Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2015 May 8

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May 8

What is a Better English Translation for "d'Astronome titulaire"?

I'm working on an article on a 20th century french astronomer, and I've run into the phrase "d'Astronome titulaire" several times. Google translate says it means "Astronomer holder", which makes no sense. I'm guessing it is an idiom or jargon related to the field of astronomy. Can anyone help with a better translation? Thanks! Carl Henderson (talk) 02:58, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

A better translation could be "the titular astronomer", and for the meaning of titular, see titular. Omidinist (talk) 03:31, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

I believe the translation of "astronome titulaire" would be "chief [or 'head'] astronomer". The d' just means "of" (in phrases like "le poste d'astronome titulaire"). Deor (talk)

Context might help. —Tamfang (talk) 18:13, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

Good point. Here is the context: http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k2209n/f788.image Look under "Presentations" Thank you.Carl Henderson (talk) 21:02, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

"Tenured" might be best.[1] "Dans la formation d'une liste de candidats à la place d'Astronome titulaire vacante à l'Observatoire de Paris..." = "In forming a list of candidates for the vacant position of Tenured Astronomer at the Observatory of Paris..." Lesgles (talk) 21:23, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

Thank you. That makes the most sense in the context. Carl Henderson (talk) 22:09, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

Is this readable enough for university students?

Basically, what I'm trying to say here is that military training should come with civic and security education. Is it readable enough for college students to understand? Is it well-parsed?

Educational perennialism postulates that education, especially those programs considered of national significance, should focus on teaching things having “eternal value” and positive social effect (Barrow, Robin, and Woods, 1971). A democratic education ought to give utmost regard to justice, social equality, and nationalism. Thus, ROTC training should equally focus on theoretical topics as it does on military training. Among these essential theoretical topics are security and civic awareness.

Indeed, being knowledge about domestic and international security issues contributes to effective citizenry. Not only does it enable an individual to understand public dialogues and forums on security issues, it would also make him more critical in evaluating whatever reasonable measure the government may adopt for its security.Rja2015 (talk) 13:05, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

I find it quite readable, but rather vague. When you mention "security" do you mean how to prevent terrorist attacks ? how to keep your belongings safe from robbery and theft ? how to travel home safely after a late night out ? how to stop someone stealing your identity and hacking your Wikipedia account ? how to make sure your loved ones are provided for if you die at an early age ? how to prevent illegal immigrants and drug traffickers from entering your country ? all of the above ? Some specific examples would help. Gandalf61 (talk) 14:22, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

I will attempt a rewrite: "Military training should come with civic and security education, thus ROTC training should as much focus on theoretical topics as military training." (I've simply extracted what I think are the best of your words and phrases.) Bus stop (talk) 14:33, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

Some specific suggestions:

• "perennialism" ? What is that ? Doing things on an annual basis ?

• "teaching things" -> "topics"

• "knowledge" -> "knowledgeable".

• "nationalism" ? What is meant here ?

• "as it does on" - > "and"

• "it would also make him more critical in evaluating whatever reasonable measure the government may adopt for its security" -> "but also to become a critical thinker when evaluating them".

Here it is with those changes, with those terms I didn't know how to fix left as bold:

Educational perennialism postulates that education, especially those programs considered of national significance, should focus on topics having “eternal value” and positive social effect (Barrow, Robin, and Woods, 1971). A democratic education ought to give utmost regard to justice, social equality, and nationalism. Thus, ROTC training should equally focus on theoretical topics and military training. Among these essential theoretical topics are security and civic awareness.

Indeed, being knowledgeable about domestic and international security issues contributes to effective citizenry. Not only does it enable an individual to understand public dialogues and forums on security issues, but also to become a critical thinker when evaluating them.

To counter the argument, I'd say that those topics should be taught in a civics or government class, so everyone gets them, not just ROTC students. StuRat (talk) 15:49, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

One point I would make - does the OP actually mean Democratic education (that is, allowing the students to have a say in the method of teaching, which isn't usually associated with military training), or would something like "education in a democracy" be a better term? Tevildo (talk) 18:00, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

Need help getting content from site in Arabic

Hi all, not sure if this is the best way to go about this, but I'm having problems at List of programs broadcast by Cartoon Network Arabic with constant submissions and changes, but no references are ever being added. This is not ideal. The Cartoon Network Arabic site is here. Would anybody be able to help vet some of the content in the article, and maybe throw in a few references? It would be nice to figure out what the current line up is. The biggest problem really involves the former programming section, as it doesn't seem likely there's a lot of data on shows that used to air on this network. If you can help, that would be much appreciated. Thanks, Cyphoidbomb (talk) 16:53, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

• @Cyphoidbomb: There's a way to get past data on old shows. Check out the Wayback Machine: http://wayback.archive.org - Hopefully using it will help! WhisperToMe (talk) 15:51, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

Appreciate the suggestion. I still don't speak Arabic, though. :) Cyphoidbomb (talk) 17:40, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

death to whom?

The Economist (2013): How to cope with an Iranian bomb. The picture shows several protest signs. One says (i think) "death to Israël"; another (if so) says "death to [vowel]nglys". Does the latter mean 'English', 'England', something else entirely? —Tamfang (talk) 18:11, 8 May 2015 (UTC)

Yes; Engelis (انگلیس) means England. Omidinist (talk) 03:21, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

What, not America? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:27, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

That sign was being held by Ms. Not-Appearing-in-This-Picture. Deor (talk) 09:28, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

WHAAOE - Sir Not-appearing-in-this-film. OK, it's just a redirect. Tevildo (talk) 11:11, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

The UK has been involved with Iran for longer than the US. Iran–United Kingdom relations describes this, for example stating that "by the end of the 19th century, Britain's dominance became so pronounced that Khuzestan, Bushehr, and a host of other cities in southern Persia were occupied by Great Britain, and the central government in Tehran was left with no power to even select its own ministers without the approval of the Anglo-Russian consulates". AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 10:19, 11 May 2015 (UTC)

I'm sure that the initial word in the leftmost sign is آمریکا "America". I can't read the rest of the sign though. Some of it is cropped off from the photo. --Theurgist (talk) 07:35, 12 May 2015 (UTC)