Mixed paragraph

This kind of arrangement is a bit faculty. The 2^nd sentence can exist without the 1^st one. Subordination & coordination represent a special kind of ties, gluing the sentences together. But the next example will show that it’s not enough & there are special connectives. We may use all sorts of special phrases (two by two; the really critical problems solved, they…etc.)

When we write a text we should take care of such things as redundancy, if it does not serve the purpose of effectiveness. The opposite notion is compression.

* We expect John to return from his journey today. When I looked out of the window half an hour ago I saw the lights of his flat are on. Of course it might have been Paul who was there – I know he has the key. But since I am not sure that Paul is in town, John had possibly arrived.

We could use Present perfect, but it’s wrong from the point of view of information the author wanted to convey. Due to the lack of past perfect in Russian we should use such means, which convey this idea logically.

Sometimes the removal of redundancy is possible due to the peculiarities of the language.

*We find it difficult to hear the distinctions, which are of importance in the foreign language but not in our own. We find it difficult to pronounce sounds of the foreign language with which we are not familiar. The Frenchman trying to speak English will have difficulty with our “” & “” because the sound doesn’t occur in his language. He may say “z” instead of “”because it’s familiar to him. – Трудно различать в иностранном языке то, что не различается в родном, например, произносить незнакомые звуки. Французу трудно произносить непривычный звук “” и он, скорее всего, заменит его на знакомый “z”.

We do not have to impose the rules of one language on the structural patterns of another. Instead of repeating the same structure we use connective, typical of the TL.

Language minimalism & the motto “remove redundancy” may be applied only as a result of special analysis. This happens because not all given information may be considered unnecessary to mention again. Redundancy may be saved for stylistic a purpose, that’s why it should be preserved.

* Я вас люблю любовью страстной – I love you with the passion of love

The translation can be done without a thorough analysis of a passage. But then we should use a skeleton. The skeleton of the text may be done both in the SL & in the TL. For an experienced translator the SL is more preferable, because it’s not the skeleton he is going to reproduce, but rearranged text in the TL.

Once a passage has been thoroughly understood and its essential points noted, then it’s time to write down a text of your own which is the translation. There are certain techniques to make the text most effective: compression and suppression.

Compression – rendering the same meaning economically, removing redundancy, making the meaning vivid by using the potential qualities of the language.

• Making phrase do the work of clauses and sentences.

Вскоре, после того как мы приехали… – shortly upon our arrival…

• Telescoping two o more sentences into one.

Уж лучше я останусь дома. Не хочется мокнуть. – I’d rather stay at home than get wet.

• Using single words instead of word combinations.

Нимало не убоявшись трудностей – undaunted.

• Using the shortest possible link to give the required “continuous connection of ideas” or semi-colon (punctuation).

Suppression is used on the context level.

1. Content redundancy must be eliminated.

2. Examples of the original passage can be suppressed and replaced by or grouped under generic terms or general definitions.

3. The interpreter should suppress anything, which s/he considers unimportant or immaterial.

4. Figurative language is unsuitable for an interpreter. Figures of speech are ornaments and must be discarded for economy’s sake.