池谷大星：科学技術用語: March 2008

Thursday, March 27, 2008

one-third or 1/3?

I have come across several Japanese parts makers using "1/3" in their catalogs or press releases. Typical in-house translators or engineers at such companies typically render "1/3" or any other fraction exactly as it is in the original Japanese document when preparing the English version.

True, mathematical symbols are basically universal around the world. However, when publishing a document for public use in the English language, I typically transpose simple mathematical symbols like "1/3" into "one-third."

Here is one example from The Nikkei Business Daily Wednesday edition, dated March 27, 2008 (bold emphasis added by me):

The strong growth in online gaming is not limited to Asia, however. U.S research firm Strategy Analytics forecasts the global online gaming market will expand by 25% annually and be worth 11 billion dollars in 2011, accounting for one-third of the total game software market.

Here is another example from an article by Reliable Plant:

When asked whether they have made – or are planning to make – changes to their total rewards programs with generational preferences in mind, nearly one-third of respondents (32 percent) answered in the affirmative.

And, one last example from an article by Machinery Lubrication:

In a heavy-duty diesel engine, only one-third of the total energy produced works to propel the vehicle forward. An additional one-third is removed as heat energy by the exhaust system. The remaining one-third of heat energy produced is taken away by the coolant.

So, why do good writers choose to go through the trouble of spelling "one-third" when it would be much easier to simply write "1/3"?

I believe that reading one-third spelled out is easier on the eyes and less distracting than 1/3. Regardless of what I believe, the Chicago Manual of Style clearly states the following:

9.15 Simple fractions
Simple fractions are spelled out. When, as in the first four examples below, a fraction is considered a single quantity, it is hyphenated. When, less commonly, individual parts of a quantity are in question, as in the last example, the fraction is spelled open. See also 7.90, section 1, under fractions, simple.

Examples:

She has read three-quarters of the book.
Four-fifths of the students are boycotting the class.
I do not want all of your material; two-thirds is quite enough.
A two-thirds majority is required.

Of course, when publishing a technical paper, then the numerical form of a fraction might be the preferred style in accordance with International System of Units (SI).

Can you think of any other situation where a simple fraction might be written as 1/3 instead of one-third? In your English translations, do you follow the CMoS rule or do you use another reference that has a different view? Let me know what you think. Feel free to post your own questions as well!

Additional References:

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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Commercialization

The term 「品化商」 can be translated as "commercialization." Let's break the term down:

商品【しょうひん】commodity; article of commerce; goods; stock; merchandise (Link)
化【か】 (suff) -ization; -ification (Link)

Eijiro defines 商品化 as follows:

commercial realization // commercialization // commercialization of product // commodification // commoditizing // developing products // product commercialization

Furthermore, Glova translates the phrase as follows, which includes U.S. English and British spelling:

commercializing | commercial service | commercialization | commercialisation | Commodities | commercialize | commercialization of product | commodification | commoditizing | developing products | product commercialization

Now, let's take a look at the word "commercialization" from a different point of view. According to ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典第４版, this word can be translated as:

商業化, 商業的に応用[利用]すること, 営利化, 製品化, 商品化, 市販品化, 市販化, 市場化, 市場投入化, 工業化, 実用化, 事業化

The dilemma we face is the typical translation of 品化商 as commercialization. There is nothing wrong the such a translation, but I feel that the word commercialization is a bit vague. If you look at the various translations above, you can see that the word commercialization is not exactly very clear--in fact, in typical Japanese fashion, it is quite vague!

Here are some examples that I have used in the past to rewrite the translation of 製品化 as commercialization:

product ABC is commercialized -> product ABC is available from production
product ABC is commercialized -> product ABC is now available from stock
XYZ Ltd. commercialized the series of ABC -> XYZ Ltd. has developed and begun marketing product ABC
XYZ Ltd. has developed and commercialized the world's the world's fastest digital ABC -> XYZ Ltd. has developed and released to the market the world's fastest digital ABC.

Here are some examples of real-world usage:

Redrock Micro now available from production (Link)
Drip-proof motors through 1,000 HP and totally enclosed motors through 350 HP are available from stock. (Link)
2300/4000 volt motors through 1,000 HP are available from production. (Link)
Replacement inserts are available from stock. (Link)
They are available as cylindrical bearings, collar bearings and rod stock with internal diameters of 2 mm to 120 mm. Approximately 1500 sizes (both imperial and metric) are available from stock. (Link)
NSK Ltd. has developed and begun marketing bearings for steelmaking machinery and home appliances. (Link)
Suntory has begun marketing its popular "Reserved Fruit Cocktail" (Link)
Biomet's comprehensive shoulder system was released to the market in 2007 (Link)
XVision was released to the market in December 2001 (Link)

Do you have any other phrases that you would like to use instead of commercialization? Click on the Comments link below to leave us with your thoughts!

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Monday, March 17, 2008

Improved Oil Flow

Today's translation deals with the phrase: スムーズな油流

スムーズ　smooth
油【あぶら】 oil
流【りゅう】 style of; method of; manner of

The translator originally translated the phrase as: improve oil flow. My rewrite was: improved oil flow.

In this usage, "スムーズな" is an adjective, so obviously, the English translation should also be an adjective. Therefore, "improve" should be translated as "improved."

Here are some examples of "improved oil flow" being used by native English writers:

Improved Oil Flow Monitoring (Machinery Lubrication)
New Showa fork features a larger cartridge rod and new cartridge oil piston for improved oil flow and less friction, plus stiffer springs for improved mid-stroke action. (Honda Australia)
Improved oil flow and cooling performance (Mobile Canada)
Testing also provides data necessary for enhancements to bearing design, housing and shaft design for improved rigidity, and improved oil flow to the bearings. (SAE International / Timken)

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