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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

spectre fréquentiel

English translation:

frequency spectrum

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2011-02-06 15:57:03 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Feb 3, 2011 15:31
13 yrs ago
5 viewers *
French term

spectre fréquentiel

French to English Science Physics Acoustics
I came across this term in a document about acoustics and need confirmation about a possible translation that I found: frequency domain. Could a specialist please confirm whether this is the correct translation or not.

I would give the context, but I'm afraid it won't be of much help.

With my sincere thanks,
M
Proposed translations (English)
5 +2 frequency spectrum
4 +2 frequency spectrum

Discussion

Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. Feb 6, 2011:
Sure Tony Sure, Tony. Still, there is a "frequency representation", and also a frequency spectrum", distinct from the representation. The frequency spectrum is within the frequency space, or frequency representation.
Tony M Feb 6, 2011:
All very interesting... ...though do let's bear in mind that the orginal context of this question was acoustics.
Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. Feb 6, 2011:
Examples of representations Some examples of representations are the discrete variable representation (DVR), plane wave representation, finite basis representation, etc.. each one having advantages and disadvantages depending on the problem to be solved. One normally make the choice that is the most accurate, and if possible the fastest...
Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. Feb 6, 2011:
representation Representation would be wrong. Representation refers more or less to the basis set used in forming operator matrices in quantum mechanics. So, an operator has a large number of representations, because one could choose a number of different basis sets to cast it in. This idea of writing the operator as a matrix is called representation. Just like the words we use are representations of our thoughts...
Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. Feb 6, 2011:
freuqncy domain Of course, "frequencydomain" exists, but it refers to the "space" in which the spectrum is presented. Just like a book and a book case not being the same. Also, frequency domain is sometimes referred to as "reciprocal space", especially in solid state physics and crystallography. They are very much one and the same. It's just that differnt disciplines have different preferences.
McKinley Paul (asker) Feb 3, 2011:
I think it is most likely frequency representation. The specific context relates to the information picked up by the microphones of a hearing prosthetic and how the signals are processed.
Terry Richards Feb 3, 2011:
représentation fréquentielle Could be the frequency response display - what you see on the front panel of a spectrum analyzer.
Tony M Feb 3, 2011:
Hint: bear in mind that in this domain, a lot of the terminology may have originally come from EN; hence, the literal translation is often a good starting-place for your further research ;-)
chris collister Feb 3, 2011:
Yes, "frequency representation" is correct. In other words, the response (the y-axis) is "represented" in the frequency domain (the x-axis), although the initial measurements (as a time series) would have been made in the time domain, eg volts vs. time.
By the way, I'm not sure what you mean by "time-frequency representation"...
McKinley Paul (asker) Feb 3, 2011:
Thank you both for correcting what would have been an error on my part.
Should I do likewise with "représentation fréquentielle" and assume that it is the "frequency representation" (as in time-frequency representation), or it is possibly "frequency distribution"?

Proposed translations

+2
12 mins
Selected

frequency spectrum

I would think that the literal translation would be correct here — it's certainly the term I'm familiar with in very many contexts.
Note that, although 'frequency domain' does indeed exist, it is not the same thing at all, and would normally translate a different term; so I wouldn't use it here, unless there is something very specific in your context that would require it.
Peer comment(s):
agree chris collister : Indeed. The initial measurement is generally made in the time domain, and then processed via a Fourier transform to give the response as a function of frequency
4 mins
Thx, C! Ah me, yes, happy memories of A-level maths and FFT analysers
agree Zareh Darakjian Ph.D.
6 hrs
Thanks, Zareh!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
10 mins

frequency spectrum

The spectrum is not the same as the domain. A frequency spectrum is defined over the frequency domain (in e/m radiation this is generally the reciprocal domain, ie time). Essentially the spectrum gives you the frequency response of the transducer/room/absorber panel etc. Plenty of hits for "frequency spectrum".

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Note added at 13 mins (2011-02-03 15:45:15 GMT)
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Sorry, the reciprocal domain for light etc. is wavelength, not time!
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : Snap!
1 min
agree Terry Richards
1 hr
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