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Une esplanade centrale d’honneur
perspective d'ambiance

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

artificialisation

English translation:

other developments

Added to glossary by B D Finch
Oct 11, 2012 14:46
11 yrs ago
67 viewers *
French term

artificialisation

French to English Other Environment & Ecology Development on agricultural land
The text is talking about the loss of agricultural land in areas around Paris, and although I can find definitions of the word "artificialisation", I'm slightly stumped about how to translate it or even if it actually needs translating since it appears to be so closely related to urbanisation.

I have found alternatives such as 'erosion' 'soil erosion' 'degradation' 'progressive degradation', but would appreciate any further enlightenment or suggestions.

the phrase in question is "grignotés par l’urbanisation et l’artificialisation"
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 other developments
4 +2 artificialisation/urbanisation
4 loss of green-field sites
3 degradation
References
Artificialisation:
Change log

Oct 13, 2012 10:38: B D Finch Created KOG entry

Discussion

Wolf Draeger Oct 11, 2012:
Artificialisation & urbanisation are more or less synonymous for me, but with subtle differences in connotation and perspective. Urbanisation can be used in a neutral sense, but artificialisation appears to be more negative, as if the former were somehow a natural process and the latter a distortion of the environment. If urbanisation is the hand, then artificialisation is the tool that shapes the environment; there's a qualitative distinction, but both terms refer to the same process. So I think Marie's suggestion of translating both together by "urbanization" is probably the most practical solution here.
Alison Sparks (X) (asker) Oct 11, 2012:
@ all Thanks, a most useful and helpful discussion. I'll mull it over for the moment.
Marie Jackson Oct 11, 2012:
Chris: "encroaching" urbanisation is much nicer than "increasing"!
Alison Sparks (X) (asker) Oct 11, 2012:
Marie Exactly, but typically French to be able to say so much in two words. Hence my hesitation.

@Chris
I don't think it is a real English word and prefer not to use it!
chris collister Oct 11, 2012:
Hmm, I do hope this really isn't an English word. Something along the lines of "encroaching urbanisation and other man-made/artificial intrusions" might avoid using this ghastly word!
Marie Jackson Oct 11, 2012:
On the other hand.... not all degradation will be directly caused by the urbanisation either...
Marie Jackson Oct 11, 2012:
Wading in... You could try: "soil degradation resulting from increased urbanisation" or something similar. I would say that "grignoté" refers not to the degradation of the soil but is a metaphor for the fact that viable land is being slowly "eaten away" by degradation caused by urbanisation. I think the sentence contains a lot of ideas but in very few words.
Alison Sparks (X) (asker) Oct 11, 2012:
No rather the agricultural land for building purposes or parkings etc. or just being left unused. Will have to do something about my typos today! :)
Sam Brightbart Oct 11, 2012:
What exactly is being "grignotés"? Is it not degradation of soil?
Alison Sparks (X) (asker) Oct 11, 2012:
Sam Yes, I'd though of just leaving it at 'degradation' in general, but wasn't sure. Perhaps I should put 'for agricultural use' after it?
Sam Brightbart Oct 11, 2012:
An option might be to spell it out more, something along the lines of "loss of soil quality". Although I think "degradation" is a decent option, albeit a little generalizing.

Proposed translations

+1
45 mins
Selected

other developments

I read it as the application of non-agricultural types of human artifice, other than actual urbanisation. Even parks would fall under this, as they also result in the loss of agricultural land.

Beware of using the word "erosion" in the sense of soil erosion. It is rather unlikely that this is about soil erosion.
Note from asker:
Very good idea. 100% in agreement with your comment about erosion.
Peer comment(s):
agree Marie Jackson : I think this is a nice way of getting around the problem! And I agree that we're not just talking about urbanisation causing the lack of viable agricultural land (as per my answer somewhere above or below here).
56 mins
Thanks Marie
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Given the context this answer seems to cover all options. Thanks to all who contributed."
+2
11 mins

artificialisation/urbanisation

Judging from the context you have provided, I would actually translate this straight across as 'artificialisation' (if you MUST translate it), or simply translate both nouns as 'urbanisation'.

This translation is supported both by the IATE termbase for the European Parliament and the Grand dictionnaire terminologique. IATE also gives the following definition of "artificialisation": 'conversion des espaces naturels en routes, parkings, bâtiments, etc', which would seem to support translation by omission.

Hope that helps!

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Note added at 12 mins (2012-10-11 14:58:54 GMT)
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Another option would of course be to translate as "soil degradation resulting from increased urbanisation" or something similar.

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Note added at 1 hr (2012-10-11 16:28:22 GMT)
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Just a note in response to the comment made by the Asker: I wasn't suggesting the use of the word "urbanisation" twice, but that the word could potentially encompass the meaning of both words at the same time, depending on the rest of your document.
Reference:

http://granddictionnaire.ca/ficheOqlf.aspx?Id_Fiche=26507165#eng

http://iate.europa.eu/iatediff/FindTermsByLilId.do?lilId=389229&langId=fr

Note from asker:
Thanks, but I'm unwilling to use artificialisation, and urbanisation twice .........
Peer comment(s):
agree kashew : For artificialisation (It looks horrible with a z!)
1 hr
Thank you, kashew! I appreciate the support of someone with your background!
agree Wolf Draeger : I think urbanization for both terms is best.
4 hrs
Many thanks!
neutral chris collister : It looks horrible either way - don't use it !!!
16 hrs
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2 hrs

degradation

Présentement, les deux secteurs à dominance urbaine (tronçon fluvial et estuaire fluvial) connaissent une artificialisation progressive du milieu riverain à cause de l'étalement urbain et de l'attrait du Saint-Laurent pour la villégiature.
slv2000.qc.ec.gc.ca

At present, the two predominantly urban sectors (Fluvial Section and Fluvial Estuary) have been subject to progressive degradation due to urban sprawl and the appeal of the St. Lawrence for cottagers.
slv2000.qc.ec.gc.ca

I'm not sure I agree with this - but it's an option.
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1 hr

loss of green-field sites

greenfield [ˈgriːnˌfiːld]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Environmental Science) (modifier) denoting or located in a rural area which has not previously been built on

e.g. "...new factories were erected on greenfield sites"
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

------------
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plenty of examples of the snatching away of green-field sites on Google:

How to Double Densities, and halve Green Field Loss, with Narrow ...
andrewlainton.wordpress.com/.../how-to-double-densities-and-...
28 Feb 2012 – So with Smart Growth solutions it is possible to halve the potential landtake and loss of green field sites with this measure alone, whilst still ..


PET(4)-01-12 p10b Coversheet

www.senedd.assemblywales.org/.../PET4-01-12 p10b ...
These will include an unacceptable increase in traffic related and light pollution in addition to an unacceptable loss of green field sites. Nor should the taxpayers ...
[PDF]

P-03-252 Opposing RAF St Athan Northern - National Assembly for ...
senedd.assemblywales.org/.../P-03-...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
pollution in addition to an unacceptable loss of green field sites. Nor should the taxpayers of. Wales bear the imposition of such an unessential cost burden.


Displaying items by tag: Planning | Campaign to Protect Rural England
www.cpre.org.uk › Media
... plans have too often been misused to impose unrealistically high housing targets on local communities, resulting in frustration and loss of green field sites.
[PDF]

Full page fax print - Brecon Beacons National Park
www.breconbeacons.org/.../L-D-CR-SAAD-117-00970 A...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
Reasons for objection: Damaging to character of the countryside and area, and quiet rural village. Loss of green field sites. Size of sites look like doubling ...


Calls for objections over Leeds LDF plan - Local - Morley Observer ...
www.morleyobserver.co.uk › News › Local
16 Feb 2012 – Coun Robert Finnigan is now urging anyone concerned with the loss of green field sites to oppose the LDF Core Strategy agreed on Friday by ...
[PDF]

Pre-production Brief - North Somerset Council
www.n-somerset.gov.uk/.../RenewablesPreproductionbrief.pdf
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
facilities in the Weston villages;. 8) The re-use of previously developed land and existing buildings in preference to the loss of green field sites; ...


Sustainability: a systems approach - Page 228 - Google Books Result
books.google.com/books?isbn=1853833193
Anthony M. H. Clayton, Nicholas J. Radcliffe - 1996 - Business & Economics
This would increase urban density, which would make public transport and recycling schemes more viable as well as minimising the loss of green-field sites.


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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-10-11 17:41:11 GMT)
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ASKER; I HAVE NO IDEA IF "GREEN FIELD SITES" WORKS FOR THE US, BUT "URBAN SPRAWL" seems to fit and has a variety of definitions, all along roughly the same lines: the spread/expansion of cities into surrounding rural or unpopulated areas. This seems to apply to the US as well...
Note from asker:
Good idea, but would this work equally well for a US market? I have to write a text which suits both.
Peer comment(s):
neutral B D Finch : Perhaps the term "green-field site" has evolved, but when I was working in development, a "green-field site" (as opposed to a "green field") was a previously undeveloped piece of land that a developer had his sights on.
27 mins
I think that still applies, although I don't know if that's universal - I got the impression it wasn't necesarily so. However, I think replacing "loss" with something like "development", "reallocation" ... would solve that problem
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Reference comments

2 hrs
Reference:

Artificialisation:

In France artificialisation is said to constitute the main threat to the land and concerns a yearly average of 40,000 ha according to the French Institute for the Environment (IFEN, 1999[71]), or 50,000 ha according to M. Chaline (Plan Bleu 2001 [24]).
planbleu.org

En France, l'artificialisation des terres constituerait la principale menace sur les sols et concernerait chaque année une moyenne de 40 000 ha selon l'Institut français pour l'environnement (IFEN, 1999 (71)), ou 50 000 ha selon M. Chaline [...]
planbleu.org
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