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Wandelpfad

English translation: path

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10:47 Nov 19, 2009

German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Tourism & Travel

German term or phrase: Wandelpfad

description of a hotel
"Wandelpfade f�hren durch den herrlich bl�henden...Garten"

Lesley Robertson KudoZ activity Questions: 121 (2 open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 136 Austria
Local time: 19:11

English translation:path

Explanation:
I agree with the other native speakers' objections to giving the path a description, so would this be a way out?

Selected response from:

British Diana
Germany
Local time: 19:11

Grading comment

Thank you to everyone who contributed!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

2 +5

strolling path

Bernd Runge

4 +3

meandering paths / pathways

Joanna Scudamore-Trezek

4 +2

pathway

Stuart Dykes

3 +3

path

British Diana

3 +2

gentle (foot)path

Jeux de Mots

promading path

Ingrid Moore

Summary of reference entries provided

meandering

Annett Kottek

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

21 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

meandering paths / pathways

Explanation:
As these paths lead through a garden full of blossoming flowers, my guess is that the hotel visitors are being encouraged use the path to admire the garden rather than to get from A to B. Where "Wandel" refers to "change", I am assuming that the paths are not straight and therefore meander - which also hints at slow movement - would fit.

Joanna Scudamore-Trezek
Austria
Local time: 19:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

gentle (foot)path

Explanation:
Although this is not a strict translation, I would perhaps consider this option. Strolling and meandering paths sound strange to me. A 'gentle path' is one that would lend itself to a gentle stroll rather than an energetic hike. Perhaps a gentle path leading/winding around/through the garden?

Jeux de Mots
Germany
Local time: 19:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 36

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

path

Explanation:
I agree with the other native speakers' objections to giving the path a description, so would this be a way out?

Example sentence(s):

You can stroll your way along paths through the wonderful flowering gardens

British Diana
Germany
Local time: 19:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 11

Grading comment

Thank you to everyone who contributed!

3 hrs confidence:

promading path

Explanation:
wandeln (gehen)
to promenade
http://www.dict.cc/deutsch-englisch/wandeln.html
Promenading path (linear)
A wide main path along the edge of something of interest, such as a riverside, is very attractive. This should have a pleasant sitting area no more than 50 m along the path from the main entry point to give older people an easy to reach destination point.
Promenading path (circular)
A main circular route around something of interest, such as a lake or pond, is very attractive. Ideally it should have frequent smaller paths joining, to link it with exit and entry points into or out of the space around the edge, to maximise the opportunity for people to come and go at any point, and provide short circular routes for people exercising their dogs.
http://www.idgo.ac.uk/design_guidance/open_spaces.htm
Form Associates
An inner promenading path and substantial planting are the key features of FoRM Associates’ low-impact plan for the park. Better defined east-west pathways and an enhanced piazza around Curfew Tower are also part of the scheme.
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/story.aspx?storyCode=5209...
3.1.1 Špica and Trnovo Pier Sections
The Špica area is intended for mooring of an increased number of river boats. At the section, river banks are grassy or ordered with natural rocks. They reach to the water level and are equipped with walking paths and benches. The left bank has beenarranged as a tree-lined promenading path.
http://www.urbem.net/WP2/WP2_Slovenia_case_study.pdf
Now a very popular promenading and cycling path, the POT encompasses important sights like Žale Cemetery and Fužine Castle, the green slopes of Mostec and Golovec, suburban-industrial areas, and broad tracts of scenic countryside.
http://www.slovenia-life.com/ljubljana/articles/?name=Hidden...

Ingrid Moore
Local time: 19:11
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

strolling path

Explanation:
... seems to be one option.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 Min. (2009-11-19 11:40:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Whether these are strolling paths or not, the point is that you can stroll (wandeln) on straight paths, as well. Stroll + path, in one form or the other, is the correct translation.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 Stunden (2009-11-19 15:05:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

With the benefit of hindsight "path inviting to stroll" seems to a more appropriate way of expressing the concept of a (Lust)Wandelpfad.

Bernd Runge
Germany
Local time: 19:11
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 4

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

agree

Jutta Wappel: was going to be my suggestion too

0 min

-> Danke, Jutta.

agree

Lena Nusselt

21 mins

-> Danke, Lena.

neutral

xxxeggsacion: as a native English speaker, "strolling path" sounds odd to me: paths don't stroll. Otherwise you'd have to rephrase e.g. paths to stroll down- not that I suggest that as a solution in this context

27 mins

-> Thanks for your comment. Yes, it may sound odd - but how about all those hiking, walking and cycling paths which don't hike, walk or cycle ;-)

agree

BrigitteHilgner: Curious as I am I googled and found that this is quite a common term.

42 mins

-> Danke, Brigitte.

agree

Ingeborg Gowans: yes, works here

2 hrs

-> Thank you, Ingeborg.

neutral

writeaway: sorry but this sounds very strange

3 hrs

-> No need to be sorry. Just re-arrange to "Paths inviting to stroll through this wonderful garden full of flowers" or the like.

agree

Colin Rowe: While "strolling paths" sounds extremely odd to my UK ears, I do like the version with "paths inviting you to stroll through the gardens"

3 hrs

-> Thank you, Colin. Would "extremely odd" without the proverbial-British-politeness filter translate to "wrong"?

neutral

Jon Reynolds: agree with eggsacion, "strolling paths" sounds odd in English. Probably better to rework it as Colin Rowe suggests.

6 hrs

-> Jon, my entries are usually not that long. If you would be so kind and start reading from word number 39 onwards; and, Colin gave me an agree based on my response to writeaway's comment.

neutral

Claire Cox: as others have said, paths can't stroll - I think paths or footpaths alone would be sufficient to convey the sense here

13 hrs

-> Hi Claire. First point taken, second disagreed. There is quite a difference between a Pfad (narrow path, any speed) and a Wandelpfad (no width constraints, slow pace to enjoy whatever).

neutral

Lisa Davey: With my British colleagues here.

1 day11 mins

-> Thank you for stop reading after word number 2 ;-)

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

pathway

Explanation:
What's wrong with pathways (or paths)?!!

Strolling path sounds very strange to these British ears (restrict your Google search to UK sites only and you'll see what I mean), but it does seem to be used elsewhere so I would base my decision on whether to use it on the target readership.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2009-11-19 19:30:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The problem I have with strolling path is that the word strolling is superfluous. My dictionary definition of pathway is "a trodden path", i.e. one that is walked down. It doesn't need a definer.

Example sentence(s):

Paved pathways lead through the gardens and run alongside an ornamental stream.

Stuart Dykes
Local time: 19:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

Reference comments

1 hr

Reference: meandering

Reference information:
I should say that 'meander' is well suited to represent the German term. Like the source term, it can refer to both the action of strolling as well as the winding or changeable nature of a path, which is also one of the connotation of 'wandeln'.

meander 2) Person: schlendern.
Duden-Oxford - Großwörterbuch Englisch. 3. Aufl. Mannheim 2005 [CD-ROM].

wandeln <sw. V.> [mhd. wandeln, ahd. wantalon, Iterativbildung zu ahd. wanton= wenden, zu winden, also eigtl.= wiederholt wenden] (geh.)
3. langsam, mit gemessenen Schritten, meist ohne einem Ziel zuzusteuern, gehen, sich fortbewegen <ist>: in einem Park w.; auf und ab w.
© Duden - Deutsches Universalwörterbuch, 6. Aufl. Mannheim 2006 [CD-ROM].

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 Stunde (2009-11-19 12:19:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is the oldest public wildflower garden in the nation. The woodland, swamp and prairie areas provide visitors with a seasonal display of native wildflowers. The meandering trail through this garden is approximately 2/3 of a mile.'
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=...

Annett Kottek
United Kingdom
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)

neutral

writeaway: a meandering and/or strolling path sounds very strange (my feeling as native Anglo). the meandering trail ref is not the same context. It's not a 'type' of trail-meandering is used as a descriptive adjective (like pleasant, etc).

12 mins

-> But there is this ambiguity in ‘Wandelpfad’, which I would try to incorporate. I see a varied and winding (meandering) path for ‘wandeln’.

neutral

Claire Cox: a meandering path would definitely convey to me that it meandered through the garden, i.e twisted and turned like the meanders of a river - not that it's suitable for meandering down

12 hrs

-> The thing it that the German word conveys this meanings to me too (unlike the word ‘Spazierweg’, for example). I don't imagine a 'Wandelpfad' to follow the straight lines of formal gardens.

Voters for reclassification
as
PRO / non-PRO

Non-PRO (1): writeaway

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English translation: path

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English translation: path

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