This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Scharfe Sachen
Änderungs- und Löschungsvermerke

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Beifang

English translation:

inadvertent/surprise/unwanted/unintentional/chance/fortunate/fortuitous catch/discovery/finding

Added to glossary by David Moore (X)
Apr 8, 2009 12:43
15 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

Beifang

German to English Science Environment & Ecology Research
Context is a magazine article heading (one of about 1800). Nothing more is available - that is all I have to work on.
The definition of "Beifang" is quite clear; it is (irrelevant) "incidental intelligence" gleaned while researching one specific subject, but I cannot think of a succinct term to use. Here is the heading itself:

Beifänge - lästig oder wertvoll? Der Wert von Beifängen in Erfassungsprojekten von Wissenschaft und Umweltplanung

MTIA.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 inadvertent/ unwanted catch
4 Serendipity
3 happenstance
3 incidental discovery
3 incidental findings
3 fortuitous finding(s)
Change log

Apr 15, 2009 07:54: David Moore (X) changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/49839">David Moore (X)'s</a> old entry - "Beifang"" to ""inadvertent/ unwanted/unintentional/chance/fortunate/fortuitous catch/discovery/finding""

Discussion

David Moore (X) (asker) Apr 15, 2009:
Incidental intelligence Isabel, that has to depend on how you yourself view it. To me, it does have a lot to do with it. Two different views...
Isabel Severing Apr 8, 2009:
inadvertant catch - even without Bernd's v. useful ref. I understood the heading to mean exactly that. Unwanted not suitable here, as Beifang might contain species very useful/interesting for scientific research. Nothing to do with 'incidental intell.'
David Moore (X) (asker) Apr 8, 2009:
By-catch is not exactly suitable in this context...

Proposed translations

+3
2 mins
Selected

inadvertent/ unwanted catch

... is what I have heard of.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 Min. (2009-04-08 13:32:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I can't see a SINGLE proof for the "intelligence thing"!
Here is the official excerpt
Beifänge - lästig oder wertvoll? Der Wert von Beifängen in Erfassungsprojekten von Wissenschaft und Umweltplanung
Buchholz, Sascha; Kreuels, Martin; Kronshage, Andreas; Terlutter, Heinrich;

Nicht selten kommt es vor, dass zur Beantwortung einer wissenschaftlichen oder praxisorientierten Fragestellung vor allem wirbellose Tiere zur genauen Bestimmung und als Belegexemplare gefangen werden müssen. Aus methodischen Gründen werden dabei häufig Fallen eingesetzt. Diese enthalten am Ende neben den erwünschten Arten oft auch weitere Organismen. Die Auswertung dieser Beifänge kann für Fragestellungen in anderen Projekten und für andere Bearbeiter interessant sein. Eine Beifangdatenbank könnte landesweit übersichtliche Informationen zu abgeschlossenen und aktuellen Projekten und das vorhandene noch unbearbeitete Faltenmaterial liefern.

Artikel aus der Zeitschrfit: Natur in NRW
ISSN: 0947-7578
Jg.: 33, Nr.4, 2008
Seite 61-64, Abb.,Lit.
Standort in der Bibliothek: IRB Z 1439

And here is the link to the full text (page 61, to make the research not too difficult!!):
http://www.lanuv.nrw.de/veroeffentlichungen/natur_in_nrw/200... (
Peer comment(s):
neutral Alba Arendsen : this looks kind of negative, whereas "Beifang" in this context is something positive.
8 mins
Who says the asker is right with his assumption?
disagree David Williams : Like "by-catch" - not exactly suitable in this context... (I presume the asker knows whether the translation is about fishing or not.)
10 mins
It is about catching insects in free-field traps! // So??? // Still waiting ...
agree Isabel Severing : with inadvertant & Bernd's take on things. See my comment in clarifications.
1 hr
Danke, Isabel. Ja, inadvertant!
agree Siegfried Armbruster
2 hrs
Danke, Siegfried.
agree Anne-Marie Grant (X) : If this is the article being translated, then inadvertent catch works well.
2 hrs
Thanks, Anne.
agree Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
5 hrs
Danke, Harald.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all for your input. There are so many different realistic options, but I think "chance discovery" is the best in this case. Anyway, the points must go to Bernd as he identified the source -which was indeed a great help."
9 mins

Serendipity

When you look for something, but find something else entirely.
Peer comment(s):
agree David Williams
3 mins
disagree Isabel Severing : see Bernd's entry
1 hr
Serendipity - nuisance or not? The value of serendipity in scientific and environmental development projects. (Possible translation of the whole thing... Works for me.)
Something went wrong...
21 mins

happenstance

perhaps...

Noun 1. happenstance - an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
coincidence
chance event, fortuity, accident, stroke - anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause; "winning the lottery was a happy accident"; "the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck"; "it was due to an accident or fortuity"

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/happenstance
Something went wrong...
30 mins

incidental discovery

Less whimsical than the other suggestions, but not as succinct as you would like.
Something went wrong...
31 mins

incidental findings

An incidental finding (IF) is an unexpected finding concerning an individual research participant that has potential health or reproductive importance, is discovered in the course of conducting research, but is beyond the aims of the study. They are an increasingly common byproduct of research using powerful technologies that generate "extra" data. Because IFs can potentially save lives but also cause alarm, the decision on whether or not to disclose them to research participants has been a major dilemma. "Researchers often stumble upon unexpected findings but have no idea whether to share this information with research participants," said Wolf. "The information may prove highly significant or a false alarm. And researchers have traditionally drawn a bright line between their research activity and the clinical care of patients;incidental findings challenge that line."

http://www.huliq.com/63135/managing-incidental-findings-huma...
Something went wrong...
37 mins

fortuitous finding(s)

...is my first thought.

[The alliteration is entirely fortuitous ;-) ]
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search