James (Jim) Davis Feb 10, 2011:

Hi Claudia I trust your expertise, but I also question and investigate anything and everything. My feeling is that the international press manager you talk of should do the same, I have learnt and was taught that the only absolute authority in linguistics is usage. Ps if you think this is boring you should see my translation ;-) Oh well, back to the grind.

Claudia Cherici Feb 10, 2011:

last remark from me Jim, I'm getting bored. My entry was not even meant for you. If you don't trust my expertise, I can ask the international press manager of a world-wide manufacturer to contact you, explaining why their translation guidelines include 'motorbike' among the forbidden words. If you wish to trust the 'highly specialized' google search tool, up to you. ciao ciao

James (Jim) Davis Feb 10, 2011:

Tranlsator research viewpoint Just googling on Google dot com, not dot it, this result surprised me.
GP bike gets only 7 million Ghits
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=GP bike&aq=f&a...

compared to 26 million for GP motorbike
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=GP motorbike&i...

The "motor cycle" advertisers are obviously out of tune with their market, at least in the English speaking world. Clearly they will sell better if they use the same language as their customers.

Claudia Cherici Feb 10, 2011:

Point taken, too My viewpoint is that of a translator who works in field and has done so for many, many years. Then again, you can call them whatever you like! It also depends on the bikes, an 'easyrider'-type model is more of a 'motorbike than', say, a GP replica...

James (Jim) Davis Feb 10, 2011:

Point taken My viewpoint is that of a consumer. I buy motorbikes and that is term I like to see and use and I'm not that old (think easyrider and the seventies).

Claudia Cherici Feb 10, 2011:

fifties etc. Jim, I have nothing against Fifties bikes! that's not what I was saying. also, I wasn't saying that motor bike does not exist. I was just trying to share some expertise in a field I know well. I hope Nicholas appreciates....

James (Jim) Davis Feb 10, 2011:

fifties cafe "motorbikes" are great and very popular
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q="motorbike" ca...

Also "motorbikes" get no less than 123 million Ghits.
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q="motor...

Claudia Cherici Feb 10, 2011:

motor bike hello Nicholas, I advise you not to translate moto with motor bike. Just bike or motorcycle are preferable. I have been translating for major motorcycle engineering companies for many years and the general consensus is that motor bike has an old fashioned, Fifties' ring to it...

James (Jim) Davis Feb 10, 2011:

@Raffaela To either one or the other, or both or to none :).

R.C. (X) Feb 10, 2011:

e mo' a chi lo dò io il mio agreement?