An alternative to the word 'Schlieren'?

[Galexy]

I have always been amazed by the fact that there is no word in English for the visible density waves in a transparent material. The phenomenon is so common that an English term should have been coined long ago. I am uncomfortable using the German word, 'schlieren', but it is all that is available. Can somebody come up with something better?

 

[ergospherical]

Are you equally uncomfortable with, say, the words eigenvector, or bremsstrahlung, or aufbau (principle)...

 

[Haborix]

By what metric would we decide if a proposed word is better? The English language is stuffed with words imported, sometimes with little alteration, from many other languages.

 

[sandy stone]

Oil refinery workers call the visible waves due to hydrocarbon vapors "monkeys". I have no idea why.

 

[berkeman]

Are you equally uncomfortable with, say, the words eigenvector, or bremsstrahlung, or aufbau (principle)...

Exactly! You beat me to it.

 

[collinsmark]

I have always been amazed by the fact that there is no word in English for the visible density waves in a transparent material. The phenomenon is so common that an English term should have been coined long ago. I am uncomfortable using the German word, 'schlieren', but it is all that is available. Can somebody come up with something better?

When applied specifically to density waves of the sky when observing faraway objects (typically extraterrestrial), there is the term "atmospheric seeing," also called "astronomical seeing."

When applied to closer objects subject to distortion from a campfire, space heater, candle, jet engine exhaust, etc., there is "heat haze."

But for the more general idea, "schlieren" is is about as good as it gets. The term is particularly apt for scientific contexts.

------------

On a separate but related note, The English lexicon is chock-full of words and terms taken from other languages.

 

[fresh_42]

It looks funny if you see a word of your native language in a foreign one. I see sometimes words in English I didn't even know that they have migrated, especially non- or semitechnical terms (ansatz, zugzwang, verboten).

However, the case English <> German is far, far, very far more deplorable in the other direction. Just two examples. People permanently have meetings, although it could be described as Besprechung, Zusammenkunft, or Treffen. And the newest nonsense is booster(n). I see that it is more convenient than Auffrischungsimpfung, nevertheless, it is an unnecessary anglicism. And I could go on for hours with examples.

And if doch hadn't the 'ch' in it, it would long have been adopted.

 

[berkeman]

BTW, one of our diagnostic tests in medicine is the electrocardiogram (ECG -- monitoring the heart's electrical patterns). I prefer the alternate acronym EKG, because in a noisy verbal environment it is less likely to be confused with EEG (brainwave monitoring). But I also prefer it because the spelling in German is elektrokardiographie (EKG), and it turns out the Germans invented the technology anyway.

 

[phinds]

Are you equally uncomfortable with, say, the words eigenvector, or bremsstrahlung, or aufbau (principle)...

Exactly! You beat me to it.

I"m surprised no one mentioned "gedanken experiment". I mean, we HAVE a perfectly good word in English for it (since it translates exactly) but for historical reasons, it's widely used anyway.

 

[Galexy]

Are you equally uncomfortable with, say, the words eigenvector, or bremsstrahlung, or aufbau (principle)...

Yes, I am uncomfortable with all these words. If I used them in 'street' conversation I would sound like a geek. The reason why I picked out the word 'schlieren' is because I have often been forced to use it in conversation; and I always get funny looks.

 

[phinds]

Yes, I am uncomfortable with all these words. If I used them in 'street' conversation I would sound like a geek.

And you think "street talk" about eigenvectors by any other name would NOT sound geeky?

 

[fresh_42]

Yes, I am uncomfortable with all these words.

There have been attempts to translate eigen when it was a new term. IIRC they tried proper. The outcome is known. I still have to laugh when I think about бутербро́д. Languages are very vital objects and it is a come and go. Always has been, always will be. English, and German, too, are full of Latin words. Do they disturb you as well? The last guy who wanted to replace nose by Gesichtserker luckily failed on all his plans.

 

[Galexy]

And you think "street talk" about eigenvectors by any other name would NOT sound geeky?

Well... This was my first posting on this venue. I have to say I'm not very pleased with the pedantic and smug nature of some of the replies. This was meant to be a light hearted comment soliciting for some imaginative (and easy to spell) alternative names for a common phenomenon. Lighten up guys.

 

[hutchphd]

Would a zeugmatograph by any other name be as sweetly geeky?
The alternative is an awful acronym. Tell me why, oh why, is MRI preferable.

 

[berkeman]

This was my first posting on this venue. I have to say I'm not very pleased with the pedantic and smug nature of some of the replies.

And I think a number of us are trying to be nice, while annoyed at your obnoxious nationalistic chauvinism. I know that's how I'm feeling about your posts in this thread so far...

 

[fresh_42]

And I think a number of us are trying to be nice, while annoyed at your obnoxious nationalistic chauvinism. I know that's how I'm feeling about your posts in this thread so far...

Funny sidenote: The USA doesn't even have an official language! Any language has the same justification as English has. Just saying.

 

[phinds]

Funny sidenote: The USA doesn't even have an official language! Any language has the same justification as English has. Just saying.

Whut the ha-ell you talkin' 'bout boy? Amurica's 'ficial language is 'Murican !

 

[hutchphd]

This was meant to be a light hearted comment soliciting for some imaginative (and easy to spell) alternative names for a common phenomenon

I guess that didn't work out so well. No one seems to have understood your intent so we are, apparently, all culpable.
I am reminded of the archetypal (ugly) American tourest who is offended that no one understands English.

 

[phinds]

This was meant to be a light hearted comment

Well, then, the problem is that your intent was not realized. I can certainly believe that you INTENDED it to be lighthearted but what you need to realize is that it did not come across that way at all. Thus the response you got.

 

[Dale]

On a lighthearted and appropriately relevant note, I would recommend just using the German word as needed. After all

“The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.”

James D. Nicoll

 

[Astronuc]

I have always been amazed by the fact that there is no word in English for the visible density waves in a transparent material. The phenomenon is so common that an English term should have been coined long ago. I am uncomfortable using the German word, 'schlieren', but it is all that is available. Can somebody come up with something better?

Schlieren is the English term. Like eigenvalue, or bremsstrahlung, . . . words are used in reference to certain matters/aspects of physics. It would be pretty hard not to sound geeky in a 'street' conversation about "Variations in refractive index caused by density gradients in a fluid distort a collimated light beam."

I suppose one could use 'that shimmering effect' or 'that streaking effect" one observes, or those "optical inhomogeneities in transparent media." Using English words of foreign origin is not a bad thing. One could simply elaborate on a scientific or technical term, as in 'schlieren', that "shimmering or streaking effect one observes when . . . ".

 

[DaveC426913]

“The problem with defending the purity of the English language...

"English isn't a language; it's three languages standing on each other's shoulders wearing a trenchcoat."

 

[Bystander]

"English isn't a language; it's three languages standing on each other's shoulders wearing a trenchcoat."

..., and "flashing" the whole, wide world.

 

[hutchphd]

One could simply elaborate on a scientific or technical term, as in 'schlieren', that "shimmering or streaking effect one observes when . . . ".

But that doesn't help at all with the "geek index" of the event...we should be proud of our geekness. Saay it loud.

 

[Astronuc]

But that doesn't help at all with the "geek index" of the event...we should be proud of our geekness. Saay it loud.

True, but I can appreciate having a conversation with someone who is not familiar with the vernacular, e.g., someone who might have a GED. If I use highly technical terms, the context of which is familiar to me, but not to others, then I can easily lose them. I have one close friend who often responds, 'too much information'. And I know when I lose someone in conversation.

For me, a term such as 'schlieren' would be matter of fact, as would the names of the elements of the periodic table, which I began to study in 5th grade, and various radionuclides from the 'Chart of the Nuclides'. It's second nature for me, but not my wife, kids, and many in our social circle. On the other hand, I have a collegial circle, and many would understand or feel comfortable up to a point. Even in the collegial circle, I can lose people if I go off on radiation effects, or interatomic potentials, in specific alloy systems.

 

[hutchphd]

Absolutely. It is why I abhor acronyms. I am pleased that meetings to which I was invited often were initiated by my multiple rude interrruptions of "English Please" when the jargon started. That got better over time.

 

[fresh_42]

But that doesn't help at all with the "geek index" of the event...we should be proud of our geekness. Saay it loud.

Is there a reason that you stopped your quote: "Say it loud, say it clear, you can listen as well as you hear ... " just before the clear part?

 

[hutchphd]

Because I was in fact making a bad paraphrase from the hardest working man in show business.