vague translation

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changeling

#512882 Mon, 12 May 08 06:22 PM

Hi everybody! Would you mind reading the following sentence? It's about artificial breeding but I'm not sure that I express myself correctly. It was learned how to farm this best-quality fish long time ago, and artificial breeding is now wide-spread in many countries. This fish is farmed under unique rearing conditions, in tanks exposed to light that imitates a certain season. Thanks in advance

changeling

Joined on Sat, May 10 2008

Junior Member (35)

Grammar Geek

#512907 Mon, 12 May 08 07:18 PM

Hi changeling,

As you know, the passive does not state who did something and it can lead to some awkward sentences.

"It was learned how" is one of those awkward sentences. "A long time ago, people learned how to farm this high-quality fish, and now artificial breeding is wide-spread in many countries."

I don't think you want to say "rearing" conditions and "a certain season" is quite vague. Can you try those two parts again?

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Forum Guru (14,497)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

changeling

#512923 Mon, 12 May 08 08:17 PM

Thanks a lot for your correction! What about the following? Does it make sense? This fish is farmed under unique conditions as in tanks exposed to light that imitates any time of year. I can't express it more clear. The idea is that seabream is cultivated artificially in tanks and the lightening of those tanks changes as if times of year changed. Like it is brighter in summer and colder in the fall. There are no special terms and I figure I haven't been abroad for a long time :)

changeling

Grammar Geek

#512939 Mon, 12 May 08 09:43 PM

The fish are farmed under unique conditions, in tanks exposed to light that can be manipulated to imitate the various seasons of the year.

See if that works.

Grammar Geek

changeling

#513085 Tue, 13 May 08 12:10 PM

Thanks a lot for your help!

changeling