Europamensch

English translation: average European

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Europamensch
English translation:average European
Entered by: Wendy Streitparth

14:03 Oct 12, 2016
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Other / Product design, standardisation, anthropometric data
German term or phrase: Europamensch
The texts concern anthropometric data used in designing things like public transport, wheelchairs, workplaces etc. German has been using a standard "Europamensch" for some time in, e.g. DIN 33402-2, and various directives on workplace ergonomics.
Here's an explanatory text:
Im Interesse einer Vereinheitlichung in Europa wird eine Definition des so genannten "Europamenschen" vorgeschlagen. Als 5. Perzentil wurde das der Südeuropäer und als 95. Perzentil das der Nordeuropäer definiert. Durch Einbeziehung von nord- und südeuropäischen Bevölkerungsdaten hat die Verteilung eine größere Breite.

I am wondering if English standards use a similar term? Is there such a thing as a Europerson? Or what term do planners and product designers use for this?
monbuckland
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:06
average European
Explanation:
Find this hard to believe, but:

Britons are more cultured than the average European, with a greater enthusiasm for opera than the Italians and a higher art gallery attendance

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q="average European"&st...

The Italians and French the most trim, while the average Briton - like the average European - is slightly over the ideal weight.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6148456.stm
Selected response from:

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 10:06
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +2average European
Wendy Streitparth
3European standard human (model)
Michael Martin, MA


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
average European


Explanation:
Find this hard to believe, but:

Britons are more cultured than the average European, with a greater enthusiasm for opera than the Italians and a higher art gallery attendance

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q="average European"&st...

The Italians and French the most trim, while the average Briton - like the average European - is slightly over the ideal weight.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6148456.stm

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 10:06
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 23
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: I think this would be ok
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, David

agree  Gudrun Wolfrath
4 days
  -> Many thanks, Gudrun
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
European standard human (model)


Explanation:
"In an effort to create a European standard human model, useful for car in industry, the model was implemented with three commercially available dynamic crash ..." https://books.google.com/books?id=xCjTSm49AuoC&pg=PA296&lpg=...

"The complete vehicle design guided by European standard human engineering can ensure the riding comfortable, and remove the fatigue of long driving." http://en.jincheng.com/newsview.asp?parentid=28&lp=3&idnum=2...


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Note added at 23 hrs (2016-10-13 13:44:12 GMT)
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Could be one of those instances where the English version needs to be more technical than the German since an informal register doesn’t seem to work in English in this case. Whereas ‘Europamensch’ can be linked to political ideas and ergonomics, ‘average European’ is a more elusive term based on casual, rather than methodical observations.

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 05:06
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  David Hollywood: a bit wordy
11 hrs
  -> Yes but may be difficult to avoid. See added note.
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