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exploró el curso del río

English translation: he explored the course of the river

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:exploró el curso del río
English translation:he explored the course of the river
Entered by: margaret caulfield

18:31 Jan 2, 2009
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Surveying / geography
Spanish term or phrase: exploró el curso del río
I just can't remember how we phrase this idiomatically in English: is it "to chart" or "map" the "course" of a river? Or am I transliterating?
offset
United States
Local time: 02:04
he explored the course of the river
Explanation:
My simple version!
Selected response from:

margaret caulfield
Local time: 11:04
Grading comment
I'll go with this. I wanted something less commercial than "prospected", since he wasn't looking for gold, and more heroic than just "followed" since he was a 19th century pioneer. By the way, after years of translating many technical documents, this is my first book-length work of literary translation. So, thanks to all of you who've helped in the past and whose contributions I haven't had a chance to acknowledge.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1he explored the course of the river
margaret caulfield
4follow the course of the river
Lisa McCarthy
4radar / sonar: scanned tierras / región: explored yacimientos: prospected the course of the river;
Michael Powers (PhD)
4surveyed
María Eugenia Wachtendorff


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
follow the course of the river


Explanation:
- would like to see context to be sure though

Lisa McCarthy
Spain
Local time: 11:04
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
he explored the course of the river


Explanation:
My simple version!

margaret caulfield
Local time: 11:04
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I'll go with this. I wanted something less commercial than "prospected", since he wasn't looking for gold, and more heroic than just "followed" since he was a 19th century pioneer. By the way, after years of translating many technical documents, this is my first book-length work of literary translation. So, thanks to all of you who've helped in the past and whose contributions I haven't had a chance to acknowledge.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  CMAPMK
3 mins
  -> Thanks, CMAPMK!
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
radar / sonar: scanned tierras / región: explored yacimientos: prospected the course of the river;


Explanation:
Oxford

Mike :)

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Note added at 6 mins (2009-01-02 18:38:08 GMT)
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A more complete sentence would be necessary to know exactly which uage is appropriate in this case.

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 05:04
Native speaker of: English
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
surveyed


Explanation:
My proposal.
Happy new year!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2009-01-02 18:41:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Survey
v.tr.
To examine or look at comprehensively.
To inspect carefully; scrutinize: “Two women were surveying the other people on the platform” (Thomas Wolfe). See synonyms at see1.
***To determine the boundaries, area, or elevations of (land or structures on the earth's surface) by means of measuring angles and distances, using the techniques of geometry and trigonometry.***
Chiefly British. To inspect and determine the structural condition of (a building).
To conduct a statistical survey on.
To range one's gaze leisurely over.

María Eugenia Wachtendorff
Chile
Local time: 05:04
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 16
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