池谷大星：科学技術用語: 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Removal of Oxide Scale

How would you translate "脱落した酸化スケール"?

Let's break it down:

脱落した酸化スケール
脱落【だつらく】 loss; dropping out; falling by the wayside
酸化【さんか】 oxidation

The original translation I saw was:

scale oxide dropped from the metal surface

The problem with this translation is the direct translation of 脱落 as "dropped." A better translation would be "oxide scale is removed from the metal surface" or "waste oxide scale is removed from the metal surface."

References:

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Monday, December 13, 2010

SaaS

Today's key term is: software-as-a-service (SaaS)

Note that this initialism is written with two lowercase a's, which makes this initialism somewhat visually unique.

翻訳

software-as-a-service (SaaS): サース

SaaS（サース、Software-as-a-Service）は、必要な機能を必要な分だけサービスとして利用できるようにしたソフトウェア（主にアプリケーションソフトウェア）もしくはその提供形態のこと。一般にはインターネット経由で必要な機能を利用する仕組みで、シングルシステム・マルチテナント方式になっているものを指す[1]。以下、特に断りのない限り、上記定義でのSaaSについて記述する。[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaaS]

Some Japanese sites tend to spell out SaaS as "Software as a Service."² Please note, however, that this is one noun, and as such, requires dashes. Therefore, "Software as a Service" should be written as "Software-as-a-Service."

Also, when using SaaS in your sentences, be sure to spell the word out first, then indicate the initialism in parenthesis.¹

例： With cloud computing, users can interact with software-as-a-service (SaaS) via their Web browser on a laptop, desktop, or iPhone without worrying about compatibly with the hardware operating system.

References:

1. The Chicago Manual of Style

Additional references:

2. 用語解説辞典/NTTPC ソリューション・ネットワーク事業(This site is a good example of how to NOT spell SaaS.
3. Computer Desktop Encylopedia (Computer Desktop Encyclopedia)
4. 日経パソコン用語辞典 2010年版
5. The Chicago Manual of Style

Monday, June 7, 2010

Micro-EHL

Original Text:

micro Elastohydroynamic Lubrication (EHL)

Suggested Text:

micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (micro-EHL)

Notes:

Spell out abbreviations at first occurrence as a courtesy to readers who might not easily recognize them. The abbreviation usually follows immediately in parentheses.
Hyphenate "micro-elastohydrodynamic" and "micro-EHL"

References:
1. Wear, Volume 190, Issue 2, December 1995, Pages 125-138 (ScienceDirect Link)
2. Engineering Tribology By Gwidon W. Stachowiak, Andrew W. Batchelor (Link Google Books)

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Half-Toroidal CVT

Original Text:

a Half-Toroidal CVT (continuous variable transmission)

Suggested Text:

a half-toroidal continuously variable transmission (CVT)

Notes:

Spell out abbreviations at first occurrence as a courtesy to readers who might not easily recognize them. The abbreviation usually follows immediately in parentheses.

References:
1. The Chicago Manual of Style
2. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

Disclaimer

Encyclopedia of Shinto

Everything you need to know about Shinto architecture, customs, beliefs, etc.:

http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/

Miss Pronouncer: Hear how to pronounce; The Wisconsin pronunciation guide for cities, counties, Indians & lawmakers

"Online resource for hearing audio pronunciations of cities, parks, lawmakers, Indian tribes, towns, counties, villages, and forests specific to Wisconsin" in the States:

http://misspronouncer.com/

Monday, April 12, 2010

Centrifugal Deoiling

"Centrifugal deoiling" seems to be a term more commonly associated with food processing. I don't think it is the right term to use when talking about the cleaning process of newly manufactured hardware components.

Vocabulary:

組立【くみたて】 assembly
工程【こうてい】 manufacturing process
遠心脱【えんしんだっ】 centrifugal de-[something]
油【あぶら】 oil
脱脂【だっし】 removal of fat
乾燥【かんそう】 dry

Original Translation:

degreased and dried by centrifugal deoiling in assembly process

Suggested Translation(s):

Remove grease and dry bearings with an oil separator during the manufacturing and assembly process.
Remove grease and dry bearings with a centrifugal dryer during the manufacturing and assembly process.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Constitution and Specifications

I recently came across the heading 「構成および仕様」, which was translated as "Constitution and Specifications." Unfortunately, the text following this heading failed to list the so-called "constitution" of the product, nor did it provide any "specifications." The original title should have been Primary Feature (大特徴) or something like that since the text contained only the primary feature of the product.

Here are some points to remember:

Original Text:

構成および仕様

Definitions:

構成【こうせい】configuration
および and; as well as
仕様【しよう】technical specifications

Original Translation:

Constitution and specifications

Proposed Translations:

Specifications
Configuration and Specifications
Performance [depending on context]

Disclaimer

Make Money--Hire a Copyeditor

I came across this posting in a forum I belong to. I couldn't agree more:

"It is hard to believe some companies are the world's leader in their field when they fail to spend 10,000 to 20,000 yen for a copyeditor. One such company (name withheld to prevent further damage to their reputation), makes more than 26 billion yen in net sales. Yet, they failed to invest in what I think would have only cost 10 to 20 thousand yen for some copyediting."

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Set Screw vs. Setscrew

How do you say 「Ｗポイント止めねじ」in English? Why not "set screw (W shape screw head)"?

Here are some corrections and suggestions:

1. "set screw" is one word--not two. See the following two references:

2. I think "W shape screw head" might be Japanese-English (和製英語). The term "W shape" should likely be "cup-point," not "W shape."

Also, "screw head" is clearly wrong because the cup-point is NOT at the top (head) of the setscrew. The head of a setscrew will either be a an Allen-type head (for tightening with an Allen wrench) or a slotted-type head (for tightening with a screwdriver).

Finally, here is a list of different types of setscrews according to MachineDesign.com:

1. cup-point setscrews
2. cone-point setscrews
3. oval-point setscrews
4. flat-point setscrews

The RcTek site goes even further and offers wonderful illustrations of the different types of setscrew (grub screw) tips:

1. flat-point tip
2. domed-point tip
3. cone-point tip
4. cup-point tip
5. knurled cup-point tip
6. dog-point tip

Specific references/links:

1. Machine Design - Setscrews
2. RC Tek - Fixings & Fasteners - Grub Screws

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Apple and American Red Cross Accepting Haiti Relief Donations thru iTunes

Sadly, the news coverage of the Haiti earthquake has been miniscule in Japan. Conversely, coverage of the disaster has been quite extensive on a daily basis in the States. I wonder why the disparity?

For those of us who live in Japan, we can now send donations via the iTunes store in amounts of Y500, Y1,000, Y2,500, Y5,000, Y10,000, and Y20,000.

The donation will be charged to the credit card that you have registered with your iTunes Store account. Your donation will be sent to the American Red Cross. Rest assured that the American Red Cross is a reputable organization that you can trust. If you haven't already, I encourage all my friends, students, and colleagues in Japan to donate.

More information in Japanese is available at these links:

iTunes Storeでハイチ地震救援募金受付：
https://buy.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/buyCharityGiftWizard

広田稔／ASCII.jp編集部：
http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/490/490581/

ハイチ大地震に便乗したオンライン詐欺、シマンテックが注意喚起
http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100115_342594.html

ヤフーやニフティなど、ハイチ地震の被災者への募金を受け付け
http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100115_342613.html

ハイチ地震救援金
http://volunteer.yahoo.co.jp/donation/detail/1301013/index.html

ハイチ大地震被害の救援金を受付けます
http://www.jrc.or.jp/contribution/l3/Vcms3_00001446.html