09:53 Nov 6 

I think you award points for the most useful answer. Obviously a fast answer is more useful than a slow answer, but clearly the right answer has to be more useful than a fast wrong answer. Many people award points to the answer that was actually used (nothing in the rules about that), but clients occasionally insist on what you know is not the best translation.
Basically, its ***all up to you Yellrose***. Personally, I already have quite a lot of them :)

09:45 Nov 6 

I agree with you on dictionaries - they serve as reference. I would only trust a combined dictionary-internet text-image search - an image search can reveal things when uncertain about something. It will be hard to award points on this one! Are answers posted according to when they are submitted?

06:04 Nov 6 

Bi-lingual dictionaries are to be taken as pointers, ideas, but with a pinch of salt. They are based on research, but today with the Internet, you can do the research yourself rapidly. Look at the images in my references. Personally, I've seen the roads myself.

18:55 Nov 5 

Dictionary n.1: motorway = autostrada, highway = strada principale and freeway = superstrada.
Dictionary n.2: autostrada = motorway; (US) expressway, superhighway
Dictionary n.3: autostrada = (in Gran Bretagna) motorway, (nell'America del Nord) expressway, superhighway, freeway, highway.

18:20 Nov 5 

With Eileen, absolutely. The majority seems to agree that something like "road and rail links/connections" is ok; but if you feel your customer is keen on highlighting that the roads in question are toll roads, then I'd stick to freeway/motorway, and avoid highway. Jim does have a point there.

17:33 Nov 5 

Whatever is chose, I think it is important to make it clear here, that in the US a highway usuallys NOT an autostrada. Take a look:
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/us-064_az.html
Also in Germany,the UK and the US most or all of the "autostrade" are not toll roads.

17:18 Nov 5 

you all have a point but we need to consider what the customer wants and that is not always "fair" to the quality of the work - thank you all for taking the time - mostly appreciated !

17:15 Nov 5 

Like I said to Jim, I think the question is academic. Autostrade are motorways or toll roads but it really doesn't matter in this context as long as you understand that you can easily get there by car.

15:09 Nov 5 

Sorry! That was meant to be "rail and motorway links".
ciao

15:08 Nov 5 

"autostrade" are usually called "motorways", although "toll roads" is a more precise translation. So, I would also go for something like "road and motorway links". I see no need for the use of the term "connections".

14:40 Nov 5 

I think "road and rail links" or "road and rail connections" are perfectly acceptable translations.
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=desk...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q="road ...

However the Italian does say "autostradale", which are quite specific types of road and correspond to motorways in the UK and to freeways (not highways, but the interstate roads) in the US as the nearest equivalents. The simplest solution is probably as you say to just use road and rail links and ignore the "auto" part of autostradale.

14:18 Nov 5 

"road and rail links" comes up with 13,800,000 ghits. Obviously the roads in question would be highways, not country lanes, if we are talking about "convenient" connections. Or am I missing something? I'd be grateful for my colleagues' opinions.