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Hi,
I'm trying to translate a german expression, but I'm not sure concerning the adjective dynamic. If I search for a translation of the german word "dynamisch", LEO gives me "dynamic", but if I search for "dynamical" there are also results shown, plus a link to a discussion with the same title as my thread has. It doesn't have a conclusion on this, besides "ask a native speaker", so I thought, I could do that here. 
The whole expression is "dynamische Untersuchungen": "dynamic(al) research/investigation". The "dynamic" describes a method in computational chemistry, where you don't calculate the static properties of some molecule, but its movement etc. over time, thus "dynamic".
Would be happy about any opinions, thanks.
Edit: Thanks for all your opinions. I'll look for other examples in this context to decide. I got my confirmation, that "dynamical" sounds strange and I'm very pleased with myself. 
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Calgary25977 Posts
I've never heard the word 'dynamical' in all my life. Google says it's a word, but it seems to overlap with 'dynamic' completely. Since they're both adjectives, I don't see any reason not to use 'dynamic'.
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Dynamic. I have never heard anyone use the word 'dynamical'; I'd guess it's limited to the mathematical concept.
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Dynamical just sounds fake and will probably make some of listeners, just like us TLers, think you are making stuff up. Even if it is a word, you'll make some of the people hearing it think that you made it up/are uneducated. Much better to stick with dynamic.
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Yeah, I can't imagine a sentence in which "dynamical" would be in lieu of "dynamic"...didn't even know it was a word.
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On January 26 2011 03:27 LaughingTulkas wrote:
Dynamical just sounds fake and will probably make some of listeners, just like us TLers, think you are making stuff up. Even if it is a word, you'll make some of the people hearing it think that you made it up/are uneducated. Much better to stick with dynamic.
This post made me cringe. Obviously this is a question concerning a paper directed towards an audience educated in this particular field, not "us TLers", and should be treated as such, meaning just because the average person doesn't know an expression exists, it may still be the only correct option in a certain context.
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There doesn't seem to be any context where that's the case, though.
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Both words are viable; make your choice depending on your target audience. You'll probably find more success with dynamical in discussions with minds well-steeped in hard maths and physics, where both words are specifically used in different contexts. In general vernacular, dynamic will do the job, but in jargon, try to look up examples of how dynamic and dynamical are used (e.g. dynamics vs kinematics, dynamical as characterizing a system) so you can get a grasp of the contexts they're appropriate in.
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On January 26 2011 03:43 InFiNitY[pG] wrote:Show nested quote +On January 26 2011 03:27 LaughingTulkas wrote:
Dynamical just sounds fake and will probably make some of listeners, just like us TLers, think you are making stuff up. Even if it is a word, you'll make some of the people hearing it think that you made it up/are uneducated. Much better to stick with dynamic. This post made me cringe. Obviously this is a question concerning a paper directed towards an audience educated in this particular field, not "us TLers", and should be treated as such, meaning just because the average person doesn't know an expression exists, it may still be the only correct option in a certain context.
I would use the word if the audience knows it is a work. If you are speaking to a group of people that study mathematics they will know that it is a word and would not think you are making it up so go nuts. Personally, I have heard of dynamical but I just stick with dynamic because it is more common and people know it is a word.
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On January 26 2011 03:51 GreEny K wrote:Show nested quote +On January 26 2011 03:43 InFiNitY[pG] wrote:On January 26 2011 03:27 LaughingTulkas wrote:
Dynamical just sounds fake and will probably make some of listeners, just like us TLers, think you are making stuff up. Even if it is a word, you'll make some of the people hearing it think that you made it up/are uneducated. Much better to stick with dynamic. This post made me cringe. Obviously this is a question concerning a paper directed towards an audience educated in this particular field, not "us TLers", and should be treated as such, meaning just because the average person doesn't know an expression exists, it may still be the only correct option in a certain context. I would use the word if the audience knows it is a work. If you are speaking to a group of people that study mathematics they will know that it is a word and would not think you are making it up so go nuts. Personally, I have heard of dynamical but I just stick with dynamic because it is more common and people know it is a word.
Yes that is exactly what I meant. If you talk to ppl studying maths, they will laugh at you when you call it "dynamic system" when the actual term in this case is "dynamical system". Of course, if your target audience does not consist of native speaking scientists going for the safer "dynamic" is the obvious choice. but when writing a dissertation or some highly scientific paper, it will (or can) make a difference which the average native speaker might not know.
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Thank you all - I'll look up some examples, "dynamical" was the suggestion of a friend and maybe it's really used in this context, but it sounds quite strange to me. As it seems, it's the same for native speakers.
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The only time I've heard dynamical is with mathematicians who deal with "dynamical systems", which is a field of mathematics. But if you say "dynamic systems" it's not like people won't know what you're talking about.
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On January 26 2011 03:23 Chill wrote:
I've never heard the word 'dynamical' in all my life. Google says it's a word, but it seems to overlap with 'dynamic' completely. Since they're both adjectives, I don't see any reason not to use 'dynamic'.
Dynamical could also refer to something about the dynamics of a situation or object.
For example a dynamical solution or approach would be something arising from understanding the dynamics of the problem. It may be dynamic, passive or neither.
A dynamical system is one that has interesting dynamics. Again the system itself may or may not be dynamic (maybe even depending on our point of view).
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Get some british people in here. Usually stuff like this is the british english / NA english difference.
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England2659 Posts
On January 26 2011 04:27 Euronyme wrote:
Get some british people in here. Usually stuff like this is the british english / NA english difference.
Dynamical is some fucking abomination of a word.
In German -> English translations, Dynamisch (or anything similar) becomes Dynamic 99 times out of a hundred.
Dynamical would essentially mean exactly the same thing but sounds completely retarded. Similar examples are: Economical and Majestical.
Americans seem more likely to add the "-al" and they're never right about the language. Seriously, it sounds stupid.
Edit: Infact, economical has a different meaning to economic.
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On January 26 2011 04:33 Flicky wrote:Show nested quote +On January 26 2011 04:27 Euronyme wrote:
Get some british people in here. Usually stuff like this is the british english / NA english difference. Dynamical is some fucking abomination of a word. In German -> English translations, Dynamisch (or anything similar) becomes Dynamic 99 times out of a hundred. Dynamical would essentially mean exactly the same thing but sounds completely retarded. Similar examples are: Economical and Majestical. Americans seem more likely to add the "-al" and they're never right about the language. Seriously, it sounds stupid. Edit: Infact, economical has a different meaning to economic.
Yes, but in some maths and sciences, they use the word "dynamical" as a descriptor as opposed to dynamic. At least that's the case here in Canada.
For example, today in my Algebra course, we looked at "Discrete dynamical systems".
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Is the "research dynamic" or is "dynamische Untersuchungen" a term to describe something very specific. So if you mention "dynamische Untersuchungen" does everyone know what exactly you mean?
If not, use dynamic
If yes, google
"Computational chemistry" and the variances "dynamic(al) research/investigation".
And try to find some work/papers which fit your topic. Use the word they use (prefer english work over foreign work).
I think "dynamical investigation" is correct, it gives results like this:
"Modeling the Photophysics and Photochromic Potential of 1,2-Dihydronaphthalene (DHN): A Combined CASPT2//CASSCF-Topological and MMVB-Dynamical Investigation"
"The dynamical investigation of protein systems is a challenging task. Among the few published works there are attempts to analyse the chaoticity of the dynamics calculating the Lyapunov exponents of the molecular trajectory"
"NMR Structural and Dynamical Investigation of the Isolated Voltage-Sensing Domain of the Potassium Channel KvAP: Implications for Voltage Gating. "
Though I personally dont have a clue, so you have to search for yourself
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I'm not sure, yet, but it doesn't really matter that much, mostly I'm just curious. Could it be, that the difference between dynamic investigation and dynamical investigation is, that not the investigation itself is dynamic, but the system (as mentioned in other posts) my investigation is about, is a dynamic one - or rather the dynamic properties of the the system are investigated, contrary to only looking at its static properties.
To differentiate between dynamic investigation as in me jumping around instead of sitting on my chair in front of the computer, and investigate a dynamic system, maybe the word dynamical is used.
Whatever - I asked someone with a little bit more experience in writing stuff like this, than me. I'll just do, what he tells me, although he's no native speaker and maybe I will just be one of the many who copy wrong translations from each other. The german version is what matters, anyway.
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I'm very sure the correct word to use is dynamic
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EPT
