ski there from the Wascher hut.
http://www.mondial.at/hotels/index01_de.php?mark=h&KID=1173
alp-cabin
http://www.almdorf.com/en/index.php4?navi=Almh%FCtten
alpine hut
http://www.fewo-live.de/start_engl/country_engl/austria/kroe...
log-home/Almhütte (more a term for vacationers)
Our log-home Dolinza is surrounded by others huts or log-homes, cows, horses and a lot of nature. The alp restaurants invite you for strong meals, 20 minutes from us is the lake.
http://www.gardena.org/mountain_inn_valgardena.asp
mountain inn (also for vacationers)
http://www.almdorf.at/index.asp?mID=2&lang=2
wood-cutter lodges
http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,ACC298105...
http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,ACC342669...
Almhütten – huts
http://www.sportcamp.at/Alpine_Cabin.217.0.html?&L=1
http://www.sportcamp.at/Almhuette.220.0.html?&L=
alpine cabin
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days17 hrs (2007-03-18 18:09:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Further discussion -
one of the problems in your text lies with the use of "Ebene" and "Alm" so the suggestions including "alp" cannot always be used to translate "Ebene."
Your information that farmers lived "auf verschiedenen Ebenen" can imply that they lived at different altitudes, on different "high plains." That implies "plateau" or "level", and in this sense, "plateau" would suit well.
However, for most of the context you posted above, I think "(lower/next) pasture" would fit. The name "Tinkelebene" could be left as such with an explanation such as the Tinkel plateau (or plateau Tinkel, or the Tinkel high pasture).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Austria
high pasture alpine pasture
Hope this all helps! It is difficult, that's for sure!
|
| Selected response from:
 Bernhard Sulzer
Austria
| Note from asker to answererAfter some discussion with the Austrian-based agency I'm doing this job for, I have settled on "plateau", although this may still not exactly capture the sense of the German. But it's close enough, I guess. I also felt Bernhard deserved the points for all the great effort he put into this answer! But the other answers were also good, with reasonable explanations and references, and I do thank and extend my appreciation to everyone who contributed to a question that turned out to be very tricky indeed.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
|
6 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +2 |
| Ebene (as Alpine geographic feature) (alpine) plains
Explanation:
at least that's what we call them here
In British Columbia alone we can boast of bogs, high alpine plains, dense temperate rainforests, waterlands, a desert, wine-country, muskeg, ...
www.ltgov.bc.ca/whatsnew/sp/sp_feb13_1_2006.htm - 16k
orested mountains,alpine plains,open grasslands,arid woodlands,sand orgibber. desertsorcoralreefs,butallrelyonthesameprincipals. Thepreservationofnatural ...
www.reap-canada.com/.../International%20Development/19b%20I...(Chinese).PDF
| Christine Lam
Canada
Meets criteria
Native speaker of:  German
PRO pts in category: 4
|
|
8 hrs confidence: peer agreement (net): +1 |
| level
Explanation:
Like so many hilly and mountain ranges, I think the Alps tend to go in "levels", although of course they're anything but flat...
| David Moore
Germany
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 7
|
|
| | Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
20 hrs confidence: |
| (next/lower) mountain pasture / (lower) alp plateau (level)
Explanation:
variations:
mountain pasture -or- alpine pasture -or-
(next/lower/alpine) pasture zone
alp - or - alp level -or- alp region
I would go for plateau (highland), an area separated from other plateaus, but by itself, it could be a very large area and does not necessarily imply pastures or meadows.
But tectonically speaking, it would be correct.
I would not use meadows because the term denotes vegetation.
the "Ebene Reichenau" in Austria is such a plateau/(Hoch) Ebene (see
wikipedia link) and has the "Ebene" even in its name
http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/eliechtenstein_main_sites/por...
pasture zone
http://www.stanglwirt.com/en/mountain-pasture.html
mountain pasture
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichenau_an_der_Rax
http://www.reichenau.at/
For your text here, I think what is implied is exactly what you see in the opening scenes of the Sound of Music - although it's a "meadow" and not necessarily a "pasture area/zone". But it's located in the mountains, it's an alp region (Alm), it's a relatively flat "plateau-like" area.
In your account, it's where animals are grazing, so I would suggest "mountain pasture" in regards to the animals, and "alp(ine) plateau" as a neutral term which would restrict the size of the area to an alp which I think is meant here. Add "lower" or "next" if you need to.
"Ebene" as it is used is basically land of one alp, and there are many such alps/alp levels/alp regions
http://www.clasohm.com/photodb/photo?photo_id=11553
picture of alpine pasture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simmental_Cattle
alp pasture
http://www.gotzenalm.de/Mountain-Bike/mountain-bike.html
Almplateau
http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/dings.cgi?lang=en&noframes=1&serv...
mountain pasture, alpine pasture, alp, alpine meadow
http://www.woerterbuch.info/?query=meadow&s=dict
alpine meadow
http://www.lavendelfoto.de/de/kat-alpen.htm
alpine meadow vegetation
http://www.natz-schabs.info/de/sehenswertes/index.html
Apfelhochplateau Natz-Schabs
http://www.geo.de/GEO/reisen/europa/2465.html?t=print
Alp-Flix Hochplateau
http://www.suedtirol.info/SINFO/VILLANDERS/HOLIDAYRESORT/EN_...
alpine pastures Bavaria/Merlboden plateau
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 hrs (2007-03-16 21:24:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
similar to what David has already suggested, I think "alpine levels" can work in certain regards.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2007-03-16 21:31:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
however, it has other connotations (with skiing) and doesn't get hits for this meaning. Maybe "alp region" or alp zone" would better denote the area of an alp.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days16 hrs (2007-03-18 16:48:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
A few more suggestions for “Ebene.”
I personally like “alp” or “alp region/zone” (very neutral and denotes the area at a specific altitude).
or-
“alpine farm,” “alp-area” (no hits), “alp-pasture”
(“alp-meadow”)
I collected a few more links that might come in handy for your text.
If you need a word for “Almhütte” – you will find suggestions below.
“alp-hut” would be my favorite.
B
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cow
Simmental cow on alp pasture (Engstligenalp)
Alp pasture
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/offer-Activities_Excursions-...
alpine farm
http://www.dict.cc/?s=Alm
alpine pasture / alp
Alp plateau
http://www.bergfex.com/tauplitz/
Landschaftsebene – level of altitude
Almenregion – alpine grassland area
Hochplateau – high plateau
http://www.alpensicht.com/oesterreich-ramsau.htm
Vor der imposanten Kulisse des Dachsteinmassivs verbringen Sie in Ramsau einzigartige Ferien auf drei Landschaftsebenen. Vom Ramsauer Hochplateau (1200 Meter) geht es über die Almenregion bis in die hochgelegene Gletscherregion. Schön gelegene und bestens ausgestattete Ferienwohnungen, Ferienhäuser und Hotels werden den Gästen hier angeboten.
http://www.alpensicht.com/English/austria-ramsau.htm
In front of the imposing scenery of the Dachstein Massive you spend in Ramsau unique holidays on three levels of altitude. From the Ramsau high plateau (1,200 meters) it goes across the alpine grassland area up to the high-lying Dachstein Glacier region. Beautifully located and very well furnished holiday apartments, holiday houses and hotels are offered to the guests.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alm
alpine grassland
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/euaustria.htm
alpine meadow
http://www.matterhornstate.com/en/Valais-AlpWellVS-RegProdVS...
life on an alpine pasture (Älplerleben)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12438703@N00/281665319/
alp hut
http://www.tirol-huette.at/
mountain hut
The Wascher mountain hut is located at 1800m above sea level, on the Zettersfeld plateau, the East Tirol´s sun roof
The recently re-built bio log cabin is situated right in a hiking and skiing region, which makes it the perfect starting point for walks, easy hikes, and demanding mounatineering trips alike during summer.
In winter, our self-catering hut is a mere five-minute walk away from the Zettersfeld skiing region. You can ski there from the Wascher hut.
http://www.mondial.at/hotels/index01_de.php?mark=h&KID=1173
alp-cabin
http://www.almdorf.com/en/index.php4?navi=Almh%FCtten
alpine hut
http://www.fewo-live.de/start_engl/country_engl/austria/kroe...
log-home/Almhütte (more a term for vacationers)
Our log-home Dolinza is surrounded by others huts or log-homes, cows, horses and a lot of nature. The alp restaurants invite you for strong meals, 20 minutes from us is the lake.
http://www.gardena.org/mountain_inn_valgardena.asp
mountain inn (also for vacationers)
http://www.almdorf.at/index.asp?mID=2&lang=2
wood-cutter lodges
http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,ACC298105...
http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,ACC342669...
Almhütten – huts
http://www.sportcamp.at/Alpine_Cabin.217.0.html?&L=1
http://www.sportcamp.at/Almhuette.220.0.html?&L=
alpine cabin
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days17 hrs (2007-03-18 18:09:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Further discussion -
one of the problems in your text lies with the use of "Ebene" and "Alm" so the suggestions including "alp" cannot always be used to translate "Ebene."
Your information that farmers lived "auf verschiedenen Ebenen" can imply that they lived at different altitudes, on different "high plains." That implies "plateau" or "level", and in this sense, "plateau" would suit well.
However, for most of the context you posted above, I think "(lower/next) pasture" would fit. The name "Tinkelebene" could be left as such with an explanation such as the Tinkel plateau (or plateau Tinkel, or the Tinkel high pasture).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Austria
high pasture alpine pasture
Hope this all helps! It is difficult, that's for sure!
| Bernhard Sulzer
Austria
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4
|
| Note from asker to answerer| After some discussion with the Austrian-based agency I'm doing this job for, I have settled on "plateau", although this may still not exactly capture the sense of the German. But it's close enough, I guess. I also felt Bernhard deserved the points for all the great effort he put into this answer! But the other answers were also good, with reasonable explanations and references, and I do thank and extend my appreciation to everyone who contributed to a question that turned out to be very tricky indeed. |
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