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computer file, folder

Italian translation: scheda, archivio

09:08 Oct 1, 2001
English to Italian translations [Non-PRO]
Tech/Engineering
English term or phrase: computer file, folder
A computer writes information to a file, placed in a folder. (Use native Italian words, not a calques or loan-words.)
Biblo
Italian translation:scheda, archivio
Explanation:
It depends on what your client wants.

If s/he wants Microsoft Office style, then "documento/cartella" is the imposed standard and the only way to go. (A "documento sonoro" may sound funny for a "sound file", but that's what Microsoft has decided.)

If s/she wants technical jargon (if, that is, your text is for a computer magazine or academic journal), then "file/cartella" or "file/directory" (TWO loan words!) are most common nowadays. No problem with non text files in that case: "sound file" becomes "file sonoro".

But if, as you seem to suggest, s/he wants a totally Italian solution including neologisms (out of a desire to fight the influence of the English Language in Italian or the dominance of Gates in Manual Stylesheets, or in order to give the text a unique house style), you could use "scheda" (occasionlly used years ago, never today) and "archivio" (once frequent, now rare because of... the influence of English and Gates).
Selected response from:

pboylan
Local time: 20:44
Grading comment
Yeah, my client wants to be original and to avoid calques, he thinks that is "distinto". I, too, find it pretentious but what can you do?
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6File, cartella
gianfranco
5 +1documento, cartella
Gilda Manara
4 +1file; cartella
Martin Schmurr
5scheda, archivio
pboylan
4 -2documento e cartella
orietta l'abbate


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
file; cartella


Explanation:
"file" is unfortunately always used in my office here in Udine; you might try "documento".


    living in Italy
Martin Schmurr
Local time: 20:44
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 43

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  italia: Hai ragione, ma opterei per cartella.
2 mins
  -> sono due cose diverse!!
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
documento, cartella


Explanation:
praticamente sono i termini di uso comune in ufficio per indicare l' archiviazione tradizionale di materiale su carta - trasposti per l' archiviazione e classificazione corrispettive su computer.


    native translator - personal experience
Gilda Manara
Italy
Local time: 20:44
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in pair: 1038

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  orietta l'abbate
1 hr
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
File, cartella


Explanation:
File
non esiste altro termine in italiano di uso comune.
"File" ha vinto la battaglia su tutti i fronti.

Folder
In ambiente Windows viene ora denominato cartella, a causa dell'analogia con le cartelle creata dall'interfaccia grafica.
In Unix ed altri sistemi operativi non grafici viene ancora chiamato 'directory'.
IBM un tempo usava nei manuali ufficiali il termine 'indirizzario', che è anche corretto ma non ha mai preso piede.



gianfranco
Brazil
Local time: 15:44
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in pair: 2932

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chiara Santoriello
2 hrs
agree  Floriana (X): "file" è l'unica scelta; per "cartella" è vero: "directory" s'usa in alcuni ambienti (un tempo anche "direttorio"eech!
6 hrs
agree  clinamen (X)
7 hrs
agree  Giovanna Graziani
18 hrs
agree  Barbara Cattaneo
18 hrs
agree  Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL: usare per forza termini italiani quando sono totalmente caduti in disuso mi sembra ridicolo e anacronistico
1 day 16 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
documento e cartella


Explanation:
Ha ragione reymartko

orietta l'abbate
Local time: 20:44
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in pair: 77

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Floriana (X): all documents can be files, but not all files are documents (they can be images, sound files, etc.).
5 hrs
  -> disagreem they can be documenti sonori, visivi ecc, se proprio vogliamo mantenere un po' della lingua madre.
disagree  Giovanna Graziani: Floriana's comment is perfect!
17 hrs
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
scheda, archivio


Explanation:
It depends on what your client wants.

If s/he wants Microsoft Office style, then "documento/cartella" is the imposed standard and the only way to go. (A "documento sonoro" may sound funny for a "sound file", but that's what Microsoft has decided.)

If s/she wants technical jargon (if, that is, your text is for a computer magazine or academic journal), then "file/cartella" or "file/directory" (TWO loan words!) are most common nowadays. No problem with non text files in that case: "sound file" becomes "file sonoro".

But if, as you seem to suggest, s/he wants a totally Italian solution including neologisms (out of a desire to fight the influence of the English Language in Italian or the dominance of Gates in Manual Stylesheets, or in order to give the text a unique house style), you could use "scheda" (occasionlly used years ago, never today) and "archivio" (once frequent, now rare because of... the influence of English and Gates).


pboylan
Local time: 20:44
Grading comment
Yeah, my client wants to be original and to avoid calques, he thinks that is "distinto". I, too, find it pretentious but what can you do?
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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