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Rpsh Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

indistinct amount

'...but nothing in evolution has prepared us to understand the accumulative impact that indistinct amounts of industrial chemicals may have on our children's health or the slow-moving, long-term danger of climate change.'

This is an translation exercise in which the meaning of the word 'indistinc' is translated into 'a little amount'. It's, I think, in line with the intention of the author but at virance withe it's original meaning, 'not clear or sharply defined'. So how do you feel like the translation?
  

Top answer

I think it is a bad translation. What is meant is 'imperceptible' or 'infinitesimal'.

— Mister Micawber

  • I think it is a bad translation.
  • What is meant is 'imperceptible' or 'infinitesimal'.
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11 Answers
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I think it is a bad translation. What is meant is 'imperceptible' or 'infinitesimal'.
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Eh...Actually, the 'imperceptible' is similar to 'a little amount' in Chinese. Maybe the author considered it as too little to percieve. Do you think so?
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I don't understand what still worries you.
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Eh... Nothing, just feel it's interesting. Thank you so much!
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rpshThis is an translation exercise
Out of curiosity, from which language to which language? And who is the translator? You?

CJ
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From Englihs to Chinese.
The translator shoule be the compiler of the book.
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rpshFrom Englihs to Chinese.The translator shoule be the compiler of the book.
Then this (from your original post):

'...but nothing in evolution has prepared us to understand the accumulative impact that indistinct amounts of industrial chemicals may have on our children's health or the slow-moving, long-term danger of climate change.'

is the
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Yes, this is the English version. There is no reference.
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rpshYes, this is the English version. There is no reference.
Then I have to say that your original post was misleading. You wrote:

This is an translation exercise in which the meaning of the word 'indistinc' is translated into 'a little amount'.

You claim that it is a translation exercise, and yet it seems to be a translation of English "ind
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Oh...Sorry, maybe I expressed it indistinctly.... I just want to know, in your daily life, if this word can be understood as this meaning: a little amount.
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