shivu wrote:“klein” is wrong, but my German Word doesn’t know it. :?
I'm not aware of any auto correction engine that is able to correct grammar, most of them only do fix misspellings and some very easily identifiable grammar errors.
shivu wrote:Let's take a look at what Wiki says about mass-driver. It’s
here.
You get it? Ok, now click on the left to: Language/ Deutsch (no, no link, pls do it).
So witch name? Rifle, gun, “Kanone”…
Now compare again with the English version. Click again English. Interesting!
How is this Wiki link chain relevant?
A "Gun" is, according to Wikipedia, is a umbrella term for anything that fires a not self-propelled projectile through a barrel, the closest german equivalent would be "Rohrwaffe". This includes pistols, rifles, cannons, mortars, …
A "Gewehr" is a gun which is fired from the shoulder and the shooter holds it with two hands. The closest equivalent in english would "rifles and smoothbore small arms".
A "Kanone" is a line of sight gun with a big caliber, which usually is installed on any kind of carrier like a tank, a ship or is towed.
A "Geschütz" is, again, an umbrella term which includes "Kanonen" and indirect line of sight weapons like howitzers or mortars. All of them share the big caliber but differ in the way the are fired.
So "Gaussgeschütz" or "Gausskanone" would be the most fitting translation. "Gausskanone" maybe even a bit more because you can't do indirect line of sight shooting in space without relevant gravity to create an impact trajectory.
shivu wrote:My favourite would be “elektromagnetisches Katapult”, nice, a bit nostalgic, but too long.
At least, only “Massenbeschleuniger” represent the exact mean of mass-driver, but it’s dry, no
feel of weapon, no feel of threat.
You're right about that. The article you refer focuses on the non militaristic use of mass drivers. Maybe we should rename the mass driver in the english translation to coil gun.