Ton

English translation: audio

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Ton
English translation:audio
Entered by: Parrot

00:37 Dec 8, 2000
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Tech/Engineering
German term or phrase: Ton
The problem here is that "Ton", in general, in an IT sense would more often be translated as "sound":

"audio object": 400 hits compared to 1100 hits for "sound object"
"audio file": 35,000 hits compared to 49,000 hits for "sound file"
"audio content": 8,000 hits compared to 700 hits for "sound content"

but because of the positioning next to the word "Video" in the context and because of the above predominance of "audio content" hits over "sound content" hits, I would prefer to use "audio" as the translation for "Ton" in the following context:

"Weitere Vorteile gegenüber dem etablierten aber starren HTML: Verschiedene Inhalte wie Texte, Bilder, Video oder Ton können in einer Datenbank als XML-Objekte gespeichert und verwaltet werden. Das Format ist unabhängig von Medium, Plattform oder Hersteller einsetzbar. Insbesondere die Möglichkeit, in tief strukturierten Inhalten suchen zu können, macht XML zum wichtigen Werkzeug, um die wachsende Informationsflut in Intranet und Internet bewältigen zu können."

my proposed translation would be:

"Further advantages over the established but inflexible HTML: Various content types, such as text, images, video or audio can be stored and managed in a database as XML objects. Use of the format is independent of the medium, platform or manufacturer. Especially the possibility to search in deeply structured content makes XML an important tool for coping with the rising tide of Intranet and Internet information."

What do you think?

TIA - Dan
Dan McCrosky (X)
Local time: 18:15
For reasons of style, I like your translation better, and your
Explanation:
reason is very valid. We say "audio-video" when speaking of the combination, but not "sound-video". We also use "soundtracks", but specific usage has made that word limited (although to a technician, soundtrack is just about anything recordable as a sound file.) You might try checking "digital audio" as against "digital sound" because its in the digital field that audio and video are making great progress together.
Selected response from:

Parrot
Spain
Local time: 18:15
Grading comment
Thank you all for your answers.

I think Parrot's answer was the most illuminating. The search she suggested for "digital audio" (234,000 Google hits) versus "digital sound" (82,000 Google hits) bears out my search results for "audio content" (8,000 Alta Vista hits) compared to "sound content" (700 Alta Vista hits). Beth's good references also support the use of "audio". I probably chose the answers as best that most clearly supported what I wanted to write anyway. That's what happens when the prosecuting attorney and the judge are the same person.

Dan

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
nasound
Mats Wiman
naHi!
TRANSRAPID
naaudio/sound
Eivind Lilleskjaeret
naFor reasons of style, I like your translation better, and your
Parrot
naa vote for audio
Beth Kantus


  

Answers


20 mins
sound


Explanation:
This was - with my Swedish perspective -my instinct reaction.
My Norstedts Dictionary supports it:
audio is an adjective and sound is a noun. In your list nouns are listed.
Video is of course the snag: It's also an adjective but has so to say 'imported' noun characteristics through the fact that both a VCR and a recorded sequence are called 'video'.



    see above
Mats Wiman
Sweden
Local time: 18:15
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish
PRO pts in pair: 1498
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46 mins
Hi!


Explanation:
I think your translation is perfectly fine, and as in the meaning and context
'sound' and audio' are equally suitable.

One sugestion I would like to make though, is to delete the 'types',
at: content types, and change it to 'various contents'.

TRANSRAPID
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:15
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 88

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Isaac Katz (X)
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2 hrs
audio/sound


Explanation:
I agree with Star, and write only to say that Collins Engl. Dict. supports this view: "Audio" can also be used as an independent (not only modifying) noun; a meaning it acquired in the course of the last century (again according to Collins).


    Collins Engl. Dict.
Eivind Lilleskjaeret
Local time: 18:15
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian
PRO pts in pair: 65
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs
For reasons of style, I like your translation better, and your


Explanation:
reason is very valid. We say "audio-video" when speaking of the combination, but not "sound-video". We also use "soundtracks", but specific usage has made that word limited (although to a technician, soundtrack is just about anything recordable as a sound file.) You might try checking "digital audio" as against "digital sound" because its in the digital field that audio and video are making great progress together.

Parrot
Spain
Local time: 18:15
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 315
Grading comment
Thank you all for your answers.

I think Parrot's answer was the most illuminating. The search she suggested for "digital audio" (234,000 Google hits) versus "digital sound" (82,000 Google hits) bears out my search results for "audio content" (8,000 Alta Vista hits) compared to "sound content" (700 Alta Vista hits). Beth's good references also support the use of "audio". I probably chose the answers as best that most clearly supported what I wanted to write anyway. That's what happens when the prosecuting attorney and the judge are the same person.

Dan
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19 hrs
a vote for audio


Explanation:
http://www.real.com/
Buy RealPlayer 8 Plus and
get GoldPass free for 30 days!
With GoldPass you get:
RealPlayer Plus - our best player
Exclusive access to great audio and video

CNET.com - News - Entertainment & Media - Web audio, video ...
... Web audio, video receive low quality scores By Reuters Special to
CNET News.com October 24, 2000, 10:55 am PT ...
www.canada.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-3281812.html

CNN Audioselect
Sorry, CNN AudioSelect requires that you have a Javascript-enabled browser.
Description: Live audio of CNN network feeds. (Easier than video.)
Category: News > Internet Broadcasts > Audio
www.cnn.com/audioselect/

Above just a couple confirmations that audio is definitely in usage as a noun these days, particularly in the context you are working with now.

Your translation, of course, is perfectly fine. I do have a couple of ideas you might want to experiment with:
some combination of "a medium-, platform, and manufacturer-independent format (tons of google hits, particularly for "platform-independent" and "medium-independent.")
Instead of the possibility to search, I think "search capabilities" is very common now.
HTH - good luck!
Beth




Beth Kantus
United States
Local time: 13:15
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 924
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