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The process of translating Translation, as perceived in this workshop, is a process during which the translator: a) makes a number of decisions on how to interpret the source text (ST); b) uses resources and apply technical skills to render the text in the target language; and c) re-expresses that meaning in the target text (TT); i.e. the translation.
In popular belief, to translate, a person only needs: Reasonable knowledge of a foreign language And a few good dictionaries For some, translating is an intuitive process that is based on the translators creative capability. On the opposite extreme, there are those who believe that only specialists like lawyers or scientists can translate. Those who make these assertions fail to make a distinction between factual knowledge and procedural knowledge.
Factual knowledge is the knowledge of special fields Special terminology Resources available Foreign languages Factual knowledge is essential but not enough. Translators also need procedural knowledge. Procedural knowledge relates to some kind of method or procedure to help the translator in seizing the meaning of the ST and re-expressing that meaning in the TT.
Basically, a translator has two options for translating: 1. Direct or literal translation 1. Oblique translation There are several translation techniques available under each option.
Procedural Knowledge: Options for translation 1. Direct or literal translation 2. Oblique translation Are these approaches applicable to the translation of legal texts?
Direct translation
Oblique translation
There comes a time when direct translation techniques would not work because: 1. They are structurally impossible 2. The target language does not have a corresponding expression And the generated text would have: 1. a different meaning 2. no meaning 3. a foreign structure
Oblique translation
Compare:
He looked at the map. Mir el mapa He looked the picture of health. Era la imagen misma de la salud. (Back-translation: He was the image of health itself.) Il paraissait limage de la sant. Il avait lair en pleine forme (Back-translation: He was the image of health itself. He seemed in good shape.) I have a headache Me duele la cabeza
I me Have duele (verb) Cabeza head
Both English and Spanish have the corresponding elements for me, dolor and cabeza.
But the structure of the statement is different in the two languages. A direct translation is no longer possible. The translator needs to use oblique translation techniques.
Both borrowing and calque may become lexicalized (fixed) in the TL over time. Science fiction ciencia ficcin; Carburator carburador Menu men
In the legal field, structural calque oftentimes arises from oversight of the morpho-syntactic structure of both SL and TL.
As used in this section, "serious violent felon" means a person who has been convicted of: attempting to commit or conspiring to commit a serious violent felony tratar de cometer un delito mayor de carcter extremadamente violento o confabular para ello (Back translation Attempting to commit a serious violent felony or conspiring to do do.)
Public servants should be held accountable for their management of public goods. Debe responsabilizarse a los funcionarios pblicos por el manejo de los bienes pblicos. The use of the pronominal passive allows a rendition that does not indicate the subject of the sentence, like in the ST. From a stylistic view point the transposed expression does not have the same value, but the meaning is the same.
Transposed expressions are generally more literary in character. It is important to choose the form that best fits the context.
Transposition can be: Free: When the transposition used depends mostly on context and desired effect. The course is of interest to all of us. El curso nos interesa a todos (nosotros). (Back-translation: The course interests all of us) Compulsory: When only a transposition is acceptable.
I will never forget the time when I got lost in the market. Nunca olvidar la vez que me perd en el mercado.
(Back-translation: I will never forget the time that I got lost in the market.)
Types of transposition
Adverb verb I only defended myself. No hice sino defenderme (Back-translation I did nothing but defend myself.) Adverb noun I wrote to you early this year. Le escrib a principios de ao. (Back-translation I wrote to you at the beginning of the year) Adverb adjective He lives precariously Lleva una vida precaria. (Back-translation He leads a precarious life)
A variation of the form of the message obtained by a change in the point of view. Although the main characteristic of modulation is a change of point of view, it may involve also a change of grammatical categories.
It is used when the other techniques would generate a text that is grammatically correct, but unsuitable, not idiomatic, or awkward.
Modulation can be: Free It is not difficult to show Es fcil demostrar (Back-translation it is easy to show) Remember Recuerda, or No olvides (if it fits the context better) (Back-translation Remember; do not forget)
Modulation is a technique that experienced translators use to produce an accurate and idiomatic text. It requires an excellent knowledge of both languages involved in the translation. This includes knowing the mechanics of the language. For example: 1. The manner in which negative and positive formulations are used in the two languages. Do not enter. Se prohibe entrar. Dfense dentrer. 2. The general register of the language. For example French and Spanish tend to use more intellectual terms than English. Eye doctor oftamlogo; bird watching ornitologa; dog show exposicin canina 3. Use of the passive voice. 4. The greater the structural difference between the two languages the greater the challenges for the translator
Types of modulation Most of the types are based on metonymy: e.g. referring to a concept by an attribute of it. For example; the crown referring to a monarch or Washington to refer to the United States government. 1. Abstract Concrete or General Particular I havent heard a word from him No he tenido noticias suyas (Back-translation: I have not had news from him.)
2. Explanatory modulation: cause effect Like a deer in the headlights. Quedarse paralizado (Back-translation: remain paralyzed) Blind flying vuelo sin visibilidad (Back-translation: flight without visibility) means result, or viceversa Ill drive you home Te llevar a casa en [mi] auto (Back-translation: Ill take you to your house in [my] car) substance object Brain drain xodo de especialistas (double modulation) (Back-translation: the exodus of experts)
2. Explanatory modulation (continued): A part the whole The cathedrals ceiling draws the eye as soon as one enters. El techo de la catedral atrae la vista al entrar. (Back-translation: The cathedrals ceiling draws the view.) A part another part I know the city like the back of my hand. Conozco la ciudad como la palma de la mano. (Back-translation: I know the city like the palm of my hand.) Hand to hand combat Combate cuerpo a cuerpo (Back-translation: body to body combat.)
2. Explanatory modulation (continued): Term reversal This cage cannot hold an animal this size. Un animal de ese tamao no cabr en esta jaula. (Back-translation: An animal this size will not fit in this cage.) Negative contrast Make sure you call us every week. No olvides llamarnos todas las semanas. (Back-translation: Dont forget to call us all of the weeks.) Active voice passive voice (and vice-versa) The votes (in an election) were counted. Se contaron los votos. (impersonal form)
2. Explanatory modulation (continued): Space Time In grammar school I was very shy. Cuando asista a la primaria era muy tmido. (Back-translation: When I was attending elementary school.) Intervals and boundaries (in time and space)
A. In time: See you in a week Nos vemos de hoy en ocho. (Backtranslation: Well see each other in eight days from today.)
B. In space: No parking between signs Lmite del estacionamiento (Back-translation: Limit of parking.) Change of symbol He earns an honest dollar. Se gana la vida honradamente. (Backtranslation: He earns an honest living.)
Sensory modulation
A heavy coat un abrigo grueso (Back-translation: A thick coat) A goldfish un pececito (rojo) (Back translation: a little red fish) In short, modulation is the technique that leads to a solution that makes the reader - or the translator exclaim, Yes, thats exactly what you would say.
6. Equivalence Used to render expressions using different stylistic and structural methods. Most equivalences are fixed, and include idioms, clichs, proverbs, nominal or adjectival phrases, onomatopoeia, etc. Stop splitting hairs Deja de buscarle cinco patas al gato (Back-translation: Stop looking for five legs in a cat) Challenge: To recognize that the expression to be translated is an idiom / proverb; to know the equivalent expression in the T.L. Equivalence also refers to fixed (lexicalized) terms, such as terminology of a field of knowledge.
7. Adaptation Used when the limit to translation is been reached, i.e. when a simple translation would not work or it would produce a result that is shocking in the target language and culture. Titles of books, movies, and characters often fit into this category Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Dos hombres y un destino. (Back-translation: Two men and a destiny)
1. Concretization or differentiation generalization (Fawcett) Abstract Concrete or General Particular modulation Hermanos brothers and sister, siblings (depending on context and desired effect) 2. Paraphrasing Used when there is no equivalent in the target language
2. Paraphrasing Translation does not mean explaining or commenting on a text, or writing it in our own way. Paraphrasing, according to Vsquez-Ayora, cannot be a translation method because using it the text loses its characteristics. Too many explanations destroys the conciseness of the work and makes it subject to the same distortions of its counterpart literal translation.
3. Logical derivation
Cause effect modulation (logical modulation, according to Fawcett)
Shorter [fewer] working hours (hours have become fewer as a result of some action taken) Disminucin / reduccin de las horas / semana de trabajo (Result of the action taken)
(Back-translation: reduction in working time / working week)
Direct or literal translation techniques: Borrowings: borrowing from the source language a term or concept to overcome a lacuna in the target language or to create a stylistic effect. SUSHI, SAUERKRAUT, PIZZA Calque: a special type of borrowing, consisting of borrowing an expression from the source language and translating literally each element. Calque can be either lexical. CARBURATOR CARBURADOR CARBURATEUR or structural MAYO 5, INSTEAD OF 5 DE MAYO Literal translation: the direct transfer of the source text into the target language in a grammatically and idiomatically proper way. GOOD MORNING BUENOS DIAS
Transposition: replacing words from one grammatical word class with another without changing the meaning of the message. RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY IS VERY IMPORTANT RECONSTRUCTING THE CITY IS VERY IMPORTANT, TO RECONSTRUCT THE CITY IS VERY IMPORTANT Modulation: changing the point of view without changing the meaning of the message. (Vinay and Darbelnet identified 10 different types of modulation. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT IT IS EASY Equivalence: generally refers to the commonly accepted and used equivalents of idioms, proverbs, idiomatic expression and lexicalized terms, i.e. terms commonly accepted as equivalents of a source language term. STOP SPLITTING HAIRS DEJA DE BUSCARLE CINCO PATAS AL GATO. BACK TRANSLATION: STOP LOOKING FOR FIVE LEGS IN A CAT. Adaptation: adapting a source language situation when it does not exist in the target language or would be considered inappropriate in the target culture. THE SOUND OF MUSIC SONRISAS Y LGRIMAS BACK-TRANSLATION: SMILES AND TEARS
REFERENCES
FAWCETT, Peter (1997). Translation and Language, Manchester, UK: St Jerome. MOLINA, Luca and HURTADO ALVIR, Amparo. Translation Techniques Revisited: A Functional and Dynamic Approach. Mta, XLVII, 4, 2004, pp.498-512. http://www.erudit.org/revue/meta/2002/v47/n4/008033ar.pdf Meta : Journal des traducteurs, deals with all aspects of translation and interpretation: translation studies (theories of translation), teaching translation, interpretation research, stylistics, comparative terminological studies, computerassisted translation (machine translation), documentation. Full-text articles, free of charge in many cases, are featuread in the following link: http://www.erudit.org/revue/meta/ Sager, Juan C and M.-J. Hamel (tranls) (2000). Jean-Paul Vinay and Jean Darbelnet. A Method for Translation, in Lawrence Venuti (ed.) The Translation Studies Reader, London: Routledge: 85-93. Vazquez-Ayora Gerardo (1977). Introduccin a la traductologa, Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University. VINAY, J. P. et J. Darbelnet (1958). Stylistique compare du franais et de langlais, Montral: Beauchemin
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