Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2008 June 16

= June 16 =

"Equipotency"
What does "equipotency" mean?68.148.164.166 (talk) 00:14, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * "Equally as powerful", in general. What sentence is it used in? Fribbler (talk) 00:16, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * If I were picky, I'd say you gave the definition of equipotent. Equipotency (which I can't find on any dictionaries) would more likely mean "equivalence in power, strength, or efficacy". Kreachure (talk) 00:33, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * PS. Equipotence, at least in mathematics, seems to be the preferred form. Kreachure (talk) 00:35, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Swindlehurst
Could someone please give me a possible etymology for the surname “Swindlehurst”? Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.174.16.91 (talk) 04:55, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Oxford Dictionary of Surnames: "English (Lancs.) Probably a habitation name from Swinglehurst in Bowland Forest, W Yorks., so called from O.E. swin pig, wild boar + hyll hill + hyrst wooded ridge. Variant: Swinglehurst."  Gwinva (talk) 05:30, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * (ec and slight variation) Swindlehurst = "Dweller at the Swine-Dale wood" from Swine-Dale and Old English kyrst for wood (as in small forest). Related names are Swindale, Swindell, and Swindle "belonging to Swindale, or dweller at the Swine Valley (from Old English swin, Old Norse suin and Old English dæl or Old Norse dal-r" (Surnames of the United Kingdom, Henry Harrison, Genealogical Publishing Com, 1996, ISBN 0806301716) ---Sluzzelin talk  05:39, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Request for translation
"Il est nécessaire de noter cet effet signifiant, que la substance qui a eu lieu sur Terre, le cercle de la vie l'a utilisée pour créer des hydrates de carbone, qui provoquaient une énergie très efficace a leurs utilisation. D'ailleurs, la couche d'ozone s'est formée à cause de l’oxygène; sans lui, il serait impossible pour la vie d'exister dehors de l'eau ou sur sa surface, ce lui qui protège des un organisme d'UV."

Could a user please translate the above French passage into English? "La substance" most likely refers to oxygen, which was mentioned in the previous paragraph. --99.237.101.48 (talk) 05:07, 16 June 2008 (UTC)


 * "It should be noted that this effect, meaning that the substance which took place on Earth, the circle of life used it to create carbon hydrates, which provoked an energy very effective for their use. Among other things, the ozone layer was formed because of oxygen; without it, it would be impossible for life to exist outside of water or on its surface, (which protects it from an organism of UV?)."


 * It doesn't seem to make sense in French or English, it reads like it was literally translated from English, and there seem to be clauses missing or something. (Or maybe my French is just really rusty?) Where is this from? Adam Bishop (talk) 07:45, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Yeah, especially "ce lui qui protège des un organisme d'UV" has me scratching my head. "Des un organisme" isn't even a grammatical construction in French; and while "dès un organisme" would at least be syntactically correct, it means "since an organism" (as if an organism were a point in past time), which doesn't make any sense. "Hydrates de carbone" is probably "hydrocarbons" "carbohydrates", though. —Angr 07:50, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Ah, that's the word. I was thinking "carbohydrates"! Adam Bishop (talk) 07:59, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * But it is another hint that the quote above was machine-translated into French from something else, since the usual French word for hydrocarbon is hydrocarbure. Oops, I see Glucide says carbohydrates were formerly called "hydrates de carbone" in French, so you'd have been right to translate it "carbohydrates". And carbohydrates do require oxygen atoms, while hydrocarbons don't. So I take it back - I think it is talking about carbohydrates after all, not hydrocarbons. —Angr 08:14, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I have tried to translate this text into French (with some interpretation). "Il faut noter cet effet marquant, la présence de ce corps [composant] sur la Terre. Le cercle de la vie l'a utilisé pour créer des hydrates de carbone qui permettent une utilisation très efficace de l'énergie. D'ailleurs la couche d'ozone s'est formée grâce à l'oxygène, sans elle il serait impossible à la vie d'exister hors de l'eau ou à sa surface, car elle protège les organismes des UV [ultra-violets]." — AldoSyrt (talk) 08:53, 16 June 2008 (UTC)


 * The passage is an extract from an article that my friend, a French student, wrote and that a native French speaker corrected. The author could not understand the corrections and asked me to explain them.  I evidently didn't succeed, despite staring at the computer screen for five minutes.


 * Here is the original text written by the friend:


 * "Il est nécessaire qu'on note l'effet signifiant que cette substance a eu sur la Terre. La vie l'a utilisée pour créer des hydrates de carbone, qui pourvoyaient d'énergie très efficacement aux leurs utilisateurs.  D'ailleurs, la couche d'ozone s'est formée à cause d'oxygène; sans lui, il serait impossible pour la vie d'exister dehors d'eau ou sur sa surface.  Elle est ce qui protège des organismes d'UV."


 * What changes should be made? Thanks.  --99.237.101.48 (talk) 19:33, 16 June 2008 (UTC)


 * That version certainly makes a lot more sense. I suppose your native French speaker friend is either not a native speaker at all, or was lazy and plugged it into Google (or doesn't know how to write French very well; I can't imagine we'd get great English by asking a random English speaker to translate something). I don't know if the original is stylistically good French though, as it also reads like translated English. Adam Bishop (talk) 06:04, 17 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I rewrite the original text because the grammar is poor (style remains poor).
 * "Il est nécessaire de noter [better than qu'on note] l'effet significatif [meaning: signifiant = meaningful, significatif = significant] que cette substance a eu sur la Terre. La vie l'a utilisée pour créer des hydrates de carbone, qui pourvoient [present tense sounds better because it is still true] en [grammar: not d' ] énergie leurs [grammar: not aux leurs] utilisateurs de manière très efficace [better than très efficacement, that was ill-placed]. D'ailleurs, la couche d'ozone s'est formée grâce à l' [better than à cause de because the effect is beneficial]oxygène; sans elle [grammar: relates to couche (feminine) no to oxygène (masculine)], il serait impossible pour la vie d'exister hors de l' [or au dehors de l' ; grammar: not dehors d' ]eau ou à [better than sur] sa surface. Elle est ce qui protège les [meaning: les = all, des = some]] organismes des [grammar: de les = des] UV."
 * I try to translate it, but I am not an English native speaker. Adam Bishop will correct me.
 * "The significant effect that this substance had on Earth should be noted. Life used it to create carbohydrates that very efficiently provide their users with energy. Besides, the ozone layer was formed because of oxygen; without it, it would be impossible for life to exist outside of water or on its surface. It is what protects organisms from UV." AldoSyrt (talk) 12:01, 17 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Your English is fine! I wouldn't use "besides" for "d'ailleurs" though; that sounds very informal. Maybe "furthermore", or simply "also"? I don't think my original "among other things" fits there. Adam Bishop (talk) 06:08, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

Ne Quid Nimis
At a recent performance I attended in a local church, I observed "Ne Quid Nimis" as a motto on shields in a couple of places in the church. None of the regulars knew what it meant. Can anyone translate it for me please? -- SGBailey (talk) 08:28, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Apparently Μηδὲν ἄγαν (meden agan) was one of the three apollonic phrases inscribed in the temple of Delphi. (ascribed to one of the Seven Sages of Greece, either Solon of Athens or Chilon of Sparta). The Latin translation, ne quid nimis, appears in Terence's Andria (I.1.33). The translation is nothing too much, nothing in excess, or in its positive form all things in moderation. See also Wikiquote. ---Sluzzelin talk  09:06, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks -- SGBailey (talk) 16:27, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I like my late father's version: All things in moderation - including moderation. --  JackofOz (talk) 20:33, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

"age groupers"
What does "age groupers" mean?68.148.164.166 (talk) 09:20, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * It usually refers to contestants in a race who are classified according to age groups. The article on triathlon has: "Amateurs, who make up the large majority of triathletes, are often referred to as "age groupers" since they are typically further classified by sex and age." ---Sluzzelin talk  09:42, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

A book on human races
Is there any book like an illustrated encyclopedia on races of mankind? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.246.173.175 (talk) 13:07, 16 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I am not sure if "Language" is the right desk, but the second half of "Human" by Robert Winston could be what you after . --Chan Tai Man 14:20, 16 June 2008 (UTC)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chantaiman (talk • contribs)

Unknown text
I was in my friends house a few days ago house sitting as he is away. In the bathroom there was a sign that I think was in Arabic but I don't know. Could someone translate it for me? I would ask him but he's away till next week and its bugging me. Thanks. Freller Mellon (talk) 15:07, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * It is Arabic, and according to Google Translate it means "Please clean after use". —Angr 22:09, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Name for icons
Is there a name for this clean icons that we find in airports and shopping center to show us the way? 80.58.205.37 (talk) 17:45, 16 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Infographics? See also commons:category:AIGA symbol signs and commons:category:Public Information Symbols -- AnonMoos (talk) 18:36, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Author of Quote or "Law"
Trying to locate the following quote and author simiar to the following:

"You cannot solve the problems of a system, if you are within the system."

74.141.75.58 (talk) 21:02, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

"Genetic" prefix???
Hello. Isn't there a prefix for "genetic" or "relating to DNA" or something along this subject? I don't think geno is what I'm looking for... Thanks in advance, Kreachure (talk) 22:16, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * What exactly would you like to prefix? Fribbler (talk) 22:27, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Um, I'll go with "specific". Kreachure (talk) 22:48, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * How about just plain-ol' DNA-Specific, as used here? Fribbler (talk) 22:50, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Hmm, okay, thank you. But, I must apologize beforehand for being so obstinate. The paper you link to uses DNA-specific to mean "specific to DNA", but I'm looking for something that means "specific to a certain DNA/genetic code", which I think would be easier to express with a 'regular' prefix; either way, I thought there could be a definitive prefix for "genetic" etc. in English, but I guess I was wrong. If you feel you've already given me what I asked for, I'll understand T_T. Thanks again. Kreachure (talk) 23:16, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I don't think it was the best answer to be honest. I'd like to do better :-) "genospecific" is used the odd time? I can't find any standard prefix. It seems to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Fribbler (talk) 23:26, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Genospecific sounds nice, but I don't understand how it's used in the pages found by Google. Plus there's the far more common use of the prefix 'geno' which confuses me even more... Kreachure (talk) 23:37, 16 June 2008 (UTC)
 * (outdent) Genocide is good......well, a good example, not good. It is being used to mean the killing of people because of their genetic makeup. And I think it shows that the geno- prefix can be used to describe things which are "specific to a cetain DNA/genetic code" as you said. Fribbler (talk) 00:00, 17 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Well, if by "a certain DNA/genetic code" you mean a gene, why not just say "gene-specific"? And if that isn't what you mean, what do you mean exactly? --Anonymous, 00:18 UTC, June 17, 2008.
 * Um... genocide, as its article says, comprises many more aspects than just genetics, so the prefix geno- is not at all used to imply genetics in that word (which was why I mentioned it). Also, a genetic code is a collection of genes, not just only "a gene". But, 'gene-specific' sounds nice too, thanks. I want to ask for the definition of 'genospecific', but I also want to hear other suggestions if there are any. Kreachure (talk) 00:48, 17 June 2008 (UTC)
 * While geno– is the standard prefix for things relating to genes and genetics, the problem with "genospecific" is that most would read it as the adjectival form of genospecies, which might be the sense used in those ghits you refer to, Kreachure. To avoid confusing your readers, you might need to spell it out as "[condition] specific to [certain] genetic codes". Gwinva (talk) 01:17, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks all. I think I know what to use now. ^-^ Kreachure (talk) 15:02, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Corpora
I know probably the greatest standardized source of Cantonese characters are in the scripts of Cantonese operatists. Are there any other corpora for any dialects? Thanks.68.148.164.166 (talk) 22:35, 16 June 2008 (UTC)


 * You've already asked this question and received answers. Once is enough. Deor (talk) 11:35, 17 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Not quite; keep your limited opinions to yourself and stop trolling.68.148.164.166 (talk) 09:14, 20 June 2008 (UTC)