Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
03:55 Nov 14, 2009
German to English translations [Non-PRO] Linguistics / German addresses
German term or phrase:straße
When writing German addresses in English language documents, do you retain the "ß" in straße or other proper names ("Groß-Gerau"), or do you substitute a double S? I had been substituting the double S for those English readers not familiar with the ß but is there a consensus?
As you already mentioned: to write Strasse instead of Straße is a compromise for all those who will not be able (computer keyboard settings, lack of understanding, etc.) to handle the character 'ß' - however, in all other situations, especially when it's about delivering a perfect German text, it is IMO mandatory to use the 'ß' even when you send it to an English 'audience'.
For Straße, I would suggest to use the abbreviation:
e.g. for Bismarckstraße -> Bismarckstr., or Venloer Straße -> Venloer Str. (if followed by the number)
However, this would not work for names such as Groß-Gerau. ;-)
"Procter & Gamble recalls 120,000 Vicks nasal sprays - Procter & Gamble has announced it is recalling 120,000 bottles of Vicks Sinex nasal spray after small traces of bacteria were found in the product. Bottles shipped to the US, the UK and Germany are being recalled after traces of the B cepacia bacteria were found at a German plant in Gross Gerau."
What surprises me about this article is that the BBC writer has gone for the American convention of a singular verb after Procter & Gamble. Also, the use of 'shipped' (to Germany) when the consignment presumably went by road - also an American term.
The 'Alt + number key' works only with the number keypad (with the Num Lock 'on') and NOT with the number keys on top of the keypad (due to different ASCII codes).
In a laptop use Alt + Fn+ number key from the virtual key pad formed on the right hand by the keys 7890, uiop, jkl;, m,./
If you reread the question, you will see that the Asker is not looking for a translation but the best way to write an address. Personally, I think "via Veneto" is fine, admittedly it is more difficult with a language that has its own alphabet such as Greek or Russian, here a transcription is probably unavoidable.
The asker refers to documents, and in my opinion there is no alternative in this situation to writing the correct address including a "ß", unless the street concerned is in Switzerland, which is the only country I know of where the "ß" has been officially abolished.
Otherwise what do you do with umlauts and the special signs in other European languages, etc.?? . Just this week in another KudoZ question somebody gave us a link which explained how to find any of these signs for use with any keyboard or computer. Does anybody recall what link it was ? I've lost it !
weg = road
I think exist many many dictionaries german-english...
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 hr confidence:
strasse
Explanation: I would use "ss." I can't think of any objection to using "ss" while I can think of a couple against the "B" (like the fact that I just used a capital B for it!)
J. Punch Local time: 10:53 Native speaker of: English
As you already mentioned: to write Strasse instead of Straße is a compromise for all those who will not be able (computer keyboard settings, lack of understanding, etc.) to handle the character 'ß' - however, in all other situations, especially when it's about delivering a perfect German text, it is IMO mandatory to use the 'ß' even when you send it to an English 'audience'.
For Straße, I would suggest to use the abbreviation:
e.g. for Bismarckstraße -> Bismarckstr., or Venloer Straße -> Venloer Str. (if followed by the number)
However, this would not work for names such as Groß-Gerau. ;-)
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +4
