Talk:гидрокостюм

The Russian term "гидрокостюм" poses difficulties for interpreters, translators and modern linguists in general. Etymologically, the word simply implies a "water suit" in meaning. Depending on type, a "гидрокостюм" can be used for surface activities other than diving, such as water skiing, aquaculture, canoeing, powerboating, i.e. anything involving working or playing on, in or under water to protect the wearer from exposure to the water or water plants and creatures.

The word "гидрокостюм" is more often than not rendered into English as "wetsuit", which may be correct most of the time because of the popularity of wetsuit use, but the term can equally apply to a drysuit, which excludes water comnpletely, while a wetsuit admits a small amount of water that then remains stagnant against the wearer's skin and is warmed up by it to body temperature, providing thermal protection.

I don't have a "mot juste" when translating "гидрокостюм" into English. All I can suggest is that "immersion suit" might be used instead wherever it is unclear whether a water-admitting wetsuit or a water-excluding dry suit is under discussion. I am not entirely happy with the rendering "immersion suit", however, as it has a particular meaning as a garment used in water rescue and when working in aquatic environments and less of a generic meaning denoting any exposure suit for water-based activities, which is what a "гидрокостюм" is.

Any thoughts? Helmardine (talk) 07:46, 15 March 2019 (UTC)