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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

sich auszeichnen

English translation:

has the advantage of...

Added to glossary by Lirka
Jun 18, 2012 14:49
11 yrs ago
7 viewers *
German term

sich auszeichnen

German to English Medical Linguistics
This is a linguistic question.

I want to make sure that I understand the German correctly: "sich auszeichnen" here means "to stand out" and not "to be characterized by", correct? Both fit the context, hence my hesitation.

"[Drug name] retard besitzt cholinerge Eigenschaften; es gehört zu den Hemmstoffen der Cholinesterasen. Unter diesen Substanzen zeichnet es sich durch gute Verträglichkeit, schonenden Wirkungseintritt, gleichmäßigen Wirkungsverlauf, lange Wirkungsdauer und allmähliches Abklingen der Wirkung aus. "


Thanks!
Proposed translations (English)
3 has the advantage of..
4 +1 is characterised/distinguished by
4 to stand out
3 +1 to be distinguished by
4 to distinguish itself from
4 excell
References
Definition
Change log

Jun 20, 2012 19:05: Lirka Created KOG entry

Discussion

Horst Huber (X) Jun 27, 2012:
For the sake of correctness. Apologies. The pamphlet I was quoting, quite popular in its time, was called "Lukasburger Stilblüten". It immortalised howlers perpetrated by pupils of the Ludwigsgymnasium in Munich. Just to set things straight.
Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 21, 2012:
Hello Joseph All parameters have leeway, after all, we're dealing with language here! And yes, you will get used to it, just hang in there. And welcome to Kudoz, the best game in town - win some, lose most, learn scads. Be well.
Joseph Given (X) Jun 20, 2012:
@lirka. I am just new here and I find this forum very difficult to use and get used to. I notice people demand a kind of exactness they don't really need or want and I'm sometimes quite astonished about the results. (I think, in the context, that Michael's answer was as useable as Vikki's or mine. So I don't have a problem with the selection.) I'm just addressing this more out of simple and more general confusion than anything else.

@Ramay Indeed all questions here are on some level linguistic, but not primarily, thus if someone specifically says "linguistic" I understand "primarily" linguistic.

I'll get used to it. A very good night to you all, depending on where you are. And thank you both for giving me a hint.
Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 20, 2012:
@ Joseph linguistics (according to Webster's): the study of human speech, including the units, nature, structure and modifications of language.

linguistic (according to Oxford): the study of languages, of language

Basically ALL Kudoz questions are linguistic, aren't they? There just isn't always time to go into depth when there's a deadline to be met.
Lirka (asker) Jun 20, 2012:
@ Joseph I classified it as a linguistic Q because I know from prior experience that it would have been moved had I posted under medical. Your suggestion and explanation were very precise and a pleasure to read, thank you for that. I selected Michael's answer just because "has the advantage of" is encountered very often in medical/pharmaceutical texts.
Joseph Given (X) Jun 20, 2012:
I thought you said this was a linguistics question. No much linguistic about your needs there, I have to say.
Joseph Given (X) Jun 19, 2012:
But someone/thing can also sich auszeichnen through its/his stupidity, unwieldiness, clumsiness, etc. Sich auszeichnen durch does not have to be positive. That is the point I was making with regard to advantage.
Joseph Given (X) Jun 19, 2012:
Seems to me to be a text for a professional target reader, or a very complex introduction to a text for the drug consumer. I.e. the part at the beginning of the prescription page which nobody understands except the manufacturer, the chemist and the semi-professional patient.
Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 19, 2012:
Selling, or describing without marketing intent? Who is the target reader? It is obviously a comparison. Stands out, stands above, is noted for, is distinguished by, excels, is comparably more/better.., is outstanding, rises above and simply "is better...."
Joseph Given (X) Jun 19, 2012:
Sounds OK Michael. Or perhaps,

among those substances it is (particularly) notable for

among those substances it is (particularly) of note for

"noted" makes me wonder "noted by whom?"

I would just add
it is noted for its... , when compared with the other substances.

Then your second suggestion works better.
Michael Martin, MA Jun 19, 2012:
How about.. Among those substances, it is noted for its... /it is noted for its... , compared with the other substances.
Joseph Given (X) Jun 19, 2012:
Michael's proposal: not really many objections, should be a plural, but also here I would need has the following advantages over these others: (bit unwieldy as a plural)
cp: .....has the advantage of /...
...has the advantages of.......
...., however if I want to use the term elswhere, not only in this text, then it might cause problems since it is only useful as a qualitatively positive comparison. It is also a little bit salespitchy for a pharmaceutical text.
Horst Huber (X) Jun 18, 2012:
Yes, Joseph, quite. The German somehow manages to say both, "stand out" and "is characterised". I never argue against anyone's proposals. The quote is local (Munich) humor, apologies!
Lirka (asker) Jun 18, 2012:
An interesting discussion! Thanks! Incidentally, how do you feel about Michael's proposal? Any objections?
Joseph Given (X) Jun 18, 2012:
I am not quite sure what you mean @Horst Huber. I am talking about the difference between two English phrases. How such formal questions are solved in German is a totally different question.

Your example with the whale in fact displays irony in that it uses zeichnet sich aus, which I understand as an educated use of language, in a ridiculous context.
Very funny in some circles, I suppose, but not really relevant to the question of formality in English documentation, where stand out simply does not fit in this particular context. If that is what you were trying to address.
Horst Huber (X) Jun 18, 2012:
One classic example comes from "Ludwigsburger Stilblüten": "Der Wal zeichnet sich durch sein unhandliches Format aus." I have to disagree, the difference between your two readings is not as great as it may seem.
Joseph Given (X) Jun 18, 2012:
to distinguish itself from to stand out among others
is too casual for a chemical or pharmaceutical context, therefore
to distinguish itself from
Philip Rodriguez Jun 18, 2012:
to stand out Yes, that is exactly what it means here!

Proposed translations

1 hr
Selected

has the advantage of..

Example from source:
"This agent has the advantages of better gastrointestinal tolerance.."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2012-06-19 18:10:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

More suggestions... they all seem to work in this context depending on how you want to weigh your preferences

1. makes its mark by..
http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/New-cholesterol-lowering-dru...

2. sets itself apart by..
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200605
/25/eng20060525_268447.html

3. boasts ...
http://www.bcm.it/linee_prodotti.asp?language=en&id_prodotto...

4. is known for..
http://www.ramdevmedicines.com/products/kapardak-bhasm-20-gm...

Reference:

http://www.uptodate.com/contents/selecting-antiretroviral-regimens-for-the-treatment-naive-hiv-infected-patient

Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "This fits nicely. Thanks!"
5 mins

to stand out

to be outlined against
Note from asker:
outline of the mountains against the sunset? :)
Peer comment(s):
disagree Joseph Given (X) : Good suggestion, Alexander, but it would refer more to a political context. :) (Nice example) -- Well jim (below) I'm very sure you can't outline properties of one substance against another. proposals against a situation, yes. Mountains against sun, yes!
2 hrs
agree Jim Tucker (X) : this may be less likely than "is distinguished by", but certainly not worthy of a disagree
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
56 mins

to be distinguished by

This means that these are the characteristics that separate it from other similar drugs.

That said, I couldn't find any especially suitable examples!
Example sentence:

While ecstasy also potentiates the effects of norepinephrine and dopamine, it is distinguished from other psychostimulants by its strong affinity for serotonin transporters

Reference:

http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_ecstasy.html

Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : I don't think the implication is necessarily that it's better than all the other drugs, but simply that it performs well in its class.
57 mins
Thanks philgoddard :)
neutral Joseph Given (X) : Most of the examples I found with "distinguished by" have a nondescript or hidden comparison group. The question demands a direct comparison with a named group of similar objects.
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

to distinguish itself from

it distinguishes itself from these others by ....

es zeichnet sich aus unter diesen anderen durch ....

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2012-06-18 16:50:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

important here is the comparison to another similar substance


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2012-06-18 19:26:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

References, both pharmaceutical and general

www.aptalispharma.com/en/corporate_profile
By combining its marketing expertise with its research and development experience, Aptalis distinguishes itself from specialty pharmaceutical companies that ...


ww.burrillreport.com/article-hepatitis_c_remains_a_hot_play.html
23 Feb 2012 – Novartis is hoping that Enanta's experimental drug can distinguish itself from the pack by providing broad range effects across all three ...


lauravanessa.com/side-effects-from-viagra/
6 Jun 2012 – This was located in an material to distinguish itself from its services, and to perform service coastline. side effects from viagra. side effects from ...


endo.endojournals.org/content/146/9/3999.full
by BS Komm - 2005 - Cited by 115 - Related articles
Due to the presence of some undesirable side effects (6), efforts to improve on ..... but it does distinguish itself from these other SERMs, supporting the concept ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/e3-2012-wi...
Wii U aims to distinguish itself from the pack

http://www.geotransinc.com/publications.html
GEO distinguishes itself from the competition by its continued invitation by the USEPA to write state-of-the-practice guidance manuals on site characterization and remedial design.

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/dc3220.doc.htm
2010 Disarmament Commission Session Did Not Distinguish Itself from Past Sessions,

Peer comment(s):
neutral Vikki Pendleton : I think the passive construction I've used would be more normal in English
2 hrs
Well I found a load of examples, see above: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/e3-2012-wi...
Something went wrong...
8 hrs

excell

would work well here, I think
Peer comment(s):
neutral Vikki Pendleton : excel has one 'l'
12 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
9 hrs

is characterised/distinguished by

either I would say
Peer comment(s):
agree Harald Moelzer (medical-translator) : with "characterised"
7 hrs
thank you Harald :)
neutral Joseph Given (X) : if I say "is characterized by", I am not taking the other substances into account.
7 hrs
you don't have to take them into account ... this stands on its own :)
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

10 mins
Reference:

Definition

siehe Definition unter 3.
Reference:

http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/auszeichnen

Something went wrong...
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