sonido con firma

English translation: acoustic signature

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:sonido con firma
English translation:acoustic signature
Entered by: Wendy Gosselin

17:02 Aug 5, 2019
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Ships, Sailing, Maritime
Spanish term or phrase: sonido con firma
This is actually from a screenplay by an Argentine director. An alarm has sounded on a submarine, and the crew and captain are trying to figure out what's going on:

CAPTAIN
Aristegui, encontrálo.
Es un sonido con firma…
Nos detectan en un segundo…


It seems to me it was not a random alarm or an error...

THANKS
Wendy Gosselin
Argentina
Local time: 18:21
acoustic signature
Explanation:
Every oiece of machinery when in operation has an acoustic signature. If it can be identified, a detrmination can be made if it is friendly, neutral, or hostile.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_signature
Selected response from:

bigedsenior
Local time: 14:21
Grading comment
THANKS!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1acoustic signature
bigedsenior
4sound with a signature (= traceable)
neilmac
1 +1that sound has our name on it
patinba


  

Answers


20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
sound with a signature (= traceable)


Explanation:
Literally a "sound with a signature" - it means that the noise can be detected and tracked back to the vessel.
"Long-range sonar uses low frequencies to minimise absorption effects. The sea contains many sources of noise that interfere with the desired target echo or SIGNATURE. "

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2019-08-05 17:23:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"The distinctive " signature" of a sound, based on variations in the complexity of sound waves. ... "


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonar
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 23:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 52

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: But do we know sonar is involved? I'm not clear what "un sonido" refers to.
12 hrs
  -> The scenario is a submarine. Subs use sonar. Ipso facto. Join the dots.

neutral  patinba: @Phil: please read the context
19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
acoustic signature


Explanation:
Every oiece of machinery when in operation has an acoustic signature. If it can be identified, a detrmination can be made if it is friendly, neutral, or hostile.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_signature


bigedsenior
Local time: 14:21
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 207
Grading comment
THANKS!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +1
that sound has our name on it


Explanation:
they will trace it to us in a second, so find it and stop it.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 hrs (2019-08-06 13:06:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The other replies provide valid scientific explanations, but if you are translating a speech in a script, you need something more colloquial

patinba
Argentina
Local time: 18:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 123

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac: This could be what the crew/captain might say. I thought Wendy was unfamiliar with the concept of a sonic signature...
1 min
  -> Thanks, Neil, your post will be helpful.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search