THE PROCESS OF TRANSLATION

Prof. Ivette Sánchez

THE PROCESS OF TRANSLATION

INTRODUCTION:

The basic elements in a translation are:

The textThe source languageThe target languageThe translator

SPECIFIC ELEMENTS IN THE COMMUNICATIVE PROCESS:

SENDER (SPEAKER / WRITER)

RECEIVER (HEARER / READER)

TOPIC (INFORMATION)

COMMUNICATION MODEL

Analysis of the previous example of a communicative model

Is there a situation in which you have a person transmitting a message?

Is there a person receiving the message?

Are they communicating?

Is it oral or written communication?

If oral, is there a dialogue going on?

Can dialogues happen only in oral communication?

How can one solve oral or written miscommunication?

GRASPING MEANING WHEN TRANSLATING A TEXT

There is immediate feedback in oral communication, right?

How do we start solving this in written communication? How do we know if we understand the written message to interpret it into another language?

Is it fundamental to grasp meaning when translating a text?

What do we do to solve “real” communication, to minimize miscommunication in written texts?

Remember! There is no instant feedback for instant verification!

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS The use of language to

communicate for specific purposes; the “real” meaning behind a word or grammatical structure when placed in a context, i.e. language used strategically, for specific purposes.

Examples of the use of language for specific purposes

When translating from English into Spanish or vice versa:The many linguistic, formal or informal, ways to “agree” or “disagree,” to express “likes” and “dislikes ,” to “predict,” “to summarize,” to greet and to introduce,” “to ask questions,” “to persuade,” “to compare or contrast,” “to express cause and effect” and “to sequence events.”

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS CLASSIFICATION

INFORMATIVE FUNCTION: To convey information to convince the reader. To use descriptive, declarative or informative language forms. The main object is to provide information about a given topic.

EXPRESSIVE FUNCTION: To use effective or emotive forms, mainly expressing the speaker's state of mind or feeling.

VOCATIVE/DIRECTIVE FUNCTION: imperative form, primarily seeking to bring out certain behavior in the hearer

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Together with a study of the elements found in the Model of Communication and language functions previously discussed here, the understanding of text types greatly contributes to pinpointing a text’s meaning through an analysis of “the seven standards of textuality – Cohesion, Coherence, Intentionality, Acceptability, Informativity, Situationality and Intertextuality” of a specific text.

TEXT-TYPE No. 1: NARRATIVEThis text is used to talk

about characters, plots, settings, themes through vocabulary, idioms figures of speech, different registers, etc. all contributing to transmitting an experience, real or imaginary.

Examples:Literary genres: adventures, mysteries, fiction, non-fiction, myths, playscripts, fables, tales, film narratives,poetry and others.

TEXT-TYPE No. 2: DESCRIPTIVE

This text-type describes the characteristics of a person, object, image or place. This type of text enables the reader to see, to feel, to hear, to smell and to taste what the author has seen, felt, heard, smelt and tasted.

Examples: A descriptive essay may talk about a physical appearance, appeal to our sense of smell before moving on to describe the layout and contents of the room or to any number of things.

TEXT TYPE No. 3: Argumentative

It uses reasoned, logical evidence provided as proof for assertions or claims. The author’s intention is to persuade the reader to change his/her mind, to agree with him/her.

Examples: Claim letters, legal documents, debates, ads.

TEXT TYPE No. 4: EXPLANATORY /INSTRUCTIVE It is a text that gives

procedures, talks about processes, tells the reader what to do and how to do it, includes information about causes, motives or reasons.

Examples: Manuals, summaries,

reports, recipes, addresses, letters of instructions, commercial and political propaganda, regulations, rules etc.

TEXT TYPES No. 5: EXPOSITIVE

Objects and ideas are explained in their interrelationships. It is information-based;

details and steps are given in chronological order.

Some common examples are:

Textbooks News articles Instruction manuals Recipes City or country guides Language books Self-help books

3 BASIC LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS + TEXT TYPES:

INFORMATIVE: Translated into prose with expansions and explanations where necessary (paraphrasing) to include its level of reality to complete or secure the reader’s understanding. The text is structured primarily on the semantic-syntactic level.

Naturalness is essential.

- REFERENCE BOOK REPORTS- TECHNICAL TEXTS: OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

(MANUALS) - LECTURES

EXPRESSIVE TEXTS: THE TRANSLATOR MUST IDENTIFY WITH THE TEXT

TYPE AND ITS INNOVATIVE CONTENT.

The SL text is doubly structured: first, on the syntactic-semantic level, and secondly, on the level of its artistic organization. Mostly deviating from naturalness, from ordinary language; thus, its (reproduction) translation should reflect this.

Its level of formality or colloquialisms must be kept to maintain the register or tone if so desired by the author.

INSTITUTIONAL TEXTS: - TOURISTS BROCHURES - BIOGRAPHIES- OFFICIAL SPEECHES - PLAYS, POEMS

TEXT TYPESVOCATIVE: The translator must adapt him/herself to the SL Text to

make the TL reader react according to the writer’s intention and level of reality.

The text is doubly, or even triply structured: on the semantic-syntactic level, (in some circumstances, but not necessarily, on the level of artistic organization,) and on the level of persuasion.

TYPES OF TEXTS:- SERMONS - ELECTORAL SPEECHES- ADVERTISEMENTS - Literary texts

Two basic ways to deal with “real” communication when translating:

Approach N° 1:

Step N° 1: Translate first two paragraphs

WORD FOR WORD SENTENCE BY SENTENCEWhy?

To get the feel and feeling tone of the text.

Through this approach, you are relying solely on your lexical and structure knowledge. (Frequent use of dictionary)

Step N°2: Review the translation.Step N°3: Read the rest of the SL

text DANGER: Time-wasting

because of too much revision

Approach N° 2:

Step N°1: Read the whole text 2/3 times before translating.

Why?To look for: language function (purpose, register, tone, etc.) text type + mark the different (difficult) words and passages, INTERPRETATION to UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE FUNCTION AND TEXT TYPE.

Through this approach, you trust your power of analysis, CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE and CONTEXTS.

Step N°2: Start translating when you feel you understand the text well enough to transmit the author’s intention.

DANGER: More mechanical.

TEXT VARIETIES: LETTER MODELS

INFORMATIVE TYPE: Private letter about a personal

matter

EXPRESSIVE TYPE: Epistolary novel letter

VOCATIVE TYPE: Begging letter

A FUNCTIONAL THEORY OF TRANSLATINGFirst: It depends on the type of text.

Second: > Semantic Translation (Translation at the author’s level)

vs.

> Communicative Translation (Translation at the readership’s level)

Third: FRAME OF REFERENCE: A LARGE NUMBER OF GENERALISATIONS OF TRANSLATION PROBLEMS +

CONTEXTUAL FACTORS + TRANSLATIONS PROCEDURES

THEORY OF TRANSLATING: 4 LEVELS1) Text level 2) Referential level3) Cohesive level 4) Naturalness level

An operational procedure: 4 (conscious or unconscious) levels

The SL text: (The language level: its linguistic aspects (chosen grammar, vocabulary, register, etc.)

The Referential level: (What is actually being transmitted in the text? Why? For what reason, on what grounds, for what purpose?)

An essential part for comprehension and reproduction

The Cohesive level: (presents an overall picture) grammatical + the presuppositions of the SL text

The level of naturalness (It has to sound like English, and it has to sound like Spanish.)

T H E T E X T UA L L E V E L

THE BASE LEVEL (The first and last level)

SOMETIMES THE LEVEL OF THE WORD-FOR-WORD TRANSLATION OR LITERAL TRANSLATION OF THE SL INTO THE TL.

THE LEVEL OF TRANSLATIONESE (Most of the time incomprehensible)

THE COHESIVE LEVEL 1st LEVEL: TEXT STRUCTURE DEPENDING

ON ITS LANGUAGE FUNCTION AND TEXT TYPE. (Use of connective words, transitional words,

punctuation mark, etc.)

2nd LEVEL: TEXT MOOD (Positive, Negative or Neutral mood)

NEWMARK’S 3RD LEVEL: the connective and the feeling level --- Lengths of paragraphs, sentences, formulation of titles, the tone of the conclusion

THE LEVEL OF NATURALNESS TRANSLATIONS MUST MAKE SENSE TRANSLATIONS MUST READ NATURALLY

AS A TRANSLATOR: MAKE DECISIONS ON TYPE OF LANGUAGE

ACCORDING TO THE ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNICATION MODEL, LANGUAGE LEVEL AND TYPE OF TEXT OR TOPIC.

USE OF VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TO TRANSMIT “EXACT” MESSAGE.

COMMUNICATION MODEL

THE REFERENTIAL LEVEL THREE BASIC

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS:

-What’s going on in these pictures?-What do you see that makes you say that?-What more can you find?-Which one is it?-What other information do we need to determine what the topic is about?

How do you get the feeling for naturalness, both as a foreigner and as a native speaker? (Peter Newmark)

1) Read representative texts.

3) Check and cross-check words and expressions in an updated dictionary

2) Talk with representative TL speakers.

4) Note any suspicious word or half-taken for granted.

Natural usage comprises a variety of idioms/styles/registers determined by:1) The ‘setting’: the place it is

published or found. Which variety of language is it—natural,

ordinary or basic? The quality of the language used?

‘Would you ever see this type of usage in The Times?’ (Natural usage)

Ordinary usage: plain non-technical idiom.

Basic usage: easily understood, between formal and informal, most frequent syntax and lexie.

2) The author, topic and readership

The individual style or idiolect of the author, his/her standards

The intention of the text and the manner of development of the topic

The type of readership: the expert, the educated, middle-class layman or the uninformed reader

THE APPROACHES:APPROACH No. 1 (2 ways)

1) Word-for-word translation, where each word has an equivalent linguistic unit with its sometimes numerous equivalent lexical entries. (Word equivalence)

2) Literal translation, where sentence-for- sentence is translated and the syntax is adapted to the TT. (Grammatical equivalence)

APPROACH NO. 2

1) Holistic translation, where the whole text is first read and analyzed looking for intention, register, tone and marking cultural and linguistic differences/ difficulties in words and passages

(a total communicative event content, meaning + effect equivalence)

Let’s apply what has been discussed here to the following example.