Initiation into Translation1st year2013 - 2014

Translation techniques: Universal typesTranslation 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 translation2) They are classified by comparison with the original3) They affect micro-units of text4) They are by nature discursive and contextual5) They are functional.

SL: source language

ST: source text

TL: target language

TT: target text

Translation techniques: Universal types

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/ CalqueLiteral translation of a foreign word or phrase; it can be lexical or structural

iron curtain, Autoservire

Suntem devastai de aceast pierdere.

3. Literal translationTo translate (a word or) an expression word for word

We play handball.

Psrile zboar.

4. TranspositionTo 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. ModulationTo change the point of view, focus or cognitive category in relation to the ST.

dress rehearsal repetiie generaltake French leaveclear ones throatas white as a sheetas old as hills vechi de cand lumeaShe is rather plain.-Nu e prea frumoas.

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

Nu se auzea nici muscaLa Patele cailor-When pigs flyYou could have knocked me down with a feather-Am rmas masc/ lamp

7. AdaptationTo replace a ST cultural element with one from the target culture.

Baseball

Mmliga

8. ExplicitationTo 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. DescriptionTo 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.ParticularisationTo use a more general or neutral term vs To use a more precise or concrete term.

Ghieu > windowWindow > 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