Initiation into Translation

Initiation into Translation1st year

2013 - 2014Translation techniques: Universal types Translation technique vs translation strategy vs translation method

Method: refers to the way a particular translation process is carried out in terms of the translators objective, i.e., a global option that affects the whole text.

interpretative-communicative (translation of the sense), literal (linguistic transcodification), free (modification of semiotic and communicative categories) and philological (academic or critical translation). Strategies: are the procedures (conscious or unconscious, verbal or nonverbal) used by the translator to solve problems that emerge when carrying out the translation process with a particular objective in mind.

Translators use strategies for comprehension (e.g., distinguish main and secondary ideas, establish conceptual relationships, search for information) and for reformulation (e.g., paraphrase, retranslate, say out loud, avoid words that are close to the original).

Techniques: procedures to analyse and classify how translation equivalence works. They have five basic characteristics:

1) They affect the result of the translation

2) They are classified by comparison with the original

3) They affect micro-units of text

4) They are by nature discursive and contextual

5) They are functional.

SL: source language

ST: source text

TL: target language

TT: target text

1. Loan transfer/ BorrowingTo take a word or expression straight from the source language text (ST). McWrap, glossy, selfie, metrosexual, nicotini, etc

NOT: Cheeseburger, soft (ware), kilt; miting, fotbal, hochei, etc

2. Loan translation/ Calque

Literal translation of a foreign word or phrase; it can be lexical or structural iron curtain, Autoservire

3. Literal translation

To translate (a word or) an expression word for word We play handball. Psrile zboar. Suntem devastai de aceast pierdere.4. Transposition

To change the SL grammatical category in the TL.

In the early 19th century

Jean successfully dealt with the situation.

It is popularly believed that...

5. Modulation To change the point of view, focus or cognitive category in relation to the ST.

dress rehearsal

repetiie general

take French leave

clear ones throat

as white as a sheet

as old as hills

vechi de cand lumea She is rather plain.-

Nu e prea frumoas.6. (Established) Equivalence

To use a term or expression recognized (by dictionaries or language in use) as an equivalent in the TL.

Nu se auzea nici musca La Patele cailor-

When pigs fly

You could have knocked me down with a feather-

Am rmas masc/ lamp7. Adaptation

To replace a ST cultural element with one from the target culture. Baseball

Mmliga8. Explicitation To introduce details that are not formulated in the ST: information, explicative paraphrasing. tefan cel Mare the (famous) Moldavian prince tefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great 9. Description To replace a term or expression with a description of its form or/and function.

sherry cobblerbutur din vin de Xeres, lmie i zahr

10. Generalisation vs 11.Particularisation

To use a more general or neutral term vs

To use a more precise or concrete term.Ghieu > window

Window > ghieu 12. Linguistic amplification vs

13. Linguistic compression

To add linguistic elements vs To synthesize linguistic elements in the TT.

No way! > n niciun caz! n niciun caz! > No way! Aixela, J. F. 1996. Culture-Specific Items in Translation in Translation, Power, Subversion. Alvarez & Vidal (eds.). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, pp. 52-78, apud Dimitriu, 2002

Dumitriu, R. 2002. Theories and practice of translation. Iai: Institutul European

Molina L. and A. Hurtado Albir. 2002. Translation Techniques Revisited: A Dynamic and Functionalist Approach in Meta: Translators' Journal, vol. 47 no. 4, pp. 498-512

Vinay, J.P. & J. Darbelnet. 1996. Comparative Stylistics of French and English. A methodology for translation. Amsterdam/ Philadelphia: John Benjamins