Anne Schulz Oct 4, 2015:

I agree with Barbara, and I think her reference is quite useful here! It was my feeling as well that the listing might refer to cartilagineous vs. fibrous joints ("straffe" as in "straffes Bindegewebe"). But it is hard to say without further context.

barbarameyer Oct 4, 2015:

@ Alison Kirkland Thank you for clarifying.
FWIW, the sacroiliac joint is a cartilaginous joint (http://depts.gpc.edu/~decms/ibim/Articulations.htm).

Alison Kirkland (asker) Oct 4, 2015:

The sacroiliac joint part is not part of the source text - it was my attempt to provide useful supplementary information from an internet search.
My translation of the sentence as a whole is:

Bones may be connected in various different possible ways: in the form of fixed connections, cartilaginous connections and tight connections, and the articulated joints.

Anne Schulz Oct 4, 2015:

Alison, I am afraid it is really not possible to make a reasonable proposition based on the information you have given. I am sure it is your source text and you did not make it up. But why is it so "strange", in terms of sentence structure as well as terminology? Is this a non-native speaker? Or a text from the 1930's? Or simply a slightly awkward attempt to "translate" anatomy into lay-speak for a general audience? And where does the sacroiliac joint come into play in your source text? Such informations may help to identify the intended meaning (and, hence, appropriate translation) of "straffe Verbindungen".

barbarameyer Oct 4, 2015:

@ Alison Kirkland a. You still haven't given us the German source sentence for "An example is the sacroiliac joint, a joint 'with strong tendons'".
b. Please share with us your thoughts on the translation of in Gestalt der festesten, der Knorpel-und straffen Verbindungen sowie der Gelenke, minus the question term. Thanks.

Alison Kirkland (asker) Oct 4, 2015:

It may be strange, but it is my source text. Sorry about that. Would you agree with 'tight joint'?

barbarameyer Oct 3, 2015:

@ Alison Kirkland Please give us the German source sentence for "An example is the sacroiliac joint, a joint 'with strong tendons'". Also, could you please confirm that the in Gestalt der festesten, der Knorpel-und straffen Verbindungen sowie der Gelenke part of the sentence posted by you is what the source text says? Thanks.

Anne Schulz Oct 3, 2015:

The source text is a little bit strange – can you give some more context?

Alison Kirkland (asker) Oct 3, 2015:

sorry, ligaments, not tendons I think that should have been "ligaments" rather than tendons.