Re: Translation

----- Original Message -----
From: <kaladorn@magma.ca>
> I ran a machine translation of rapid-fire plasma canon (for the NSL
> Panzergren with the RF plasma SAW) and got:
>
> Schnellfeuer Plasmakanon

You fell into the common trap of confusing 'canon' with 'cannon' ;-)
'Schnellfeuer-Plasmakanone' would be korrekt.
Strictly speaking, German compound words should not be hyphenated. So a
German teacher would insist on 'Schnellfeuerplasmakanone', but most
people
do it for clarity.
'Kanone' is really an artillery piece and not used for man-portable
weaponry. '-gewehr' (rifle), '-büchse' (musket), '-faust' (as in
Panzerfaust) are alternatives.

> SfPk (or SFPK)
>
> So, to someone who speaks German as a native language (or at least
> enough to tell good from bad translation), is this a case where the
> literal translation works or fails?
>
> I have other options
>
> Plasmaangriff Kanone (plasma assault cannon)
Sounds odd

> PlasmaSturmKanone (plasma storm cannon)

OK , but see my remark about Kanone

> automatischer Plasmakanon (automatic plasma cannon)

Another 'Canon' case.
'Automatische Plasmakanone' would be korrekt.

Greetings