Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2010 April 12

= April 12 =

Looking for a German expert with a lot of time on their hands
I have a German language doctoral thesis that I would like to have translated into English. It is a small book (roughly 4.5 x 7.5), probably just wide enough to fit into your back pocket, but it has 220 pages and the print is pretty small. The subject of the thesis is Chinese history and literature. I am willing to pay for the effort, but it wouldn't be the normal going rate for such a project as I am on a fixed income. If anyone is interested, please contact me on my talk page. --Ghostexorcist (talk) 02:50, 12 April 2010 (UTC)


 * I had a similar situation once myself. You can consider doing what I did.  You can contact a local university and find a college student or graduate student in that field.  They usually need the extra money, and they don't charge a lot since they are only students (i.e., not professionals in the field).  That's my suggestion.  Thanks.   (64.252.65.146 (talk) 00:28, 13 April 2010 (UTC))


 * But you surely get what you pay for? If you do not need this thing done (for a job) or at least not done fast, why don't you make a raw translation yourself (esp. any termini technici) and then pay somebody with a good writing style reasonable money? - I cannot believe that you learned Chinese without a bit of English.--Radh (talk) 18:31, 13 April 2010 (UTC)


 * I think the issue is that Ghostexorcist doesn't read German. The way I understood it, the thesis was written by someone else, in German. ---Sluzzelin talk  20:21, 13 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Oh, sorry. that's different. Well, I'd do it - but it still cannot be done overnight./ But then, User Ghostexorcist might simple be looking for something in this thing and not need the whole diss.?--Radh (talk) 09:08, 14 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Hi Radh, why not ask on his/her talkpage, as requested? -- KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 11:40, 14 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Hi there, you're right I guess.--Radh (talk) 14:27, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

Correct terminology
Imagine that two people are walking down (or up) a flight of stairs. Person A walks with only one foot alternating on each step: his right foot on Step 1; his left foot on Step 2; and so on. Person B walks with both feet on each step: he places his right foot on Step 1 and then his left foot; he places his right foot on Step 2 and then his left foot; and so on. Is there a word to describe the manner in which each person is descending (or climbing) the stairs? Also, extend the same question to regular walking (without the stairs). Person C is walking normally, with one foot in front of the other. Person D is walking (as if in a graduation march) with right foot forward, then left foot meets right, then left foot forward, then right foot meets left, etc. In essence, Person B and Person D require two physical steps (foot movements) to advance one ground step (length or distance moved) forward. What word would accurately describe these walking methods? Thanks. (64.252.65.146 (talk) 14:32, 12 April 2010 (UTC))
 * Gait? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.171.129.67 (talk • contribs) 16:46, 12 April 2010
 * The answer might be in Glossary of dance moves. -- Wavelength (talk) 17:00, 12 April 2010 (UTC)
 * I'd describe person A as walking foot-over-foot, but that may be just me.&mdash;msh210 &#x2120; 00:22, 13 April 2010 (UTC)
 * Bastardising some dance terminology, I'd say that when your feet pass each other each time, they're open steps ('pas ouvert' in ballet), but when the other foot catches up each time, it's a closed step. Steewi (talk) 05:39, 13 April 2010 (UTC)
 * My father (who moonlighted as a church organist) used to complain bitterly about people in wedding processions who walked like person D. He thought it looked incredibly stupid. Unfortunately, I can't remember what name (if any) he gave to that particular gait, and he's been dead for 10 years so I can't ask him. +Angr 05:43, 13 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Hesitation step? ---Sluzzelin talk  06:28, 13 April 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes, that is exactly the term he used for it! Thanks. +Angr 11:33, 13 April 2010 (UTC)
 * probably 'tread' is the best - that seems to be the word used for describing different walking styles (even tread, heavy tread, measured tread). 'Gait' (as mentioned) would also work, and has a more elegant sound.  Incidentally, that particular tread/gait is used in wedding processions because (when done well) it's eye-catching - essentially, each step contains a moment where the person stops and poses for the onlookers.  most people are too self-conscious about it to make i elegant, though, so it just looks dorky.  -- Ludwigs 2  06:53, 13 April 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the input. This is much appreciated. Thank you! (64.252.65.146 (talk) 15:20, 18 April 2010 (UTC))

searching for meaning of a word
I just heard a word on a book on DVD and don't know the meaning. Phonetically, it sounded something like "shin-wally," possibly plural. The context were things found among the belongings of the narrator's great aunt. Can someone help with the meaning? Is it French in origin (it sounded like it might be)?


 * Chamois ? StuRat (talk) 19:08, 12 April 2010 (UTC)
 * My guess is Chinoiserie. Alansplodge (talk) 19:28, 12 April 2010 (UTC)

I posted this question. I went back to the library last night and found the hardback version and the word (easy to do, as it came near the end at a significant point in the book). "Alansplodge" had it right. The on-line dictionary translates this as "unncessary complication," but perhaps it has an idiomatic meaning also, as the sentence was something like "All (or perhaps everything) but the chinoiserie was broken..." Anyway, thanks for your help!


 * Goodness knows how come the online dictionary translates it as "unnecessary complication"! It is, in fact, the name given to the Oriental furniture and porcelain, which was so popular in the 19th century in England. --TammyMoet (talk) 17:29, 13 April 2010 (UTC)


 * The word is indeed also used in a derived sense, meaning "unnecessary complications" (as in "les chinoiseries bureaucratiques") but the concrete meaning is the primary one. --Xuxl (talk) 18:29, 13 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Concrete furniture, eh? Sounds pretty solid and durable, if not particularly comfortable.  :)  --  Jack of Oz   ... speak! ...   20:27, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

From the asker of the question again -- thank you "TammyMoet." Now it all makes sense. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Laarscds (talk • contribs) 22:55, 14 April 2010 (UTC)