- •The Theory and the Craft of Translation
- •The Translation Process
- •Equivalence and Adequacy in Translation
- •The Translation of Word Combinations
- •Grammatical Aspects of Translation
- •Translation and the Problems of Style
- •Classification of Translation Techniques
- •The Theory and the Craft of Translation
- •Is Translation an Art or a Craft?
- •2. The Theory of Translation as a Linguistic Science
- •3. Translation Studies as an Academic Discipline
- •3. A Brief History of Translation
- •4. Ethics of Translation
- •5. Criteria for Assessing the Translator’s Competence
- •The Translation Process
- •1. Classification of the Types (Methods) of Translation
- •2. Translation Strategy
- •3. Stages of Translating Process
- •4. The Problem of the Unit of Translation (ut)
- •Equivalence and Adequacy in Translation
- •1. A Brief Outline of Approaches to Defining Equivalence in Translation
- •III. Mona Baker distinguishes between:
- •2. Semantic Correspondence
- •3. Translation of Internationalisms (Borrowings) and the Problem of False Friends
- •Internationalisms (Borrowings)
- •The Translation of Word Combinations
- •1. The Translation of Free Word Combination
- •2. The Translation of Bound Word Combinations
- •Grammatical Aspects of Translation
- •1. Ways of Translating the Passive Voice
- •2. Ways of Translating Modal Verbs
- •3. Ways of Translating the Subjunctive Mood
- •4. Ways of Translating the Non-Finite Forms of the Verb
- •5. Translation Problems of Syntactical Stylistic Devices
- •Translation and the Problems of Style
- •1. Definition of Style
- •2. Classification of Functional Styles
- •3. Translation Problems of Lexical Stylistic Devices
- •Classification of Translation Techniques
- •1. Lexical translation techniques
- •2. Contextual Replacements
- •1. Lexical Translation Techniques
- •2. Contextual Replacements
- •3. Grammatical Transformations
- •The Translation of Word Combinations
- •Grammatical aspects of translation
- •Translation: Working Procedures Part I
- •Part II
- •Переславль-Залесский и московские художники
- •20. Ways of translating the passive voice
- •22. Ways of translating modal verbs
- •33. Translation problems of lexical stylistic devices
2. The Translation of Bound Word Combinations
English bound word-combinations are divided into set-phrases and figurative phraseological units (idioms).
Set expression is any expression which offers a ready-made way of saying something. (Oxford Concise Dictionary of Linguistics, p. 141) For example, to earn one's living - зарабатывать на жизнь; by the way - кстати, между прочим, etc. It should be noted that such word combinations don’t present any difficulty for the translator.
The problem usually arises when translating phraseological units (or idioms). As a rule, they produce “a considerable expressive effect for, besides conveying information, they appeal to the reader’s emotions, his aesthetic perception, his literary and cultural associations. Whenever the author of the source text uses a phraseological unit, it is the translator’s duty to try and reproduce it with the utmost fidelity”. (Olga Churilova, http://passexam.cc.ua/handling-phraseological-units/)
Idiom is an expression which functions as a single unit and whose meaning cannot be worked out from its separate parts. (Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, p. 246)
We distinguish between two types of idioms: phraseological fusions (фразеологическое сращение) and phraseological unities.
Type of idiom |
Example |
Translation |
Phraseological fusions are word combinations whose meaning cannot be derived from the meaning of their elements. |
Even in the 1969s, when the fashion was democratized and everyone claimed the right to be stylish, the marketers had the upper hand. |
Даже в 1960-е, когда мода стала демократичнее и каждый считал, что он имеет право выглядеть стильно, последнее слово все равно оставалось за маркетологами. |
Phraseological unities are word combinations whose meaning is partially dependent on the meaning of their individual words. (Dubrovin, A Book of Russian Idioms Illustrated, p. 5) |
The actual use of the bomb in cold blood on Hiroshima is the most horrible single act so far performed. (C. P. Snow, ‘The New Men’, part IV, ch. 27) |
Атомную бомбу сбросили на Хиросиму вполне хладнокровно; это самое ужасное преступление, какое только можно себе представить. |
In the majority of cases it is impossible to translate idioms literally. Many linguists and translators have characterized as ‘untranslatables’. As a rule they have their equivalents in the TL. But there are a number of idioms with complete or partial correspondence in both languages.
The Ways of Translating Idioms
By means of the equivalent |
By means of the analog |
By means of the TL idiom which is identical to the SL idiom in all aspects of its semantics (absolute equivalent). Ex: to play with fire (to be involved in something risky) - играть с огнём, рисковать |
By means of the corresponding TL equivalent, when different imagery is used to convey the same idea. Ex: a free hand - полная свобода действий Usually, however, Lincoln left his generals a pretty free hand in such matters. (W. Foster, ‘The Negro People in American History’, ch. 25)
Впрочем, обычно Линкольн предоставлял своим генералам значительную свободу действий в подобных делах. |
By means of the TL idiom which coincides with the SL idiom in meaning and style, but differs in some lexical or grammatical aspects such as word-order, word-form, etc. (relative equivalent). Ex: drop sb. a line - черкнуть словечко, черкнуть несколько строк. I’ll drop you a line as soon as I get there.
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If an idiom doesn’t have an equivalent in the TL, it can be translated by means of: 1) literal translation or calque Ex: vanity fair - ярмарка тщеславия, базар житейской суеты [выражение впервые встречается в книге Дж. Беньяна "Странствие пилигрима"; название известного романа У. Теккерея] Had he not been so great a prince very few possibly would have visited him; but in Vanity Fair the sins of very great personages are looked at indulgently. (W. Thackeray, ‘Vanity Fair’, ch. XLVII) Если бы лорд Стайн не был таким знатным вельможей, очень немногие посещали бы его, но на Ярмарке Тщеславия снисходительно смотрят на грехи великих особ. 2) by means of descriptive translation (explicating the figurative meaning of the SL idiom) Ex: to have one’s cake and eat it too (to enjoy both of two desirable but incompatible alternatives) - совмещать несовместимое |
Lecture 5