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translation question

 
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delacosta



Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 325
Location: zipolte beach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:26 pm    Post subject: translation question Reply with quote

I have a quick question for the Spanish speaking Mexico heads:
I'm working on translating a project proposal, an auto-suffient income generating aquaponic project for afro-descendant/inigenous communities in Oaxaca and Guerreo, if you must know.

I'm coming across a few words that are causing me some difficulties-the most recent being zona de captaci�n de agua. There must be a technincal term for this, I understand the concept but am not sure exactly what the term is in English-rain absorption,retention zone?
I'm using http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=captura to help out, any one have any other good sites that they use?
Thanks.
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lozwich



Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are you talking about the geographical area draining into a river or reservoir? I believe that would be the catchment area.
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delacosta



Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 325
Location: zipolte beach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

THank you oz.
But no, not exactly, what is being described is the mountain forest area that 'es la zona de captaci�n de agua para la region'. But anyway could it be described as a rain catchment area?
This is fun and interesting, but is turning out to be a lot more work than I anticipated. I know that project proposal/fundraising/grantwriting is an art unto itself and I don't have much experience doing it in English, nevermind trying to make sense of it in Spanish and then selling it in English.
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MELEE



Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about watershed?
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delacosta



Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 325
Location: zipolte beach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

WATERSHED!
Yes that's it! I just couldn't think of the word, nor my office mates.
Gracias.
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lozwich



Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

delacosta wrote:
THank you oz.
But no, not exactly, what is being described is the mountain forest area that 'es la zona de captaci�n de agua para la region'. But anyway could it be described as a rain catchment area?


I think it is. Coming from a country often beset by drought, the weather guys are often banging on about how we had a lot of rain in the 'catchment area'. This means the geographical area where all the rain that falls in that area runs through streams, underground rivers, downhill and so forth into a particular reservoir. So all the rain that falls in your mountain forest feeds into rivers, lakes, underground rivers and gives water to the people in that area. That's what's meant by a catchment area.

A watershed? Isn't that a big decision that makes everyone cry, but it good in the end? Now I'm confused! Laughing

Have fun! And just use lots of words like 'cutting edge', 'state of the art', 'inclusive' and you're bound to be successful!

Suerte,
Lozwich.
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delacosta



Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 325
Location: zipolte beach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Watershed:a region or area bounded peripherally by a divide and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water.

catchment: 1 : something that catches water; also : the amount of water caught
2 : the action of catching water.

SO I think I'll go with rain catchment area. THe problem is the prof who I'm doing it for isn't here today and also he happens to be a Physics teacher who has an interest in community developement projects ( at times I believe more for the associated funding $$$ than anything else...but I digress) so is not always sure of the correct terminology himself.
Thanks you guys.
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grahamcito



Joined: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 90
Location: Guadalajara

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

delacosta wrote:
Watershed:a region or area bounded peripherally by a divide and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water.


Not exactly. The watershed IS the divide, normally a rocky ridge between two basins or catchment areas draining to different watercourses, etc, etc. A watershed isn't a region or area.

Sounds like 'catchment area' is what you're after.

(Crossing a watershed takes you from one catchment area to another, so a 'watershed decision' is like 'crossing the Rubicon', etc, in the sense of going beyond a key point.)
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Samantha



Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Grahamcito, I'm impressed.... Smile

Here is what is listed in Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watershed
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grahamcito



Joined: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 90
Location: Guadalajara

PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting wiki-definitions! I guess we're all right on this one, just that mine was understandably British.

That stuff - geeky high-school geography stuff - found a place in my head and stuck. Flying over Texas last week, I was mesmerised by all the ox-bow lakes... Ox-bow lakes were my favourite. Though glaciers came a close second.

Maybe it's useful information like this that takes up the space in my head where telephone numbers, birthdays, anniversaries should be...
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danielita



Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 281
Location: SLP

PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

delacosta,

The proper term might be: catchment basin

D
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