Apr 3, 2015 07:48
9 yrs ago
21 viewers *
Spanish term
Spain
passion des mots
Native in: English 
Works in: Catalan to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
aparato vs sistema
Spanish to English
Science
Biology (-tech,-chem,micro-)
Human body - organ systems
Aparato: «Disposición de un número de partes que actúan conjuntamente en la realización de una función especial; se utiliza en la nomenclatura anatómica para designar un número de estructuras u órganos que actúan juntas en el servicio de una función específica».
Sistema: «Grupo o serie de partes o entidades interconectadas o interdependientes (objetos, órganos u organismos) que funcionan juntos con una finalidad común o producen resultados imposibles de alcanzar por sólo uno de ellos actuando u operando por separado». Diccionario enciclopédico ilustrado de medicina Dorland. Tomo 6. 27.ª edición. 1996.
I am translating a text that deals with organ systems. The author differentiates between 'aparatos' and 'sistemas' when talking about organ systems (for example, 'aparato digestivo' and 'sistema nervioso'). As far as I know, no distinction is made in English - they are all lumped together as 'systems' or 'organ systems'. However, I may well be wrong. Could anyone confirm whether there are indeed different terms in English for these two concepts?
Many thanks in advance!
Sheila
Sistema: «Grupo o serie de partes o entidades interconectadas o interdependientes (objetos, órganos u organismos) que funcionan juntos con una finalidad común o producen resultados imposibles de alcanzar por sólo uno de ellos actuando u operando por separado». Diccionario enciclopédico ilustrado de medicina Dorland. Tomo 6. 27.ª edición. 1996.
I am translating a text that deals with organ systems. The author differentiates between 'aparatos' and 'sistemas' when talking about organ systems (for example, 'aparato digestivo' and 'sistema nervioso'). As far as I know, no distinction is made in English - they are all lumped together as 'systems' or 'organ systems'. However, I may well be wrong. Could anyone confirm whether there are indeed different terms in English for these two concepts?
Many thanks in advance!
Sheila
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +1 | system |
Isabelle Villancher
|
| 4 | apparatus vs system |
neilmac
|
| 3 | tract vs system |
Lisa McCarthy
|
Proposed translations
+1
6 hrs
Isabelle Villancher
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Specializes in field
Spain
BSc in Microbiology. Thorough.
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
system
I think you're right, there is generally no distinction. The examples you cite where "aparato" is used can all translate as some sort of system: musculoskeletal system, circulatory system, reproductive system... I'd say that the term 'tract' refers mainly to a "void passage" so to speak
Example sentence:
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Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
1 hr
|
| neutral |
neilmac
: Synonymy is called for to avoid a surfeit of "systems" IMHO.
2 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for your answers - in the end, we are going to have to change the (original) text because there really do not appear to be exact equivalents. In English we do not differentiate these two concepts in the same way. Thanks again! "
29 mins
Lisa McCarthy
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Works in field
Spain
Especialista de marketing
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Catalan to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
tract vs system
Tract a. A system of organs and tissues that together perform a specialized function: the alimentary tract.
System b. A group of physiologically or anatomically related organs or parts: the excretory system; a root system.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com
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Note added at 1 hora (2015-04-03 08:48:31 GMT)
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Yes, that's true Sheila. I did have to translate some of theses terms before and used 'system' where it was obvious that they weren't referring to an actual 'tract'.
Note from asker:
| Many thanks, Lisa - I should have mentioned that I did consider using the terms 'tract' and 'system'. However, the author uses the terms 'aparto circulatorio' and 'aparato reproductor' etc. and in English we say 'circulatory system' and 'reproductive system' rather than 'tract', so it would not appear to match exactly. |
1 hr
apparatus vs system
Apparatus: 2.the complex structure of a particular organization or system.
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:55:41 GMT)
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E.g. "digestive apparatus" - 325,000 Google hits.
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:56:28 GMT)
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Used sparingly along with "tract" etc, should soon stop looking/feeling odd once you get used to it.
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:57:08 GMT)
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http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Digestive_apparatus
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:58:19 GMT)
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And: "circulatory apparatus - also denominated circulatory system "... etc.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2015-04-03 17:10:05 GMT)
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NB: Whether there is any real distinction between the terms is moot. However, good English style calls for use of synonyms to avoid ad nauseam repetition of lexical items.
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:55:41 GMT)
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E.g. "digestive apparatus" - 325,000 Google hits.
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:56:28 GMT)
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Used sparingly along with "tract" etc, should soon stop looking/feeling odd once you get used to it.
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:57:08 GMT)
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http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Digestive_apparatus
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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-03 08:58:19 GMT)
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And: "circulatory apparatus - also denominated circulatory system "... etc.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2015-04-03 17:10:05 GMT)
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NB: Whether there is any real distinction between the terms is moot. However, good English style calls for use of synonyms to avoid ad nauseam repetition of lexical items.
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for your reply! As this is a scientific text, unfortunately I cannot use synonyms. |
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