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
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Food & Drink

clark

English translation: Clark

15:31 Jun 29, 2022
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Food & Drink / catering co's equipment
French term or phrase: clark
I'm translating some health & safety documentation for staff of a catering company. Can anyone help with this machine mentioned in a list without further context? 

Le matériel ne sera jamais utilisé sans avoir reçu une formation préalable et sans surveillance d’un membre de l’équipe
- Machine coupe pain
- Machine mezze
- Machine flow-pack
- Batteur-mélangeur
- Mélangeuse
- Machine à sauce
- Interdiction d’utiliser le **clark** et la trancheuse
MoiraB
France
Local time: 19:06
English translation:Clark
Explanation:
It is the proper name of the manufacturer used generically (we do this a lot in catering!)
What it actually is isn't really relevant to your translation... this is just the name it is referred to by, like 'hoover' for 'vacuum cleaner'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2022-06-29 15:43:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Note that this same machine might not be called a 'Clark' in an anglophone country — but this doesn't matter, since all that is relevant is what it is called in this specific establishment.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2022-06-29 15:45:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

For example, in our restaurant, one of the chambres froides was referred to as a Thirode, just because that was the make of the particular model.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 19:06
Grading comment
I would ideally split the points on this one, as the client sent a picture and it turns out to be a forklift! I've left it as Clark though, as it felt like a generic term. Thanks, everyone!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2Clark
Tony M
1 +2forklift / floor scrubber
Bourth


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Clark


Explanation:
It is the proper name of the manufacturer used generically (we do this a lot in catering!)
What it actually is isn't really relevant to your translation... this is just the name it is referred to by, like 'hoover' for 'vacuum cleaner'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2022-06-29 15:43:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Note that this same machine might not be called a 'Clark' in an anglophone country — but this doesn't matter, since all that is relevant is what it is called in this specific establishment.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2022-06-29 15:45:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

For example, in our restaurant, one of the chambres froides was referred to as a Thirode, just because that was the make of the particular model.

Tony M
France
Local time: 19:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 179
Grading comment
I would ideally split the points on this one, as the client sent a picture and it turns out to be a forklift! I've left it as Clark though, as it felt like a generic term. Thanks, everyone!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Conor McAuley: Since there's no way of knowing exactly what it is. / In English we have hoover, as Tony says, also tippex, xerox, google, etc. Karcher and Sarkozy come to mind as well.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Conor!
agree  Samuël Buysschaert
6 hrs
  -> Merci, Samuël !
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +2
forklift / floor scrubber


Explanation:
As has been said, the French love using proprietary names generically. Clark is a manufacturer of forklift trucks and other handling equipment.

While I consider it unlikely there would be a FL truck in your run-of-the-mill caterer's, there is always that possibility, even if is 'just' a walk-behind forklift.

Possibly more probably, Clarke with an E is a manufacturer of walk-behind floor scrubbers (autolaveuse), the sort of thing you might indeed find in a sparkling clean kitchen. I don't know if they are marketed in France.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2022-06-29 16:09:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oops, I forgot to say that the change from a simple list of machines to the format "Interdiction de" might mean that we've changed from one category of equipment to another.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2022-06-29 21:03:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Interestingly, 'chariot élévateur Fenwick' and 'chariot élévateur Clark' both get 67 ghits. It might also be a generational thing, if the ngram below corresponds to forklifts alone. I hit France in 1980 and Clark was all the rage still.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days 5 hrs (2022-07-02 20:32:40 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Re. Asker's choice of term and explanation:
I don't think Clark and Fenwick are used in the English the same way as brand names like Hoover, Sellotape, Frisbee, etc. I've certainly never heard them used.

Bourth
France
Local time: 19:06
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: F/L trucks are usually called 'Fenwick' in FR, though it might perhaps make sense for some kind of 'transpalette'?
2 mins
  -> Usually, these days at least, but not exclusively? See ngram above. Still, it would have to be a big caterer to require such a thing.
agree  philgoddard: I'm pretty sure it's some kind of lifting equipment. "Le clark frontal" gets quite a few hits: "déplacer des bobines en conduisant le clark frontal de 45 tonnes (machine lifttruck, reach stacker)".
26 mins
agree  Gabrielle Leyden: Almost certainly a forklift - that's what they call them in Belgium.
2 hrs
neutral  Wolf Draeger: A forklift seems out of sync with the rest of the list (esp the slicer in the same sentence) and an unusual piece of equipment for a catering company, as you say.
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search