- •Theory of translation Topic 2 Lexical Translation Techniques
- •Read the information, be ready to speak about generalization, provide your own examples:
- •Read the sentences and say which of the synonyms should be used in them (each synonym is to be used only once). Explain your choice by specifying the differential seme responsible for the meaning.
- •Translate the sentences into Russian. Say what translation techniques you used to render the meaning of the synonyms.
- •Study the information, be ready to speak about modulation, provide your own examples:
- •Translate the sentences into Russian using the translation techniques suggested.
- •Study the information and be ready to discuss transliteration and transcription, provide your own examples.
- •Translate the following names a) if they are the names of biblical personages, b) if they are the names of real people. Comment on the translation techniques you used
- •Use loan translation to render the meaning of the following words and phrases.
- •Translate the sentences into the tl using explication or implication.
- •Translate the sentences into the tl using commentary if necessary.
- •Read the information and prepare to discuss metaphorization, demetaphorization, emphatization, and neutralization. Provide your own examples.
- •Translate the sentences into the tl and comment on the transformations.
- •Study the information and get ready to discuss compensation. Provide your own examples.
- •Match the terms denoting translation techniques with their Russian equivalents.
Read the information, be ready to speak about generalization, provide your own examples:
The opposite of concretization is generalization, which consists in using a more general TL counterpart to render the meaning of a more specific SL word.
Use generalization when the SL word is narrower in meaning (has more differential semes). Compare: wrist watch and наручные часы. The former is more specific. It means “a small timepiece worn on a strap on one’s wrist”. Thus, it has two differential (= ‘дифференциальные’, позволяющие выделить слово из ряда подобных) semes “small” and “worn on a wrist”. The Russian word часы means “a timepiece” and lacks the aforementioned semes. That is why the Russian word can be used to translate both the English watch and clock.
Use generalization if the recipient is not familiar with the concept denoted by the SL word and the exact translation of the word is not relevant to adequate understanding. E.g.: in the sentence Не showed us his old beat-up Navajo blanket the name of the Indian tribe is not significant, it is only mentioned to show that the blanket is ethnic. That is why the translator should resort to generalization and say: Он нам показал свое потрепанное индейское одеяло. Cmp.: Он показал нам свое потрепанное одеяло, сделанное индейцами племени Навахо would sound extremely odd.
Use generalization if the SL word and its TL counterpart have different stylistic, evaluative or emotional connotation and/or if they are characterized by different frequency of use. (In the English language it is customary to specify the exact or approximate height and weight of a person when describing him or her. But we can’t translate the phrase a young man of 6 feet 2 inches in the following way: молодой человек ростом 188 см. instead we should prefer: молодой человек высокого роста).
What groups of words (see task 1) can be translated with the help of generalization? Think of your own examples.
In the English language there are several words with the lexical (= ‘лексическая’, общая для всех слов синонимического ряда, объединяющая слова) seme “having the ability to acquire and apply knowledge”: bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, smart. Study the table of semes.
Semes
Words |
lexical seme (indicates the common meaning) |
differential semes (express meaningful differences)
|
stylistic seme (shows to which stylistic register words belong) |
emotional seme (reflects people’s attitude to the notion) |
||
source of the ability |
type of mental activity |
speed of mental process |
||||
bright |
having the ability to acquire and apply knowledge |
native ability |
excellent mental achievement |
-- |
neutral |
-- |
brilliant |
native ability |
outstanding keenness of intellect |
mental quickness |
neutral |
excites admiration |
|
clever |
native ability |
aptitude for study |
mental quickness |
neutral |
-- |
|
intelligent |
education |
good at learning the new and understanding |
-- |
neutral |
-- |
|
smart |
native ability |
liveliness of mind |
mental quickness |
colloquial |
-- |
|