This site uses cookies.
Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site,
while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.
For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
English translation: extreme variations in daylight
08:35 Aug 16, 2019
Russian to English translations [PRO] Science - Tourism & Travel / travel article
Russian term or phrase:световая периодичность
Help me please translate this term "световая периодичность" to English. It's a certain scientific term for the change in seasons. Please don't suggest "periodicity". I have already thought of that and discarded that answer.
For context:
На Кольском полуострове присутствует световая периодичность – сезон полярного дня (когда солнце не заходит за горизонт 24 часа) и полярной ночи (когда солнце не восходит выше линии горизонта).
Explanation: I'm inclined to paraphrase it as something like "extreme variations in [length/amount of] daylight", because everything else sounds very stilted.
Thanks David! I chose your answer because this text is meant for ordinary tourists to read, not scientists, so a simple explanation of this concept is better in this case. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Sarah, could you close the question? It's a courtesy to those who have tried to help you and to people who might search for something like this in the future. If none of the answers suit you, just say so, but don't leave it hanging out there.
Northern Lights and Polar nights are completely different notions. I've been living in Murmansk since 1983 and have experienced both phenomena. The fragment in question concerns primarly the feature specifically relevant to the Arctic Circle rather than tourists being anxious to see the lights. I know what you mean, because I've read dozens of posts by those whose exposure to the Kola Peninsula is often associated with Aurora Borealis, a thing that occurs not only here, but elsewhere (Alaska, Greenland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland).
Aurora is a wrong term here, but it all depend on what and how we want to render, sometimes we have to use wrong terms (it depends) in order to achieve the expected result, of course the context doesn't include that, but there is a connection. Tourists go and see the northern lights and especially those periods of time is a perfect time for them to see the Northern lights. (I mean the Polar nights). Since it is for a travel article and the field is tourism, so we can use our creativity and wrong terms, I think. But to describe what is in the context, I would use just polar day and night.
Now that it's clear who is on the other side, I would suggest that the idea is conveyed without fanciful or pretentious phraseology. If you are not restrained by the client's requirements too much and your article will promote the region, then '(Here are two/Local residents experience) periods of light and dark commonly referred to as the polar day and night, respectively', is an acceptable option, I guess. Aurora Borealis has nothing to do with the term in question. Interpreting the polar day and night as the northern lights is inherently wrong.
If it is for a travel article, I think "Aurora" or "Aurora Borealis" would work, As I see here in English there is no need to translate "периодичность", Aurora itself gives that point. Of course, tourists go to see the "Aurora" in the Arctic circle. Sure, "Световая периодичность" means "polar day and night", but I think people mostly will go there to see the Aurora Borealis. I don't know for tourism it would fit, but light cycle or cycle of light for "Световая периодичность" is a correct term. Variation that differ from normal day and night is clear when we use "polar" before the light cycle.
If it is for a travel article, I think "Aurora" or "Aurora Borealis", I think in English there is no need to translate "периодичность", Aurora itself gives that point.
Thanks for your comment. No, there is no mention of flora or fauna that responds to the polar day/night. I think that photoperiodism may be the correct word (thanks a lot!) but that it's too scientific for a travel article whose audience is ordinary tourists.
Is there any mention of flora or fauna that responds to the polar day or night? If so, then the term you're looking for is photoperiodism. If not, there is hardly any need to describe the phenomenon in a sophisticated language because the polar day and polar night are two distinct periods specific to the Arctic Circle. I am sure you understand that it makes a big difference to write articles for the research community and a travel guide. If your article is going to be published in a journal with key words included into the abstract section, then a general term intended for further reference does make sense. Otherwise, introducing an occasional scientific term just for the sake for it wouldn't contribute much to the knowledge of the public, I think.
Explanation: This would seem to reflect the winter-summer situation so that a visitor would be prepared for the consequences.
njrobertson United Kingdom Local time: 13:05 Meets criteria Works in field Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: It's a travel article telling about the attractions of northern Russia. It is not to warn people of the consequences, but is in fact emphasizing this natural phenomenon as something alluring to tourists.
Explanation: These options don't google well, but all the hits are relevant, including "polar solar cycle" from NASA. "Polar sun cycle" would probably be best for a travel article, unless you like the alliteration of "polar solar." Regarding some of the other answers, every place on the planet has a cycle of daylight, light and dark, seasons, etc.
Susan Welsh United States Local time: 09:05 Meets criteria Specializes in field Native speaker of: English
Explanation: I'm inclined to paraphrase it as something like "extreme variations in [length/amount of] daylight", because everything else sounds very stilted.
David Knowles Local time: 13:05 Meets criteria Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks David! I chose your answer because this text is meant for ordinary tourists to read, not scientists, so a simple explanation of this concept is better in this case.