|
Dr. A. F. Bogenschütz: Technical dictionary for Batteries and Advanced Energy Conversion
(English - German / German - English)
When I received this book, I could hardly believe my eyes. Written 33 years ago, it is still the first edition.
Age, though, does have its benefits. This book is rugged and thus likely to survive heavy use for quite a long time.
As opposed to most books sold these days. And it is small enough to have it nearby on a permanent basis.
The title is an understatement because the book not only provides info on batteries and
advanced energy conversion, but on many more general technical terms as well. Even "action
of patent office" or "bicycle light" are mentioned. The battery-related translations are amazingly detailed, you will even
find the names of many chemicals required for battery manufacture. My favourite is "Äthylendiamintetraessigsäure" (edetic acid, also ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid)...
Although it is, even for me, not common to read a dictionary from beginning to end, I ended up spending the better part of
three nights reading the first half (the english - german part). If you, like me, often have to read technical documentation,
this book is an excellent way to improve your mastering of the foreign language. And it will definitely improve your
general knowledge of batteries as you will find yourself seeking info on terms you don't know in either language. Or do you
happen to remember what a Poggendorf cell (Poggendorf-Element) or a Pörscke cell (Pörscke-Element) is?
The down side of a book written that long ago is, of course, that its content reflects what was state of the art in 1968.
Nickel-Cadmium or Silver-Oxide cells, for example, are mentioned, Nickel-Metal Hydride cells are not. Trickle charge is
mentioned, pulse charge isn't. It doesn't surprise that Lithium Ion cells, which as secondary cells were put on the market by Sony only more than two decades later, are not to be found, either.
The book also includes an extensive amount of conversion tables. Although this is not as helpful as it used to be before the
pocket calculator was invented, I still appreciate the fact that I don't have to boot my PC (or search for my calculator) just because I happen to need the equivalent of ten english pounds in kilograms . |
|
|
|
|
 |
